The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-04-03
The Birthday
Party
M
BY SUSAN CLAGErr

1918. ~ the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate.)
a crunch 81 feet upon the hard
"n'"' gurzle Of laughter endin, in
a scream Of delight. Blair Henderson
,I'e'i MS head, smile upon his lips
ne glanced at his desk piled high with
"ork' hesitaten. turned toward the
WINDOW paused again. then walked
across the room. threw I'd the sash
and leaned out.
AL the moment no one was in SIGHT.
'nel' amid a gale Of laughter, bob.
sieh came from the end of the house
lush'ns with the fleetness of the wind
i'"h the st!eply sloping lawn Blair
counted as the sled passed. "Wbere
Va earth did the youngster get them
an ne wondered. His gaze followed
.he chiidren out OF sight then came
oacK 10 a woman standing near the
steps leading up to the house.
nhe did not turn her head and. given
| lhe opportunity. he watched her in.
.ehfly noting the wind-blown hair:
'.ie brilliant color Of the half-seen
cheek. he was struck, too, by the Der
Iect poise Of his sisters friend who
mao been guest in his home for sew
erai weeks. Absorbed In his work he
had scarcely noticed her before had
| SHOWN her only such courtesy as was
que her as a house guest. meeting her
| ohiy al meal time, and lately not then.
he had given this no heed. Now. as
ne watched her. he idly wondered if
she had been away and had lust re.
turned. AS the thought came to him
she ran quickly up the steps and into
the hall.
An hour later 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 EN- in I didn't
| Know just what she meant. Uncle Blair
/ an l 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 off 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
walks as fast as the good leg. An
/ coming back we met the butchers
| boy. and I asked him as nice as I
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
at was just beautiful. There was
ice cream hearts an cakes an SAN
wiches 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
I ever heard Of But who is 'Ellen""
The boy looked surprised. why.
you see her every day.
81 do? Then perhaps l don't know
her by that name. But it sounds
familiar" He thought for a moment.
diving back into old memories. II had
a little sweetheart by that name She
was just about as big as you and she
sent me valentine every yesr until
after l went TO college. / have one of
them in the back of my watch where
| can look at 1t now and then" He
=
gazed al the picture within with a
reminiscent smile. THAT was the
last one she sent me and never heard
from her again. am always looking
for her and sometime l hope l will
find her"
The youngster looked ar the draw
ing with interest "Ellen's watch has
one. too" he said. A big boy gave
il To her when she was a little girl.
Isn't ii funny both of you've got pr
lures. only hers is lots prettier. Two
little birds. she calls them love birds.
kissing each other-lotS prettier than
those hearts with stick running
through EN-"
The watch closed with a snap and n
look of keen interest crept into the
mans eyes.
81 must make the acquaintance of
this wonderful lady who tells stories
and carries love birds about with her,
Where can we find her."
Blair looked at his uncle in aston
ishment. Don't You really. truly
know her? She's been here long
time. She did 60 away hut came back
Yesterday. an she's been slidin' down
hill all mornin'. You're jokin' Uncle
Blair"
DO you mean Miss Fairbanks: Is
she 'EllenT"
Blair junior nodded. An now I
oust go an II certainly Is nice to have
birthday parties" Slipping from his
uncle's knees the hoy marched from
the room leaving the man in brown
study from which he did not emerge
until aroused by the opening OF the
library door.
The girl paused as she was about to
enter. then came into the room. Even
then she seemed to hesitate. he
Thought. and watched her intently as