The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1917-12-28
nassie's cheeks sad her eyes Slar.i
How dared he irsipuate that enc a

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nasre's cheeks sad her eyes S,s,.S
How dared he insisuate that enc a
Boobies precious letters was no,hin,
hut the anger her eyes shot fst
short Of their mark--Janie Ind sple,r.
t,c plum pudding. IL
"IIcIio." he laughed, so that * what
was la the box. Id Just about ei,cu
Il up. las some pudding, all right.
isn't IT, he went en- admiTincIy.
since we couldn't have IL Christina,
let's celebrate tonight-spced tho part
ing guest Of the old year aud wclcop,,
the new. you know. But ! came ia 4,
tell you rm going over TO BlyIy's 10
take n look at the hroodcr he want,
10 sell. So II you'll give me that pic.
turc book Of hobbies. III stop at the
poor farm MS | pass and leave It for
the little chap who got there too late
for Santa Claus They say he's ter.
ribly lonesome and homcsick. poor W..
tie kid, and maybe It will cheer him
up"
The set line Of haggic's llps
twitchcd.
At the time II had seemed such
simple thing to propose, to give Bob
bic's picture book. packed with her
own books by mistake, to the new or
phan arrived at the farm the begin
ming of the week; the poor 4.yCar.uid
child whose mother had died on Christ.
mas day ia lonely shack up la the
mountains.
"YOu can take the book another
time" she oyaded, picking up her shut
tie and tatting like mad. 81 can't
bother about IL today"
jamie looked at her, surprised, puz.
zlcd.
"Why. I can get 1t as well a. you,
dear" he said gently. ITS ON the
table In our room. isn't IT,"
She threw down the tatting aud
sprang up.
"Th get II myself" she said iierccly.
and shot into the adjoining room.
When she brought him the book,
her eyes were trimmed Ia great red
circles, but Jamie. impatient to be Oh,
did not notice, or thought the redness
came from her cold.
As the front door banged after him,
camphor bottle In hand. Maggie sank
back in the nearest armchair and gave
herself up to being miserable.
But Jamie was gone over an hour
time for conscience and cnmphur 10
work. and thoroughly ashamed OF her.
self. her head much clearer. she greet
ed his return with rising spirits, which
fell precipItously when he nonchalnnt-
ly Informed her he had invited over the
Blylys and Jocn Thornton and his wife
and the Hopkins girl To spend tho
evening and eat plum pudding with
them.
"Oh, Jamie. why did you?" she said
dcspairingly. IL feel like anything bus
company tonight"
But the guests had been Invited and
there was nothing To do but make the
best of Il.
Yet, MS CALAMITY az she tried. the
poor. little bride could not shake of
her homcsick forlornness.
II was i've minutes of l. by the
llving-rOom clock when the hot chocu-
late aud the plum pudding In its blaze
OF glory We're brought In, and us the
first stroke of midnight fell upon their
talk and laughter, with lifted cups, all
sprang to their feet and drank to the
new year. deep and long.
All, that Is. except Maggie Mac
Kenzle.
She took only n hurried sip Mt her
chocolate. then put down her cup and
ran and opened the front door.
Maggie" cried jamie. what are
YOU opening the door forf'
ITO let In the New Year, dear" she
explained with forced gaicty. Don't