Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-03-16
BUMPUS
BY CLARA c. HOLMES

Martina STOOD at the WlnuOW OIL ncE
"~blueberry'' cabin, watching the fire.
blackened skeletons of pine trees being
shattered in the December gale. 1t
was only four days before Christmas,
yet Martha's heart was as desolate as
that f%orbidding wasteland stretching
acres to the eastward.
Beside her upon the ~windowsill,
purred Bumpus. She stroked him and
confided to him her troubles.
at 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.
"IIl do it, Bumpusl Anything is bet
ter than living a useless existence be-
one hates somebody. But oh,
Bumpus, Anne did wrong me so spite
fully! She may not nave invented the
unreasonable falsehoods; but she en-
couraged = she persuaded Carlton
Burns into believing them. Because
l was sensitive, / was hurt terribly;
so / ran away to free Carlton-yes,
Bumpus, l ran away from him. she
concluded, bursting into sobs.
Anyway I'll send Anne a Christmas
greeting" she continued, clinging to
her purpose, 'but 1 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
a year before.
"Poor Lina's gowns used to fit Ann
Grant. Anne has become impover-
ished; it seems as if she is being
punished for her Jealous intriguing
reasoned unsophisticated Martha.
81 can't pear to wear these pretty
things I wonder if l can persuade my
self to give Anne this silk kimono,"
she faltered, lifting a beautiful gown
from its 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. /
am mailing you a Christmas remem-
brance-the kimono Lima never was
able to wear. Lima was fond of you.
ST presume you guessed why 1
turned cynic-I tried to be kind to
grandmother-it crushed me COM
pletely when folks gossiped. after she
he'd gone, saying that I had abused
her. I suppose / was ~over-sensitive,
too, in regard to Carlton; but I assert
now, as l did then, that I 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
memory of Lina-and Christmas-and
our own early friendship, 7 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 &C
cept the gift. BY noon the postman
came, having put himself out of his
way in order to deliver a 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. Will 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 o mind if 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 happiests
merriest Christmas, is the wish of
"Anne Grant"
"Happiest Christmas! :" Martha's eyes
filed with bitter tears; the words
we're filed with hollow mockery.
SURPRISING 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.
Gsnon,t no afraid Martha for ,Jupi-
ter's sake, let me in" he commanded.
She was soothed by the familiar
voice; mechanically she opened the
door.
1t takes something more than a
northeast blizzard to deter a 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