The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18
Eoening Story
Under the MistIetoe.
BY FREDERICK HART.

Christmas in the south is not what
We of the states above the Mason
Dixon line are accustomed to. There
is no white blanket spread to cover
earth's crudities. and while holly and
4mistletoe flourish in houses, 1t is rare
that the swapping, cracking log fire is
called into being, unless the weather
be absolutely unreasonable.
But let it not be thought that the
spirit of the season is absent because
of the lack of the conventional wintry
setting. Santa Claus visits there-pre-
sumably by airplane-as thoroly as he
does in that section where his sleigh
and reindeer have traction; and as for
the raistletoe ceremony
Pr~kty Edna Carr was unhappy.
One would think that on Christmas
eve, in a beautiful house, with all the
accessories that go to make up a
happy season of Noel, even to the
glittering tree and the row of stock
ings hung by the fireplace-tho there
was no fire there-a girl of nineteen
would have a heart as light as thistle
down. But Edna felt miserable.
She had arrived in the hospitable
southern city only a month before,
when her fathers failing health had
made a change of climate imperative.
The Carr family had wealth and posi-
ton, and they already knew many
people in their adopted home, so that
they had not lacked for company.
Young mon ard girls had come to see
Edna, and once seeing her had taken
her-figuratively, of course-to their
bosoms. for she was as lovable as she
was pretty.
So had sped the weeks before
Christmas, and now, on Christmas eve,
with her desk Uttered with invitations
to parties, her room filled with pretty
clothes, and her stocking, for a moral
certainty, to be found bulging with
gifts on the morrow, there seemed
no reason why she should not be radi--
ant with pleasure and anticipation.
But something dimmed her skya as
she stood alone in the great hall a
tear zigzagged down her cheek.
1t was twilight-the early twilight
of winter. In the dusk outside the air
was clamorous with motor horns and
shouted greetings as the young people
steamed homeward to array them
selves for the great dance that was
to be that evening. Edna listened and
smiled even thru her tears, for there
was something irresistibly happy about
these new friends of hers.
Then she took a last look around the
hall and started to go to her room,
for it was time to change her clothes
before dinner.
On her way out she paused. A wide
arch led from the hall to the stair
case, and plumb in the center of it
hung sprig of mistletoe. Edna paused
under the mystic plant.
Her mind sprang back to this time,
a year ago, when she had stood under
the mistletoe in her home in the far
away north and some one had-how
indignant she had been! And yet
she half-smiied to herself as she re-
membered his apologies. And then the
winter and the golden summer; and
he had gone-she didn't know where.
She had not heard from him for a
month. And now it was Christmas
again.
Standing under the mistletoe she re-
constructed the scene. She had stood
thus. unaware of the silvery berries
that hung so temptingly above her. She
had been alone as she thought-the
last of her guests had slipped away
with their cries of Merry Christmasi
Merry Christmas"
And she had gone back to the lonely
hall to live the evening again In her
memory, when he had stolen upon her
from behind and exacted his tribute
according-t to the ancient and honorable
traditions of the season.
She had been angry, she remem-
bered-but it was not real anger, only
the simulated wrath of one who has
been caught and hates to admit Some
thing of this he must have sensed, for
she recalled his contrition-it did not
seem SO sincere, now that she looked
back on it
She wondered where he was what
he was doing-and the sense of loss
that had been hanging over her all
the afternoon deepened as she remem-
bered the silence of the past month
not such long time, but when one is
accustomed to getting a letter every
week. Tears came again to her
eyes.
Her father passed thru the hall and
saw her standing there but did not
notice that she was crying. run
along nnstairS d9nQhfar and into
your things" he called as he passed.
IT'S getting late. and we have some
people coming to dinner"
Yes, father" she replied. 4
But as her father went out toward
the front door she made no move to
go. She still stayed under the arch
under the mistletoe, rapt in a recol-
lection that was sweet and bitter at
the same time.
She heard voices in the outer room.