The Colfax chronicle., 1922-12-30

OON V
windows was not untidy but held
several opened books and many letters
strewn about a letter file.
One of the large armchairs stood
In front of the massive coal stove In
which the blue flames danced like lit
tie elves upon the red Goals, defying
heartily the bowling wind outside.
Some one seemed to have been pres
ent recently. The chair held bath
robe, the cord of which dangled care
lessly on the floor, and the tassel Of
which rested upon an open letter be-
low it. Some one had been reading old
letters and that person was cozily
nestled in the bath robe. His tousled
head of grey rested on the back OF
the chair. He was sleeping and GER
tainly was having the happiest of
dreams for a smile took possession Of
his face. The flames Joined in the
happy mood by dancing higher and
faster. Even peaceful and happy
hours have endings. Mrs. Bohnenstock
had come quietly into the room and
gently shook her husband.
mo, no, Helen" said the man with
out opening his eyes, II am too old to
dance and romp."
"Helen? Whom are you talking Oft
do believe you have been dreaming" /"
answered his wife,
At the sound of her voice, he was
entirely awakened and arose from the
chair. He staggered about before he
regained all consciousness and his
arms and legs ached from their
. cramped position. II guess I've been
dreaming, Molly, 1t seems as though
I'd been asleep for a whole year. Molly
dear, why didn't you call me? My
stock must be fed and it's way past
feeding time now"
'Do not worry about your stock,
George. It has all been taken care Of.
John Uglow came over this afternoon
and we talked about our Christmases
when our boys were small. When It
began to grow dusk, he said that ]
should not disturb you and that he
would feed the stock"
"Well, Molly, so you and John talked
over the Christmases we had with our
little boys" said Mr.. Bohnenstock
sinking back into his chair and beck.
oning his wife to sit on the arm Of It.
az am glad to see that others miss
those beautiful holidays and the whole
month before. when the air was full
Of mysteries"
'.Oh, George, now know what you
were talking Of when came to wake
you" Molly said, running her fingers
through his tousled hair. .Tell me
about it."
IT was reading some Of the letters
from Henry, for I'd been thinking Of
him all day." began her husband.
'sThe last letter I read was the one
we got from him last year just before
jChristmas, in which he told us how he
and Jane were planning Christmas for
! the youngsters, and how he hoped that
another year he would be home with
us. I sat here recalling the many
Christmases you and had planned
for our children. Molly, do you re.
member the year we had the Uglow
boys over for Christmas eve?" he ex'
citedly continued, half rising from his
chair as the happy past came back to
his mind in jumbled snatches. II can
see them now, the four boys and two
girls sitting around this very stove.
telling the Christmas stories which
they had learned in school. Then, how
their eyes bulged and their mouths
opened when Santa came into the
room. The children danced with glee,
but the girls were bit timid. The
boys, however, were real chummy and
asked Santa many embarrassing Ques.
tions about his trips. /.
All this he said slowly. pausing now
and then SO that he could live 1t over
again. He looked up into Molly's face,
for she had been very quiet. and there
be saw big tear drops rolling slowly
down her thin cheeks which now
showed a delicate pink flush.
'sWell, well, Molly" began her hus-
band.
"Don't George. know it's foolish
for me to cry, but I wish we could
have 4 tree and children to fuss Tor.
Christmas comes and goes now with
out much excitement and It makes me
feel as though I'm getting awfully
old"
SsMolly, let's hare tree and we win
get ready for Christmas Just as we
did long ago."
The next morning. the. happy eou-
pie took a trip to the woods to chooes
Ia tree, By the twenty-secoud Of De-
,cember. all the things were iinished.
George found Molly sitting before the
| iire looking very sober.