The Bismarck tribune., 1934-10-05

Mrs. Stoare was happy % 80 her.
She put down the goose she was
dressing, dried her hands, and took
the chrysanthemums from Malcolm.
II never saw such biz onesl" she
exclaimed In delight. HHow nice Of
You, dear, 70 bring them yourself.
Here, Malcolm, reach down that biz
pitcher for me until I fnd somsthin0
better 70 put them In"
Relieved Of the flowers she turned
back to Caroline. "Let me look at
you. Still too thin, but you're
stronger, aren't you? Poor child. !"
She added the last word IN tender
est sympathy, shaking her head.
Caroline struggled 70 keep back her
tears.
"There, there, cry II you feel like
It, Mrs. Stuart soothed, "it wouldn't
be natural II you didn't want b On
tho first Christina"
"Bnt it.::it won't Do any good !.
Caroline said brokenly. "And It viii
be harder for Father II let go.'
She held out her left hand. HE gave
me Mothers wedding ring" she
added in . whisper. Suddenly she
looked up at Malcolm. "0h," she
said. ''you saw H. didn't youf And
you thought that :"
sYou were married, !" he admitted.
Mrs. Stuart frowned. "Malcolm,
how could she when :. :" she stopped
in embarrassment,
@Please," Caroline begeed, 'lsta
not talk about mo. ] came 70 thank
you for tho cake, Mrs. Stuart. /
know IL win b delicious Wen cut
It ct dinner. Father and ! will Be
alone. Mrs. Stevenson wants 70 70
to her sons after she's roasted our
turkey"
sChristmas alone isn't Christ
mas" Mrs. Stuart said sadly. 'lfal.
colin and ] hoped his Uncle Dan
would come with his family and
spend the day with rs but they had
to 60 to his wife's folks. We're Just
going 70 have . goose al by our
selves"
"Why,s Caroline cried, ''that's
silly, isn't i'll You two alone, and
Father and I. There must be some
family in the nsighborhood that
would like . goose. Let's dnd one,
and then you and Malcolm can help
us eat the turkey. Il would cheer
Father immensely. And ! just can't
bear the thought Of that lonely din
nsr. Say you'll come-please."
The day, from that point on. BE-
came BRIGHTER for all Of them. al.
though the snow cpntinued to fall
in fakes % heavy and thick that
the daylight was turned into . sem-
blance Of dusk.
Caroline brought out more red
candles and softened the rooms With
their light. There vas . bowl Of
poinsettias on the dining table and
red candles there, too.
Mr.. Rutledge mixed the Christ
mas drink from IN old family recipe
and they drank to each others good
cheer. Mrs. Stuart watched him,
first In anxiety, then in surprise
and finally In newly found respect
% the dinner progressed and he
served the wine that Howard had
brought, iilling his own glass only .
second time and thereafter Leaving
It untouched.
And he had carved the turkey
beautifully. Mrs. Stevenson had de-
clared it ready to serve, partaken
Of the toddy with them, and de-
parted. Caroline had decorated II
and Malcolm had carried il 70 the
table.
By common consent no one spoke
Of sadness except during the brief
moment when Philip stood before
Alva's portrait-the one rare pos.
session left to him-with bowed
head and trembling lips.
The dinner WAS not without IN.
terruptions, however. Every hour
10 messenger boy arrived with .
telegram for Caroline-a series that
Howard had arranged in advanes.
There was, after she had read them,
. brighter light In her eyes, but
upon returning to her guests she
avoided Malcolm's gase: He seemed
% pathstically happy. She hoped hs
had not guessed what the messages
were, but if hs had she did not want
him TO zee how much they pleased
her, letting her know that Howard
hated having to spend the day away
from her . much @ che herself
hated It.
Il would Be. che hoped, their last
Christmas apart But Il Il were not
we'll. she would b IN her own
home, II his home, ahd Howard
would not 60 on forever With Q ~
cret marriage merely because o6 his
fathers disapproval
She held some vague, high hope
that Howard would UVonfualIy eaxvo