Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-01-20
J. |B|' |
by CLARA G. HOLMES

"DlueDerry CABIN, watching the fire.
blackened skeletons Of pine trees being
shattered in the December gale. It
was only four days before Christmas.
yet Martha's heart was>as desolate as
that forbidding wasteland stretching
acres to the eastward. l..
Beside her upon the windowsill,
purred Bumpus. She stroked him and
confided to him her troubles.
1T might have been very different
with us, Bumpus, if someone had not
erred so fearfully."
Co-incidentally, the words, ITO err
is human" fitted into her mind. Her
face frightened.
''I'll do it, Bumpus! Anything Is bet
ter than living useless existence be-
cause one hates somebody. But oh,
Bumpus, Anne did wrong me SO spite
fully! She may not have invented the
unreasonable falsehoods; but she en-
couraged - she persuaded Carlton
Burns into believing them. Because
I was sensitive, I was hurt terribly !;
SC I ran away to free Carlton-yes.
Bumpus, I i'm away from him." she
concluded, bursting into sobs.
Anyway I'll send Anne a Christmas
greeting" she continued, clinging to
her purpose, "but can't buy anything
out here. What am I to do, Bumpus?'
A moment after Martha had asked
the question, ahthe cat jumped down
from the windowsill and ran for the
loft stairs and Martha followed him.
Bumpus stationed himself vigilantly
at the caves. AS Martha glanced
around, her attention was caught by
a trunk WHICH had not been opened
since her sister had died, more than
a year before.
''Poor Lina's gowns used to fit Anne
Grant. Anne has become impoyer-
ished; it seems as If she is being
punished for her Jealous intriguing -
reasoned unsophisticated Martha.
II can't bear to wear these pretty
things; wonder If con persuade N.Y.
self to give Anne this silk kimono,"
she faltered, lifting beautiful gown
from it's place.
Then she sat down to write a note,
but her hand trembled and teardrops
fell on the script.
"Dear Anne Grant-The Bankville
News says you have had i'll luck. l
| want you to know that I am sorry. I
am mailing you a Christmas remem-
brance-the kimono Lima never was
able to wear. Lima was fond of you.
II presume you guessed why I
turned cynic-I tried to be kind to
grandmother-it crushed me COM
pletely when folks gossiped, after she
had gone, saying that had abused
her. I suppose I was 0ver-sensitive,
too, in regard to Carlton but assert
now, as did then, that liked Carlton
for himself alone and not for his heir
ship to the mill property, as Carlton
was led to believe was true. I am
staying. on my BURBERRY farm. In
| memo ry Of Lina-and Christmas-and
our own early friendship, am truly
wishing you, and all the old friends,
happy Christmas-tide.
"Your once confidante,
Martha Bradwell. y
Martha courageously- went out into
the storm to carry her letter and
parcel to her mail box, which was
nearly mile away. When she re-
turned, she passed long hours in sus-
pense, wondering how Anne would &C
cept the gift. BY noon the postman
came, having put himself out Of his
way in order to deliver letter. The
message was from Anne.
my dear old chum-We are so glad
to hear from you-no one knew
whether you were living or dead. You
mention some gossip. VIII you kindly
reflect that there were others am
bilious for Cartons friendship as well
as myself? We are sorry you were so
deeply hurt. Do you mind if we plan
a sleighing party, and drive over when
the road gets good?
~ am sure you never will regret
having shown 50 genuine a Christmas
spirit That this may be your happiest,
merriest Christmas, is the wish Of
"Anne Grant"
'Happiest Christmas" Martha's eyes
filled with bitter. tears; the words
were filled with. hollow: mockery.
Suppressing her anger, Martha
watched the snow begin to fall When
Christmas morning dawned, Martha
wept again in loneliness.
Suddenly she sprang up. Someone
! was knocking loudly, and she dare
not open the door to a stranger. The
? intruder came to the window.
'Don't be afraid, Martha for Jupi-
ter's sake, let me in!" he commanded.
She was soothed by the familiar
voice; mechanically she opened the
door.
It takes something more than a
northeast blizzard to deter Yankee.
'Hullo, Martha he greeted, "aren't
you going to welcome a fellow who
has wallowed miles to get to your
She let him seize her almost mani
mate hands.
MARTHA" he bantered to dispel her
bewilderment, "hOnest, I am real and
human, even If I am covered with lei
cles. Anne sent for me to tell me you
were here. She was trying to tell me
something about somebody's grand
! mother, the great Jupiter knows what,
! don't"
Martha forced back a flow of tears
and flashed Carlton one Of her win