Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1920-12-17

H0oy8M minedly that snOwfiakeS
were accountable for the
blur; then, she wiped her
eyes.
ITS Merry Christmas
time" Connie said to her old yellow
0t. "WhO ever heard Of Christmas
without the Merry? So cheer up.
Prowler. and let's join In the game"
At the little "ShOppe" just around
the corner she stood longest Of all.
And all at once into Comics bright
lyes came a speculative light. The
window was full of small framed pic.
lures, most Of them with the Christ.
mas spirit There were the usual
night.clad children looking up broad
ehimneys, there were landscapes Of
snowy fields with distant windows
alight-Connie studied them all; she
was seeing in vision the winding hill
road Of the place where she had spent
her last summer vacation; the church
With its swaying bell In the steeple.
the queer little bridge over the deep
and beautiful stream-a bridge with
seats along its sides where countless
lovers had sat and courted. The old
lady who had been Comics volunteer
hostess told her. with the pink coming
and going in her withered cheeks,
about the lovers. For 1t was there
that her own husband had asked, and
had been answercd-his question. The
way that Connie had CHANGED to visit
this beautiful country place and to
meet there the dear old lady was quite
remarkable chance too. She had
started out on the trolley car for one
festfu day in the country and had
chosen this station Mt random. And
when she had stopped to admire the
wonderful roses in the old lady's gar
Demand they had spent some agree
able time together-thc old lady. Mrs.
Martha Snow by name. had said: +!
my deari Why don't you come on
and visit me for week or two? I'm
lonely for young sweet face"
And Connie had gone. that was all.
Half her later water cOlors had been
kiorifcd memories Of that delightful
visit. Now Connie had n new inSpira-
Ton. She would pnint the queer little
bridge over an icy stream. and its
seats should be covered with snow.
She could fancy just how the trees
would look waving naked branches.
And she'd paint the church In the hOl.
low with lights in the windows Gleam-
Ing over the snow and the hell in the
tower a.swaying for Christmas.
Oh, Connie was very happy as she
hurried home to her attic. but there.
IN the temperamental way artists
have. She began to draw instead.
working in a fever of enthusiasm
the sitting room Of the old house
where she had been guest. with
Martha Snow herself seated in the
arelight. Just half Of her peaceful pro.
6le showing beneath its halo Of white
hair.
There was holly above the old fire.
place and bOy's stocking hanging
there. Connie never stopped until she
had completed the picture. then ran
with II hrcathlcssly to the "ShOppc'
around the corner.
ayes. we will display IT," smiling
old man agreed.
The picture sold. OF course yor
were prepared for that; hut thu
strange part was that before 1t wa:
sold Connie had added her other view!
to the "Shoppe" window. and her dis
cerning purchaser hnd bought then
every one. While the other Christ
mas studies pleased him not at all
Connie could not count the number O
times that she passed that window
6rst closing her eyes childishly In tn
hope that her picture would not h
there when she opened them. And
was the day hut one before Christina
that the "Shoppe" manager seeing he
peeking about. beckoned her inside.
"You have pleased one Of our hes
customers" said the manager. "an
when we mentioned your peculiar cor
dition OF sale he suggested talking III
matter over with you that you Nigh
both come to n satisfactory bargain
Our customer thinks that you posses
wonderful artistic ability. We hay
given him your address"
els he." asked Connie falteringl,
"a philanthropist7"
Some way she did not want her pm
chaser to he Just a philanthropIst an
spoil all future ambitious hope.
''Mr. Armstrong Is man who usua
" drives a pretty shrewd bargain
the "Shoppe" manager said.
So. though It was early afternoo
Connie hurried home to turn on G,
blaze and don her most presentab
dress SO that she might make favo
able impression as a successful your
wielder Of the brush. The purchas
might arrive any minute. But II ",
the next afternoon when he came al
Connie was wearing a bungalo
apron.
The purchaser was young and Il