Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-15

saaaaaossaasssssaoaaaassaANNoeoa3
UssussAt M. hvaas osshsliss,
IN the midst q u Aunt Deal opened
the front door and ed Kate. the Silent
Woman. entered. 10 my surprise. she
wore Q decsnt-loohins dress Of gray
homespun cloth and Q white cloud
looped over her head and ears and tied
around her neck and . good pair Of
boots.
Merry Chris'masl" We ill shouted.
She smiled and nodded her head and
! eat down In the chair which Uncle Pea
body had placed for her at the stove
side. Aunt Dsel took the cloud OF
her head while Kate drew her mittens
newly knitted Of the best yarn. Then
my aunt brought some stockings and a
shawl from the tree and laid them on
the lap Of old Kate. What silence
fell upon ~ a. ~ saw tears coursing
down the cheeks Of this lonely old
woman of the countrydde-tears Of
Joy. doubtless. for God knows how long
II had been since the poor. abandoned
soul had seen q merry Christmas and
shared its kindness. did not fail to
observe how clean her face and hands
looked! She was greatly changed.
She took my hand - went to her
side and tenderly caressed II. A gen.
tier smile came to her face than ever
/ had seen upon II. The old stern look
returned for q moment as she held one
finger aloft In 4 gesture which only I
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew It signalised q peril and . mys-
terry. That I should have to meet 1t.
somewhere up the hidden pathway, I
bad no doubt whatever.
Dinners ready!" exclaimed the
cheerful voice Of Aunt Desl.
Then what Q stirring Of chairs and
feet as We sat down At the table. Old
Kate sat BY the side Of my aunt and
we were all surprised at her good man
cers.
We tested and laughed and drank
cider and reviewed the years history
ind ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
OF oxen. l never taste the flavor Of
snge and currant Jelly or hear hearty
laugh without thinking Of those holi-
day dinners In the old log house on
Rattleroad.
That Christmas brought me nothing
better than those words. the memory
of which is one Of the tallest towers In
that long avenue Of my past down
which have been looking these many
days. About al you can do for . boy.
worth while. ia, to givo Mr. something
good to remember.
The day had turned dark. The tenn
pcrature had risen and the air was
dank and chilly. The men began to
hitch up their horses.
SO, one by one. the sleighloads Left
Us with CHEEKY good-bys and . grind
ing Of runners and jingling Of bella
When the last had gone Uncle Pea
body and l went into the house. Aunt
Deel sat by the stove, old Kate by the
window looking out at the falling dusk.
How still the house seemed!
There's one thing forgot" said
as proudly took out Of my wallet the
six one-dollar bills which had earned
by working Saturdays and handed
three Of them to my aunt and three to
my uncle. saying:
THAT 10 my Christmas present to
you. I earned 1t myself"
remember 30 we'll their astonish-
ment and the trembling Of their hands
and the look Of their faces.
"It's grand-ayes!" Aunt Deel said
In low tone. =.
She rose In Z moment and beckoned
to me and my uncle. We followed her
through the open door to the other
room.
"Tn tell ye what I'd d." she whis'
pered. I'D give 'em to Oh Kate
ayes! She's goin' to stay with US till
tomorrow"
Good idee" said Uncle Peabody.
So took the money out OF their
hands and went in and gave 1t to the
Silent Woman.
That's your present from me-"
said.
How can forget how she held my
arm against her with that loving, IA
miliar. rocking motion Of a woman
who is soothing baby at her breast
and kissed my coat sleeve? She re-
leased my arm and turning to the win
dow, leaned her head upon Its Sill ana
shook with sobs. The dusk had thick
ened. As returned to my seat by the
stove I could dimly see her form
against the light Of the window. we
sat in silence for little while.
Then. Uncle Peabody rose and got
candle and lighted 1t at the hearth.
held the lantern while Uncle Pen,
body fed the sheep and the two cows
and milked- slight chore these win
ter days.
''You and I are to 80 OF to bed purity
early" he said as we were going back
to the house. EYER Aunt Desl wants
to see Kate alone and git her to talk
II she can.
Il dunno but she'll swing back into
this world aIin,' said Uncle Peabody
when we had gone up to our little
room. Il guess all she needs u to be
treated like q human bein'. Yer Aunt
reei an couldn't git over thinkin' o
what she done for you that night In
the OF barn. SO took some o yer
aunt's good clothes to her an q pair
o. boots an asked her to come to