Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-09-27


cat snoring regular, diminutlve snores.
Long shadows waved about the room.
The little shoes slid off the woman's
lap unnotlced as she pressed the for
eign letters more closely in her hands
and gazed into the fire still as in a
dream. The old butler looked In once
more at his mistress, and rubbed his
hands together undecided. At length
he put more logs on the fire and tip
tOed away.
Suddenly a loud peal of the door.
bell echoed through the lonely house =
second and still third followed III
quick succession before the old butler
could reach the door. The woman be-
fore the fire started and quick flush
spread over her face as the pealing
bell burst upon her consciousness and
brought her back to reality. The flush
deepened as the sound of stamping
and impatient steps on the stairs ac-
companied the old buffers "Yes, sir
yes, sir-right in the library, SIR
she turned toward the door just as
tall man in the uniform of the
United States army burst into the
room, his face alert and eager. Then
she bent her head as his words reached
her.
"Julia, I've come back. to you. I'm
here. Haven't you welcome for me,
this Christmas eve?" He fell on his
knees before her and, sei2ing her
hands, covered them with kisses.
Still she was silent, but, as he drew
his crumpled letter from her hands,
and laughing, held 1t up before her,
she smiled in his eyes and said: "Yes,
George, am indeed thankful you have
come, for this Christmas / can give
you what you want-dear."
He sprang to his feet and still hold
ing his hands, pulled her gently up to
him. "Julia," he whispered passionate
ly, 'it was worth It, everything is worth
it, if it could make you care.
Ginger, looking up at them, over her
back, only saw the tall stranger stoop
ana take his mistress in his arms; but,
taS - woman as she slipped her hands
Wis shoulders. and clasped them
tjahts ahind his darE head, this mo-
"a Z; laSn,,y lts the end Of dreams and the
AIe MseasE sEssafss
Some time later she asked him about
the little Marguerite he was to have
brought with him from Belgium. His
face grew sober.
'Iittle Marguerite can only be
dream-child, after all, my darling" he
said, gently. "She died several weeks
before l sailed from home. 1t was
some time before l could locate her
and, when I did, the woman who had
taken care of her gave me these little
boots she had worn so much.
"I didn't write all this, because
wanted to tell you all about myself,
in case you were much disappointed,
dcar-so 1 sent the little boots over
and SO avoided detailed explanation.
But the past Is a dream" hadT'ent on;
"and the present pnted arrows, H.
real and wonderfusi war clubs or
NV n-n - EVOLVES and cats
A'- Tand lesser crea-
II,
He buried MS @treat. Ia
she stroked MS q0odmen declare
her other haDe ore difficult, as a
cloth on the Ii within shooting
clothes and mi, an 1t is of deer,
we will forget t; his Is proved by
,od mo out of DIR, still hold tneir
-. IT,, ave been exter-
hunters and
pas" with a tt n
"And now, Gcor;-
"like the true prii (
us go deep into the Is
Christmas eve and contribute
can to the happiness Of our people.
For they are our own people," smiling
and touching his uniform. "Ginger,
take good care of the fire." she said
from the doorway And, oh"-with a
twinkle In her eye, ''give your paw to
your new master"
Ginger did so reluctantly She had
seen puppies do this thing, and was
ashamed to copy it, but it pleased her
mistress, and that was the first de-
sire In her little fur head tonight
Alice Gary Williams.
Smothered Cabbage.