The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-04-18
The Birthday
Party
~
Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate)
BY SUSAN cLAoETT

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Copyright. 1918, by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per Syndicate)
A crunch OF feet upon the hard
snow; gurgle OF laughter ending In
scream Of delight. Blair Henderson
lifted his head, a smile upon his lips.
He glanced at his desk piled high with
work, hesitated, turned toward the
window, paused again, then walked
across the room. threw up the sash
and leaned out.
At the moment no one was in sight
then, amid a gale OF laughter, a bob
sled came from the end Of the house
rushing with the fleetness Of the wind
down the steeply sloping lawn. Blair
counted as the sled passed. "where
on earth did the youngster get them
ALL" he wondered. His gaze followed
the children out Of sight then came
back to woman standing near the
steps leading up to the house.
She did not turn her head and, given
the opportunity. he watched her in
tently noting the wind-blown hair I:
the brilliant color of the half-seen
cheek. He was struck, too, by the per-
feet poise Of his sisters friend who
had been a guest in his home for sew
eral weeks. Absorbed In his work he
had scarcely noticed her before; had
shown her only such courtesy as was
due her as house guest, meeting her
only at meal time, and lately not then.
He had given this no heed. Now, as
he watched her, he idly wondered II
she had been away and had just re-
turned. As the thought came to him
she ran quickly up the steps and into
the hall.
An hour later a very tired little boy
crept into his uncle's arms to tell Of
his wonderful afternoon.
"You know, it's my birthday, an
Muvver gave me a party an told me
l could go out into the byways and
hedges an gather 'em in. I didn't
know Just what she meant, Uncle Blair
an didn't see no hedges an no by
ways. but went out on the street an
found Jimmy who sells papers an
blacks shoes. He's great-and Jimmy
told me bout the apple boy who lives
way of from here, an we went for
him an he told me Of Bobby Burns
He has only one leg, but that didn't
make any difference cause his crutch
wallis as fast as the good leg. An
coming back we met the butchers
boy, and I asked him as nice as
could an when we got back Tim was
here an cooks boy and girl"
The man laughed. 81 hope your
mother had enough to eat"
"It was just beautiful. There was
ice cream hearts an cakes an SAN
witches an Ellen told us stories about
st. Valentine, cause I'm a Valentine
baby. Did you know that, uncle
Blair"
Blair the elder drew the boy close
Surely. the most wonderful valentine
Fever heard of. But who is Elem
The boy looked surprised. "why
you see her every day."
81 dot Then perhaps I don't know
her by that name. But II sounds
familiar" He thought for a moment
diving back into old memories. 81 hat
a little sweetheart by that name. She
was Just about as big as you and sh'
sent me a valentine every year unit
after I went to college. have one o.
them in the back Of my watch wher'
can look at II now and then" HI
pulled out his watch, opened II ant
gazed at the picture within with ,
reminiscent smile. "That was tn
last one she sent me and never hear
from her again. I am always LOOKING
for her and sometime I hope I vii
find her"
The youngster looked at the draw
ing with interest. "Ellen's watch ha
one. too" he said. "A big boy CAV
IL to her when she was a little CIR
Isn't II funny both of you've got pic
lures. only hers Is lots prettier. Tw
little birds, she calls them love bird.
kissing each other-lots prettier tina
those hearts with a stick runnin
through EN-"
The watch closed with a snap and
look Of keen interest crept into tn
mans eyes.
81 must make the acquaintance Q
this wonderful lady who tells storie
and carries love birds about with he
Where can we find her?'
Blair looked at his uncle In astoI
ishment. Don't you really, trul
know herr She's been here Ion
time. She did go away but came bac
yesterday, an she's been slidln' dow
hill all mornin'. You're jokin' Uncl
Blair"
do you mean Miss Fairbanksf
she Elem"
Blair junior nodded. San now
must 60 an II certainly is nice to hav
birthday parties" Slipping from hi
uncle's knees the boy marched froi
the room leaving the man In a brow
study frsm which he did not emere
until aroused by the opening Of tn
library door.
The girl paused as she was about
enter, tAen came into the room. Eve
then she seemed to hesitate. b
! thought, and watched her intently q
she approached. searching for som
resemblance between this woman {
graceful bearing and the awkward bT
lovable child who had grown into hi
heart when a youth. He offered he
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