The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-27

for. my box, they are. pssfsct .stpaags
ers you know"
81. know, but. they are 20 near
iyou wonder that you haven't made
their acquaintance, they seem like
nice people,"
f"I am ashamed for not having
done SO, but to tell you the truth,
4 Ernest, ! have been SO miserably
bored and lonesome since have been
here that ] haven't cared for any
thing"
Christine" he began earnestly,
at the same time laying his hand on
her arm, Don't 60 back to your
teaching, but marry me. can sell
my orange grove tomorrow for a
good round sum, you can rent this
little home, we will all go to Los
Angeles to live, and you need never
see this little town again. Come
do" he urged as she sat silent. "You
know that | have loved you all my
life"
II know 1t Ernest, but can not,
really cannot, I'd just as soon
marry my brother II had one. I've
tried and tried to likesyou that .wAys
Whenever you do things for me r
have said to myself, now / will love
him. the way that know he, loves
me- but just can't. | don't know
why"
IF you will only marry me you
will soon love me the right way, be-
cause I'll be so good to you that you
can't help yourself"
mo, Ernest, I'll not marry you
until love you right. am deter.
mined on that, it is the only way to
be fair to YOU"
Well, dearest one, will you keep
on trying to love me the right way?"
Eyes. will promise you that
much, but that is as far as my prom
Use can possibly co." she replied as
she gently removed his hand from
her arm.
"Well, that ID great DEAL" he
said gaily, "and now I'll go inter-
view the young man about his box.
No, no, Ernest, don't do that"
she demonstrated, II have been
thinking the matter over and /. don't
believe 1t was my box at all, because
Of course it would have my name on
it, and so he just couldn't have made
such mistake. The pig will prob
ably come on the afternoon freight,
and that will be quite in time for
the o'clock dinner, so we'll just let
the matter rest until them. But
vhot 10 VIZ, irfapd - 10 - have q
Merry Christmas?"
WELL" he said rising, I'm the first
place two Of my Mexican hands got
into a row last night, and l have to
act as arbitrator in that the first
thing this morning, then / have
promised my uncle in Los Angeles
that I would eat turkey with them
at 2 o'clock and tonight my foreman
has some festivities on at which
have promised to be present."
We'll, you will indeed put In a
full day, so some over in the morn
ing and I'll give you the sequel Of
the pig story"
"All right" he assented, and in
another moment he was gone.
Christine sat for a long time on
the porch swing meditating and the |
missing pig certainly did not claim |
the greater part Of her thoughts.
After while, with a long sigh, she |
rose and went into the house to- ex |
plain to her mother about the f16n-
appearance of the promised roasting |
pig" Her mother commended, her
decision not to trouble the new
neighbors about it and was quite sure
it would come on the afternoon
freight, therefore she continued her
Of the other viands
which were to form a part Of the
Christmas dinner. She, told Christ
inc there was nothing for her to do,
and the girl thus left to her own
resources took up some needle work
In which she was much interested.
Absorbed in this she was startled by
! knock at the front door. A knock
1t any door, back, front or side was
10 unusual circumstance that
Christine few to respond. When
,he opened it she confronted a tall
young man who bore under his arm
! box. He gazed at Christine mo- ..
nent in. most expressive silence, then
l0ffing his hat after making sure that /.
he was Miss Ranford he told that
lie was Charles Sanford, and as he
landed her the box cover, she saw
t once that the superscription looked
ven more like that name than it did ,,
ike c Ranford. i.
"If they had only written your
rst name, or even put on the Miss"
e said as he placed the box in her
ands, "but to tell you the truth ! /.
idn't look at the address very closely
ntil I had opened the box, and then
s couldn't imagine why any one
hould send me a pig, I began
tudying the name, and while I was :
DING so, that young fellow who owns I
he orange grove Just outside the 8
illage raped at the door and as 8
~ folks are all away, opened 1t 9
nd soon heard the story Of your 8
SO lost no time in y
oming over with your property. I y
ope am not too late to have piggy =
BOXED for dinner"
At this moment Mrs. Ranford, who
ad heard from the kitchen that his 9
,lks were all away, stepped to the =
DOR and invited him to come over q
nd help make way with piggy at the =
o'clock dinner. The alacrity with Z
hich he accepted, even tho as they Z