Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
AND ON EARTH
Il Christmas
Romance:

III land one light shone. Bertha Millet
~ saw the light, and hated it,
Snow flakes were whirling against
the glass. There was wind. Her first
night in the hills was to be a night of storm.
She only hoped that Carl would come with her
mail and her supplies before the storm grew
fierce This would be his last trip up into the
hills before Christmas-only three days away.
Christmas! The first Christmas day that
she had ever spent alone
How they were talking down in the valley.
"Bart Millet's wife-yes, the Tightly one. No
wonder he left her for Jane Graham, a sober,
quiet, Industrious creature, who understood all
that he had put up with from Bertha who was
no housekeeper. Jane was 80, widow with
girl of 8. She must have pitied hin-poor
Bart. Not that Bart had done right-nobody
was defending him-but to understand weak
ness was your duty AS for that Bertha Milet,
with her independence and her high ways who
. could understand her? Who wanted to under
stand her?"
She could hear their voices as if they were
rising from the valley. She listened for the
sound of Carls car coming up the Glen road,
but all that she heard was the roll of voices.
She knew what else they said.
"And Bart Millet's DEATH" they were saying
"was Bertha's fault and nobody else's. Because,
If Bart hadn't gone OF with Jane, he wouldn't
have hired out to the lumber camp-and the
raft wouldn't have drowned him. Bertha killed
him just as much as if she'd pushed him of the
trying to keep her girl Anne of in school
away from gossip"
1t was James light which Bertha could see
across the valley Bertha stood at the window
watching for Carl and thinking how perfectly
neat the room was where that far lamp was
Eet-the room which she herself had never kept
IN order. But Bertha had left that house on
the day after Bart had gone. She had lived
on in the town in a boarding house And now
James light shone across the mile of fiat pas
kHHPA into has aR1O<ln vnInA
set up in the hills, the farm which had be-
longed to Bertha's father.
FOR the last fortnight, Bertha knew, that
light had Shone on some one besides Jane
Graham-Millet. It had been shining on Anne,
James daughter home for the Christmas hoi-
days, home for the first time since the upheaval.
Bertha wondered If she knew. The valley and
the village wondered If she knew
Poor little thingi OF course, she couldn't
understand like the rest of us. She'll think her
mother has done something awful. She won't
know what kind Of a cook Bertha was. Mebbe
some Of us could kind of explain like her
mother can't"
Bertha had no doubt that somebody had ex-
planned. The wind was strong and it beat upon
the house. Bertha had on the kettle to make
coffee for Carlisle could make good coffee
even If the valley hadn't liked her way of serV-
ing vegetables and salads instead Of pastry and
CAKE Anu CaTl cOulQ eat at any moment OF the
day or night. She had loved him from his lit
tie boyhood, when he had run over from the
adjoining farm and asked her to tell him story.
She had opened to him q new world, and he
admired her increasingly when his two years Of
college were done and he had come back to
manage his fathers farm. He was her one link
with the world now, she told herself But they
must have it understood that on a night like
this he must not drive up with her provisions
Snow was falling that she could hardly see
James light. She turned away and the wind
was so strong that she did not hear the sound
of Carts car until he had driven into her yard
She flung open the door and ne came in, and
the room filled with the odor Of the cold and
with flying snow. The lamp fickered, the fire
leaped in the draft and his presence seemed to
wake the air.
I'm a sight, Mrs. Mllet" he said 1.-THE
snow came in even through the Windshield I'd
just drop the basket and go, only"
He looked at her and at the window, caked
with the fakes
Take OF your coat" she cried 'ITl have
some coffee in 10 minutes-but it'll only take
me secondr"
They laughed. as they had always laughed
together. She was actually bustling-the valley
would not have believed it of her-getting ready
his supper.
He did not take of his coat, but made in
effective dabs with his cap beating away the
snow. His face was brown and firm, his blond
hair was thick.
"I can't" he said 1T must get straight OH
tonight"
She turned. why my dear! I haven't seen
you'll haven't seen anybody since you were
here last week. OF course" she caught herself
II don't want to see anybody-but do want 10
see you--"
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