Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-20
s.

house"
Vesta smiled warly, as she replen-
ished the fire, tossing onto the Goals
a handful Of phosphorescent powder,
the colors Of which flashed up Instant
ly, Illuminating the tree with Won
derful iridescent light A long silence
followed.
High priestess of the sacred fire."
began Phil gently, fairy godmother, or
whatever thou art, hear the crunch
ing Of heavy footsteps on your gravel
path. Shall intercept the gentleman,
and spare thy fathers wrath"
"Oh, do" begged she. "This Christ
mas Of ours is getting rather interest
Ing, isn't IT." she added with forced
! laugh.
"Told you so! One can expect any
thing now," he prophesied as he tip
toed to the door and swung 1t open.
81 owe you an apology, for coming at
this hour. but you can understand my
anxiety, am sure" began the caller.
At the sound of the deep, manly
VOICE Vesta swayed like lily on tall,
slender stalk. There was blur before
her eyes, and the sound Of distant mu-
sic In her ears. 1t was the carolers,
Of course, for she had always prided
herself that she was not one Of the
falnting kind.
Sweetheart Vesta!" came a far
away voice. Beloved! Open your
eyes. Look at me-" he added compell-
ingly.
"John!" whispered she, unbelieving-
ly, "John !" world of longing in the
name. Suddenly she remembered, and
drawing herself up proudly she led the
way to the spare room. II forgot Z.
you came to get your babies. They
are in there" she commenced duly.
"Not anticipating your arrival, we
trimmed a Christmas tree for them"
THAT was just like you, Sweetheart
Vesta," he said tenderly, linking her
arm in his, "but 1t happens they are
not my babies. They belong to my
brother Luke, who died In France.
Their mother died when they were
born. I was on my way with them to
spend the holidays with their GRANDPA
ther and my sister Elsie in New
Haven"
"Oh |" yesta's laugh rip
pied out like Christmas chime. "Oh
/. They said their names were
Bulge and Teddy, that they were on
their way to heaven to see grandpa
and Aunt Elsie in new heaven and
they talked about Daddy john" But
her voice was muffed on the shoulder
nearest her. Phil had discreetly with
drawn.
Their names are Helen and John,"'
he managed to say betlpes, "and 4
funny little pair they are. They have
insisted on calling themselves Bulge
and Toddy. It is a childish fancy
from which we have been unable to
snake them"
In the morning when the colonel and
Mrs. Drake came downstairs, they were
met with vociferous, Merry 'Tls-
mus, g'anpa. Merry 'Tismus, gamma u
whats that! What's thatp
stormed the colonel as they hugged his
legs and begged him to play "Ride a
Cock Horse" "That I will, yor hjoung
rascals," he began, "but 1t seems to
me It's time for my daughter to make
explanations. Ladies' don't generally
acquire a full-grown family over
night" he bantered.
With the exception of the most i'm
portant item Vesta omitted no detail
Of the previous evenings experience.
"Be still, you young rascals" blus-
tered the colonel. II can't even hear
myself think" he said, pretending to
be very angry and pounding on the
floor with his stick. Whereupon they
clambered over him all the more, beg
ging tributes for their wonderful tree,
"Sume Christmas tree! Eth, uncleT
said Phil merrily.
'It's not bad" admitted the colonel
casually, "and by the way, Vesta, you
might telephone over to Nora that
we're expecting her and Don and the
children early today. Then, when
you're through with that I'd be obliged
10 you If you would telephone John
Denton to come over to breakfast. I'd
have asked him myself, but didn't
want to disturb your little tete-a-tete
when came down at midnight to see
what the fuss was all about :"
Merry Christmas, daddy, dear"
cried vesta gaily, implanting kiss
squarely on his mouth, which he
straightway pretended to wipe of.
Many happy returns, little girl, to
you sns John, eh, mother?" he said
with resounding thump Of his stick
on the hearth.
HOT DOGS SUSPICIOUS.