The diamond drill., 1919-03-01

SAT down In the chair wnlcn Uncle reo-
body had placed for her at the stove
side. Aunt Deel took tho cloud on
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 or old Kate. What a silence
fell upon us as we saw tears courslng
down the cheeks OF this lonely old
woman of the countryside-tears OF
Joy. doubtless, for God knows how long
II had been since the poor. abandoned
soul had seen merry Christmas and
shared It's kindness. i did not fail to
observe how clean her face and hands
looked She was greatly changed.
She took my hand as went TO her
side and tenderly caressed II. A gen.
tier smile came TO her face than ever
had seen upon IL. The old stern look
returned for q moment as she held one
finger aloft In gesture which only !
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew IL signalized a peril and a mys-
terry. That l should have to meet II,
somewhere up the hidden pathway, !
had no doubt whatever.
DINNERS readyi" exclaimed the
cheerful voice OF Aunt Deel.
Then what 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
ners.
We tested and laughed and drank
cider and reviewed the years history
and ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
OF oxen. / never taste the flavor OF
sage and currant jelly or hear hearty
laugh without thinking OF those holi-
day dinners I'm 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 l have been looking these many
days. About all you can do for a boy.
worth while. is 10 give him something
good to remember.
The day had turned dark. The tenn
perature had risen and the air was
dank and chilly. The men began 10
hitch up their horses.
So, one by one, the sleighloads left
US with CHEEKY good-bys and a grind
Ing Of runners and a jinglIng OF bells
When the last had gone Uncle Pea
body and | went into the house. Aunt
Deel sat by the stove, old Kate by the
window looking out at the falling dusk.
How Stlll the house seemed
There's one thing forgot" l said
rs ! proudly took out Of my wallet the
six one-dollar bills which | had earned
by working Saturdays and handed
three of them 10 my aunt and three TO
my uncle, saying:
"That is my Christmas present TO
you. earned IL myself"
remember so well 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 moment and beckoned
to me and my uncle. We followed her
through the open door TO the other
room
"Tll tell We what I'd do" she whis-
pered I'D give 'em TO oil Kate
ayes She's goin' 10 stay with us till
tomorrow"
Good ldee - 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. fa-
millar rocking motion OF n 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 and
shook with sobs. The dusk had thick
ened As | returned to my seat by the
stove could dimly see her form
against the light of the window. We
sat I'm silence for n little while.
Then Uncle Peabody rose and got "A
candle and lighted IL az the hearth.
held the lantern while Uncle Pea
body fed the sheep and the two cows
md milked-a slight chore these win
ter days.
"You and are to go off TO bed purity
early" he said as we were going back
to the house. Yer Aunt Deel wants
to see Kate alone and git her 10 talk
IL she can.
IL dunno but she'll swing back into
this world ag'in,' said Uncle Peabody
when we had gone up 10 our little
room. IL guess all she needs Is To be
treated like human bein', Yer Aunt
peel an l couldn't git over thlnkin' o.
what she done for you that night In
the oil barn. So / took some o yer
Runts good clothes to her an pair
o. boots an asked her 10 come TO
Christmas. She lives In a little room
over the blacksmith shop down 10 But
terfield's mill / told her I'd come
after her with the cutter but she shook