Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-07-16

yergreen-drifted in tantalizing whiils
TO meet him.
= joyous interlude; gay process
sion; a hush glavely spoken bless
ing-Oh that Christmas
There came time early ia the eve
/ ming when billiard found himself
alone with Carol He had a vague
recollection that they had been sent
/ 10 look for something a corn
pepper. or some other equally futile
article and for an instant
he marveled at their expecting 10 ilnd
I il in the sun-parlor. where they had
wandered. But the sun-parlor was hap
PLY unoccupied; and there We're com
I Portable chairs in it; and something
very green and red and seasonahle in
all the windows; so that they both de-
ayed prodigiously. and exchanged
( number of highly inconsequenilal re-
marks about .he decorations. Pres
emily, without so much rs transient
thought for the corn-popper, they sai
down with one accord From dis
lance the murmur of cheerful voices
in the living room was an adequate
accompaniment to their thoughts.
billiards. head was dropped low; his
reverie was so profound that not even
Carols voice could rouse him-not I'M
til she spoke a second time.
81 said-a penny for them" she re-
! peated. amused.
"Oh :" billiards. awakening was ex-
plosive why, that's queer
was just thinking about that my
/ self, / mean the first Sunday | ever
came up here to dinner You said
/ the same thing then. Remember itT'
/ Eyes. indeed and they were
a wonderful bargain at the price!
He didn't seem to recall that she had
ever looked so mischievous.
They are now. then he said. BE
/ cause it's just as it was before was
/ thinking about you" Regarding her
/ he was transported anew by her love
/ illness. And it wasn't only her ex-
I ternaI loneliness that he adOred, it was
what she had of sympathy, and kind
ness. and sweetness OF disposition.
| very wOmanly girl she was not
flaming character TO blaze and die,
but a steady and enduring soul
such as he craved go.
She turned her head away.
81 was very angry at you this morn
ing she said; 81 thought you'd for
gotten about me entirely"
billiard affected alarm. How could
that happenT
mot even so much as a little card
/ with Merry Christmas on it," she
said. Father and mother had one
! from you, but as for me" She
opened her hands in emptiness. 81
looked over every one of them twice"
Hilliard felt his pulses quicken.
Doesn't my coming to you make up
a little for it?"
'No, I'm afraid it doesn't-not in
that way. I'm still very childish about
| Christmas. / have to see it-eveD if
it's only in the tiniest little remem-
brances. I'm very much hurt I've
been telling myself it must be the post
mans fault"
He denied it bravely. at wasn't the
postman's-it was mine. Because ]
didn't intend to send you remem-
brance at ALL intended TO bring IT.
I planned TO give it to you before din
ner, but when | was so late and
everybody was waiting"
She turned with gratifying quick
ness.
Did you bring it?"
"Yes." he said. Il brought it, I'm
net quite sure whether youn like it
or not"
I'll like anything you broughtl"
phasis all TO itself.
billiard cleared his throat.
when l was young"
II beg your pardon?"
He laughed at high pressure and be |
gan over again.
when / was young, Mother Grundy !
had a very small collection to choose |
from-books and candy and flowers.
II I'd. send you anything by mail. |
think I'd have had TO obey the rules. |
NV early training was pretty severe. |
But / thought II I brought it myself.
perhaps I could be more original"
How originate" she asked, with
pretty animation.
His heart was pounding relentlessly;
be had lost the elaborate recital which
be carefully prepared; and ii was gone
without a trace. He had TO depend /
on presence OF mind.
"Since / couldn't keep TO my sehed-
ule, I've been saving II mp TO give you
when everything was propitious." He
rendered her package, tied with holly
ribbon; II was smaller than book,
and smaller than any orthodox carrier
of CONNECTION. Don't open it just yet,
please"
She looked at 1t, pinehed it, dropped
II in her lap. and laughed softly. -.
'Is there such a mystery about tit"
L. a <aff h;r.~olS