The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-03-10
BUMPUS
by CLARA c. HOLMES


Martha stood at the window of her
'blueberry" cabin, watching the fire.
blackened skeletons OF pine trees being
shattered In the December gale. II
was only four days before Christmas.
yet Martha's heart was as desoatc rs
that fOrbldding wasteland stretching
acres To tie eastward.
Beside her upon the windowsll.
purred Bumpus. She stroked him and
confided to him her troubles.
ut 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
"Ill do IL, Bumpu9 Anything Is bet.
ter than living n 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
] was sensitive, | was hurt terribly;
50 ! ran away to free Carlton-yes,
Bumpus. ! ran away from him. she
concluded, bursting into sobs.
Anyway I'll send Anne a Christmas
greeting" she continued. cllngng n
her purpose, but can't buy anything
out here. What am to do, Bumpus,"
A moment after Martha had asked
the question. the 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
year before.
Poor Lina's gowns used to Iii Anne
Grant. Anne has become impover-
ished; IL seems ms II she is being
punished for her Jealous intriguing"
reasoned unsophistcated Martha.
81 can't bear to wear these pretty
things; wonder If can persuade my
self 10 give Anne this silk kimono."
she faltered. lifting a beautiful gown
from IFS place.
Then she sat down 10 write n note,
but her hand trcmbled and teardrops
fell ON the script.
"Deqr Anrc Grant-The Bankville
News says you have had III luck.
want you TO know that am sorry. |
am mailing you a Christmas remem-
brance-the kimono Lima never was
able 10 wear. Lima was fond Of you.
II presume you guessed why !
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. suppose l was over-sensitive,
too, I'm regard to Carlton; but l assert
now, as I did then, that liked Carlton
for himself alone and not for his heir
ship TO the mill property. as Carlton
was led 10 believe was true. am
staying on my BURBERRY farm. In
memory Of Lina-and Christmas-and
our own early friendship, / am truly
wishing you, and all the old friends
a happy Christmas-tide.
"Your once confidante.
martha Bradwell."
Martha courageously went out into
the storm to carry her letter and
parcel to her mail box, which was
nearly a mile away. When she re.
turned. she passed long hours In sus-
pense. wondering how Anne would ac-
cept the gift By noon the postman
came. having put himself out OF his
Tn nrda 70 hnl lott hsa
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 II we plan |
a sleighing party, and drive over when |
the road gets good?
81 am sure you never will regret |
having shown so genuine a Christmas
spirit That this may be your happlest,
merriest Christmas, Is the. wish Of
"Anne Grant"
'Happiest Christmas |" Marthas eyes |
filed with bitter tears; the words !
were filed with hollow mockery !
Suppresslng 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 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
II 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