The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-12-23

uHfs "
turned the colonel testify. watching
the effect OF his words through the
overhanging curtain Of his bushy eye
brows.
But II doesn't seem at all like
Christmas. Henry, IL you don't make
presents" faltered his wife. can't
make II seem right thnt Nora and the
children are not to be with US. Don't
you think we should LET bygones be
bygones and telephone them to come
overT' she added timIdiy.
sSllence," Numbered her husband,
his face as white as his hair from the
pent-up wrath of his feelings. mora
made her bed. now let her lie In II.
She's no daughter of mine 10 marry
good.for-nothing scamp OF an artist
without a penny TO his name. As to
the children. they're as dead To me as
those up on the hillside yonder,"
From her corner by the fireplace
vesta eyed her father nervously, ns
she stroked the fur of Nebuchadnez-
Ear. Nora's pet cat. How changed he
was. and what had brought It all
aboutf There was no real reason that
she could see. except her fathers
stubbornness. Don was not bad sort,
and he had made Nora good hus-
band, providing well for her and the
children. Then there was John Dem
ton. IL was just such night as this
that he had driven him from the
house.
The young man had made some
laughing remark about their differ
ences Ia politics TO which the colonel
had taken exception. Hot of temper
and bitter OF tongue. he had disposed
Of the matter promptly. John had
asked vesta 10 decide whether she
would be ruled by love or fear. She
was but twenty. and TO her fillal duty
was fetish. There was no alterna-
tive. she told him. She had never
answered one Of his letters. aud In
time they had ceased to come. He
had forgotten. Of course. and II was
as well for both, as her duty lay to
her parents. now entirely alone.
yesta's fingers trembled as she EN-
broidered the last dainty forget.me.
not on the little pink flannel for No.
ra's newest baby, the one they had
never seen.
The fre was getting low, and she
rose and poked the Goals until they
glowed with new life. then heaped the
andirons with hickory logs. In few
moments the faint odor OF pungent
wood began to filter through the room,
and as IL did so vesta's courage rose.
I'VE must hang up our stockings to-
night. dears." she began softly. Lets
just play we are little children again,
I'm sure SANTA Claus Is coming this
way. Let us be joyful together this
year. al least. for life Is so uncertain,
you know. Wont you play I'm your
little girl this Christmas. DaddyY'' she
ended pleadingiy.
Don't be a fool. yesta." retorted
her father sharply. "If you're ever
going to be woman you should show
some signs of II at thirty. All this
talk about Christmas In nonsense.
nonsense. | tell you. declare I'm
HfSA oi psnpte spending their last
cent 20 make show this time OF the
year. and making u bid for presents In
exchange for their own"
But the Joy OF giving"
Saw old Joe Bean today" he went
on. waving her remarks aside. And
what do YOU suppose he had the nerve
TO sayf Just this, I'm bringing you a
nice fat turkey tonight. colonel as
much ss TO say. 'won't you have my
present ready for me to take back
when ] calif The smart old codger -
what did you say. fatherf hope
you didn't hurt his feelings. Joe is
well meaning. and loves 10 do for 9TH
efs. excused Mrs. Drake.
"You know the name OF the place
that Is paved with good Intentions OF
Just such fools. :" snapped the colonel.
knocking the ashes from his pipe and
hiiing IL with fresh tobacco. "Zoundsl
how I hate the word Christmas"
The Christ Child's birthday. dad
dy" reproaehed yesta boldly. heap