The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-04
Christmas
After All
And a Very Happy
One
By CLARISSA MACKIE

whistled down the wide chimneys.
Inside the house the low ceiled
kitchen was warm from the glowing
stove and from the big lamp on the
supper table James Drayton and his
wife, Hannah. had finish ID the even
ing meal and were sitting quietly be-
fore the uncleared table. They were
listening for the sound Of sleighbells
and the shrill whistle of the r. L. b.
man. Tonight they should receive let
ters from their married children telling
them whether or not they would be
down to the old home nest for Christ.
mas. Bob lived in New York with his
wife and one child, while Ellen, the
only daughter, lived at Sheerbrook,
only twenty-five miles across the island
from her parents.
Jingle. jingle, Jingle!
There he isr' cried Hannah. nerv.
ously pressing the gray hair back from
her temples. "Oh. James. hope they
are coming"
Presently her husbands form emery.
ed from the flying flakes. He stamped
his feet ON the doorstep and came into
the house. his broad shoulders powder
ed with white. In his hand were two
letters.
Hannah began fitting on her glasses
and tearing at the envelope In her
hand. As she read the letter her chin
trembled. ELLEN can't come. father"
she quavered. ''She says Asas folks
expect them all over there and they're
sending box to us and hope we won't
mind very much" Tears were falling
fast now
"Bob-Bob-says they can't come
either" said Hannah at last. "Louie's
folks are coming to spend Christmas
with them, and she don't know how to
entertain them all in her little fiat.
either. He says they are sending a
box down. Oh. James," she suddenly
cried, Il don't want their boxes |
want them. the children | raised It
will be so lonesome without them. 1t
won't be Christmasv'
James Drayton tried to comfort her,
but his face worked strangely. He told
her that 1t would still be Christmas,
but that the selfishness of others might
mar 1t a little. For should not these
children have planned so that their
parents should not be left alone on this
day Of days?
The next day would be Christmas
eve, and there was much TO do I'm prep
aration for the holiday, for James
Drayton insisted that the usual prep
arations be made for the day. He had
spent sleepless night, but in the
morning there was look of stern de-
termination on his face,
"Well, Hannah, do you feel like en-
tertalning bunch of children today?"
he said. children that amt got no
folks-that is, no folks to make Christ.
mas for them"
"Who In the world do you mean.
James Drayton?" she demanded. Be
fore he could answer she added quick
ly, "You mean the Flecks?"
He nodded. watching her face
"And you know we haven't been on
speaking terms with Cousin Peter
Fleck's folks since-since-he cheated
you out of that forty acre pasture?"
she asked breathlessly.
II know it, Hannah. | know that
Peter lost it all before he died and
that Ada Fleck is having hard time
trying to bring up those four children
They're nice children too. The Oldest
Il ri otria L;,,l-
len," he added reflectively.
"Ada's been doing sewing" said
Hannah. land | heard she was taking
home work from the bag factory.
expect 1t will be a poor Christmas for
them ALL"
Il met little Fred, and he told me
that they didn't expect Santa Claus to
stop at their house this year"
"Will you go after them. James, or
shall / go?' asked Hannah.
James Drayton smiled down at her.
and, suddenly STOPPING from his tall
height, he kissed her lips. 4 warm
blush invaded her faded cheeks.
I'VE will both go after Them" he de-
cided. I'm going out now to harness
up"
The door slammed after him. Han
nah gave one glance out into the
snowy world outside. The sun was
coming out, and everything was a-spar
kle with reflected glory. She hastily
banked the fire in the stc<e. dressed
herself warmly and. locking the door.
went out to the barn, where old Gray
was harnessed to the double cutter.
You'll have to cut Christmas tree.
father" she said gayly.
"Tll 60 out before dark and do that"
he said as they started of.
Little Fred saw them coming and
ran to open the door for them. There
was little embarrassment at first, for
the Draytons and the Flecks had not
been on speaking terms for many years.
But James Drayton's kindness and
Hannah's sympathy soon bridged the
gap, and when the invitation came for
the whole family to pack themselves
into the sleigh the children broke into
excited clamor.
"oh, mother. please@ they coaxed.