The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-03-23
CHAPTER Ill


surprise assisted by Uncle Charlie. 1t
was starred all over with tiny bulbs
and the wax angel hung at the top
just as 1t had hung always. The angel
and JAMIE were twins. Uncle Charlie
had brought 1t from Germany for
JAMES first Christmas tree.
Christmas day was happy time;
snow and sunshine outside; hope in
side, and misty smiles and a letting
down after the strain. Mother came
home to stay. Hugh whlstled in the
bathroom again. Rachel cried into
the turkey stuffing, which didn't hurt
it at all. Stoney almost roasted them
out so faithfully did he tend the fur
mace. Celia wore an uplifted express
sion. jamie smiled her wide gay
smile. "Father Is BETTER" they told
each other at intervals during the
day.
There were presents. JAMIE was
awakened by rough pink tongue
ecstatically licking her cheeks The
tongue was part Of small Scotch ter
rier, ugly and perky and lovable. His
eyes were as bright as shoe buttons.
One ear stood erect and the other
Topped, which gave him a saucy ex-
preston. He wore Scotch plaid col
lar. banded and buckled with brass.
There was a card attached:
For good little egg
From Hugh"
"You darling!" jamie whispered and
Rugged the small Scotch dog very
hard.
II love him, Hugh" she said at
breakfast and smiled her wide gay
smile.
His name is 'Kiltie'." Hugh looked
happy this morning. "You can change
it if you like"
TITS lovely name" She was eat
ing breakfast with the small black
dog in her lap.
"You mustn't, Jane" Mother said.
You'll teach him very bad manners
"It's Christmas and Father is bet
ter" She made song of 1t. The
laughing notes, which had for so long
been hushed, sprinkled themselves
through the air.
Mother smiled and forgot to worry
about "Kiltie's" learning bad manners.
Eyes, Father is BETTER" she said.
Rachel, coming In with a pile of
golden-brown waffles, looked with
glum disapproval at the button eyes
and jaunty ear perked up above the
edge Of the table.
'Is we all gwine to be pestered wild
another dawg?" she inquired of the
family at large.
do you call that varmint of Celia's
dog?" 1t was lovely to have Hugh
teasing again and smiling his crinkly
smile.
AUNT Rose likes Tweedles.'" Celia
was admiring the shine Of a jeweled
bracelet. Il think I'll give him to
her."
"Praise Gawdr' Rachel exclaimed
and slapped down the plate of waffles.
Later, in the living room, Hugh
thanked JAMIE for his handkerchiefs.
did you really make themT' he
asked.
EVERY single stitch"
They're grand. Nobody ever sewed
things for me before"
"The initials are wobbly." Janie's
expression was apologize. "Those
curly ks are very hard to manage"
Il think they're beautiful" He
selected the handkerchief with the
most uneven initials and tucked 1t
into the breast pocket Of his coat.
81 shall wear one every day of my
life-right here tucked in with your
SMILE"
He swung her up from the floor and
lightly kissed her brow where the
chestnut hair grew down in a peak.
For moment the wax angel on the
tree seemed to be swimming in a
misty blur of green. Then jamie was
admiring Celia's gifts and feeling bet
ter again.
II never saw anything so lovely"
Celia's fingers were caressing petal
tinted trifles of lace and ribbon and
silk.
at looks like box of sweet-peas,"
jamie said admiringly. She read the
message on a thick creamy card:
For Hugh's pretty Celia
''From Hugh's sister Louise"
Hugh's pretty Celia! It hurt for a
moment Then she could bear it. Per-
haps, after a while. it would hurt
hardly at all.
"Hugh sent her my picture" Celia
was saying. I'VE were to visit her
for New Years. l suppose it's out
of the question now"
ENTIRELY out Of the question"
Hugh was standing with his arm
around Celia. But out of his breast
pocket poked the edge of handker-
chief marked with uneven initials. It
was comforting, for some peculiar rea-
son that jamie could not understand.
Il wanted to CO." Celia sighed.
A fretful shadow slipped across her
face It was gone In moment. jamie
saw 1t. Hugh could not have seen it
at all. He was looking at Celia's hair,