The Hope pioneer., 1922-06-22

very red and cross and he stalkcd
away with never-will-I-darken-th
door-again kind Of step, just as far as
could see him.
l don't know, of course. what will
happen next, nor whether he'll ever
come back for Theresa but shouldn't
think even she would want him, after
this. if she found out
And now, where's my love story CON-
ing in, should like to know?
TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS
Another wonderful thing has. hap
pened. I've had a letter from Father
from Father IA letter-me!
1t came this morning. Mother
brought it in to me. She looked queer
"a little. There were two red spots
In her cheeks, and her eyes were
very bright.
II think you have Il letter here from
your father" she said, handing it
out.
l could see she was wondering what
could be in it. But guess she wasn't
wondering any more than was, only
l was gladder to get it than she was,
l suppose. Anyhow, when she saw
how glad l was, and how jumped for
tine letter, she drew back, and looked
somehow as if shed been hurt, and
said:
81 did not know, Marie, that letter
from-your father would mean so
much to YOU"
l don't know what l did say to that.
guess l didn't say anything. I'd al
| ready begun to read the letter, and
was in such a hurry to find out what
he'd said.
Ill copy it here. 1t wasn't long.
1t was like this:
"My Dear Mary:
'Some way Christmas has made me
think of you. wish l had sent YOU
some gift. Yet have not the slightest
idea what would please you. TO tell
the truth, tried to find something
but had to give it up.
Il am wondering if you had good
time, and what you did. After all, I'm
pretty sure you did have good time,
for you are Marie now. You see, I
have not forgotten how tired you got
of being-Mary. Well, we'll, do not
know as l can blame you.
"And now that I have asked what
you did for Christmas, suspect it is
no more than a fair turnabout to tell
YOU what did. suppose had a very
good time. Your Aunt Jane says
did. I heard her telling one of the
neighbors that last night. She had
very fine dinner, and she invited Mrs.
Darling and Miss Snow and Miss Sam
born to eat it with us. She said she
didn't want me to feel lonesome. But
you can feel real lonesome in a crowd
sometimes. Did you know that Mary?
"But left them to their chatter aft
er dinner and went out to the observa-
tory. l think must have fallen asleep
on the couch there, for it was quite
dark when I awoEe But didn't mind
that, for there were some observations
l wanted to take 1t was beautifully
clear night, so stayed there till near
ly morning
"How about it, 1 suppose Marie
plays the piano every day, now, doesn't
she? The piano here hasn't been
touched since you went away. Oh,
yes' it was touched once. Your aunt
played hymns on it for a missionary
meeting.
"Well, what did you do Christmas7
Suppose you write and tell
"Your Father"
I'd been reading the letter out loud,
and when l got through Mother was
pacing up and down the room. For
a minute she didn't say anything; then
she whirled round suddenly and faced
me- and said, just as If something in
side of her was making her say it:
Il notice there is no mention Of
your mother in that letter, Marie.
suppose-your father has quite forgot
ten that there is such a person in the
world as-I."
But told her no, oh, no, and that
l was sure he remembered her, for he
used to ask me questions often about
what she did, and the violinist and all.
"The violinist!" cried Mother, whirl-
ing around on me again. (She'd be-
gun to walk up and down once more)
"You don't mean to say you ever told
your father about him."
"Oh, no, not everything" I explained,
trying to show how patient l was, so
she would be patient. too. (But it
didn't work.) II couldn't tell him
everything because everything hadn't
happened then. But I told about his
being here, and about the Others too;
but, of course, I said didn't know
which you'd take, and"
"You told him you didn't know which
I'd take!" gasped Mother.
CTO BE CONT1NUED.)
After Election.
'"The candidate shakes you by the