Winslow daily mail., 1926-12-19

azs-Is
-9 sa&-z1 81 -E5 5Ll way craL
c7ered. rs wouid give her all he
had. 7 was enough to Keep her
from worrying about her imme-
diate wants for some time and save
her from sacrificingSlpf soul and
body to loyeless marriage. Per
haps in the meantifae tie other
chap might wake up aud realize
what "a peach Of a girl Margaret
was.
what an idiot he must be-" Tom
uttered to himself. mot to grab up
girl like Margaret@when he has
the chance"
Riotous thoughts ran through his
mind as the slow moving: train ad-
vanced toward the village. For the
time being his errand and moi
what its outcomes might, be out
weighed the gloolals s9f lie 7fmpend-
ing doom that hung over his own
life. His thoughts were on am
others trouble rather than his
own. He wondered If perchance
she might already be married Peo-
pie did such things on Christmas
Eve, and it was late fall when he
last talked with Margaret. With
the thought came tightening of
his heart. 1t was the first warning,
Tom knew.
The train fairly crawled. 1t was
an hour late. Tom remembered 1t
was always an hour or so late on
Christmas Eve. 1t had been so
every year, he recalled. He was
surprised that he hadn't thought
of that before. In the maze of
his harassed brain he hoped the
deadly odor would not take effect
too soon. He had too much to do
first.
At last the train drew in at the
station. There was no taxi. There
never were taXis at Smithsville;
but other years Margaret had met
him. He stepped out, almost ex-
pecting to see her laughing well
coming Merry Christmas at him.
He almost felt disappointed, and
again that queer little sensation
about the heart, RECALLING to him
the Importance of losing no times
Without reason, from force of
habit, Tom went directly to the old
house of Margaret's aunt. The
house was in total darkness, but
Tom gave the old-fashioned bell a
vigorous pull and its ring seemed
to SOlemnly re-echo on the ch1l
wintry air-notsat all like Christ
mas chime came the unsolicited
thought to Tom. The house was
dark it might be empty, but Tom
was going to be sure. Again and
again he pulled down the bell. Ages
seemed to Tom before a light ap-
peared and big, burly, Peter Kline,
arrayed in night apparel, threw
wide open the door.
''Is some one sick or dying this
night that you raise such a hula
baloo at mans doOrW
He lowered the lamp and peered
at Tom.
$50 it's you? I'll be gol-darned.
You're white as a sheet. What's
ailin' you? Come in Come in y
He fairly pushed Tom in, bang
ing the door behind them.
All the time Tom had been ask.
ing for Margaret, but Peter appar'
emily -sheard nothing until they
were in the cozy living room wheref
embers still glowed in the old
fashioned fireplace.
rs it Margaret you're seeking?
Glad enough. + ana-.ihatsSsnu:yf. & ceIAe-
to at last. Married to me, did you
say? Certainly moi. ssF married the
Widow Stone at Thanksgiving. I'm
not the sort of man that wants to
marry girl WHO loves some one
else. Margaret lives over at Neigh
Dor Lewis. Some ones up"
Peter unceremOniOusly ushered
Tom out into the night.
Tom never knew quite how he
got across the street to the
Lewises, but it was Margaret her
self who opened the door Neither
did he know how it came about
that Margaret was in his arms.
1t was later when they got their
breath and senses that Tom re-
,,,aYobopoI n I G