The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-23
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Lost: As sprig Of
Mistletoe
-ey II. LOUIS RAYBoLp

fashion gay Christmas wreaths for
, city. trade.
Looks like somebody had been
here before usln exclaimed saran,
the older but less near.sIghted Of
the two, as she peered over her
classes at unmistakable foot.
prints In the messy ground. "Won.
der who 'twian
Hmm-bet you it's that Miller
girl. She makes 'em up every
year Funny what happened tn
bust up her and that nice Toni
Willian1s. Course she goes arounl
town pretending she doesn't care
that he threw her over, but-why
Whit
> THE two women stopped short,
their ehabby-bonnetted heads bent
strife forward the bette 10 hear
9th ears that were not very
<oung the odd sounds issuing from
Q small semi:circle OF stunted
cedars In the sheltered hollow.
Sobs- long; shivering sobs. That's
what the Hopkins girls heard.
Sarah gazed In embarrassment
at Sister Carrie. then, taking the
initatiye as became her superior
years stalked tesolutely forward
70 Investigate, while Carrie follow
ed AZ her heels. There within the
twilIg2dt protection OF the shrubby
eyergfeens, face down on the
damp earth, lay the slight quive"-
ing figure Of Kitty Miller, a half.
filled basket OF Creeping Jenny
beside her proclaiming the errand
ON which she had come.
For her weeping there appeared
no apparent explanation. saran
conghed nervously. Carrie follow.
ed her example. Kitty sat sudden.
~ erect, sitting the sobbing
breaths which were on the way
and making a pretense at compos.
ure. Thought nobodyid find nc
here. she said. Game up to get
stuff for wreaths.
YOU you seem to be unhappy
or-or tlpset!" Sarah's attempt
at sympathy succeeded In render.
ing her voice gruff and Kitty, alert
like all young things to resent
pity, shrank.
s1t,s nothing she mutterel, al.
most sulIenly. "Got thinking.
That's all, Gee, It's late and Aunt
Hat will be furicats. Going along. .
SHE picked up her basket and
turned away.
That evening the annual pro-
Christmas discussion as to whom
they would entertain on the holi
day took place In the tiny but
coy Hopkins Sitting room. Eacn
gear for many years 1t had been
Sarahts Sand Carries custom to in.
yite some person who would not
be otherwise looked out for to
share their hospitality, frugal al.
though It was forced to be. Thin
year Sarah spo%& for a distant
conSih, and wondered why Carrie
was slow In acquetseclng. ~
Had you ever thought, Sarah
must be sort OF queer Christ.
mas for a young girl living with
HIT Smith that isn't really any re.
lation and Hats close.flsted hus.
band?Hs
srah's lips Strengthened in
cold thin line. eva syou thinking
Of asking her hereY she inquired
coldly.
mo, no. No, indeed, only poor
thing; she did look kind OF young
and nitiful today"
Satahs expression .softened at
lie memory OF tthe slim, shaking
figure she had seen beneath the
cedars. .tsyery we'll, Carrie, we'll
ask Kitty Miller. Only l don't ex.
peot that Christmas with two old
hens will suit her much better
than the one she's used tot" Which
words gaye Carrie pause.
However, Kitty accepted and the
my before Christmas found the
Hopkins girls in q great hustle o!
preparation, "Be sure you make y
plenty iof cranb'ry sauce, Sarah,
md + l, tpunkin pies" admonishet
Carrier. NO use skimping."
Land sakes, Carrie" calculated
Sarah impatiently. Never got up
20 much OF a dinner before. You
must think Kitty Miller's got the
appetiteSof six starving soldiers.
the waysyou keep at me to provide
enough victuals. But look here.
Carrie, see what / found uptownl
Dropped by somebody" Sarah
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