The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-12-20
IMPENDING
DOOM!
Wherein the Forces Of Nature and
Human Kindness Teach Hardron, a
Force of Material Might, the Meaning
of Christmas Good VIII.

OF Christmas Good Will
"Iiar-just on H." said Clemmy
calmly from the door.
you're for it," the boy grinned at
Hardron l n sympathy. you're her body'
| You should see the horrible things she
did to her dolls. She'll probably have
you mummied in bandageS and be
feeding you with a spoon before the
hours out"
Mind you clean the heels of the
boots as well as the toes" Clemmy said
to him sternly, as he lodged from the
room.
$50. I'm your body" Hardron smiled
at her: What does that mean, your
slave forever?"
Hes Just being funny" Clemmy
you first, it makes you sort of, my
patient. I'm trying to learn nursing,
you know"
well, I can't do it properly, not be-
ing able to go away to a hospital"
"Too young yet, eh?"
Cant afford it," she said as though
poverty was but a natural incident n
life and no reason at all for repining,
and the man who had never denied
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this child found a c%ontentment In sac
rificing her dreams such as he had
never got out of all his taking.
Tn glad I'm someone you can prac-
tice on then," he smiled wryly.
she said cheerfully. you look rel
SO well Sd en 7 dSn, t.. wen YEN P SlteEfa greats
"Groats!" he almost groaned, then
because of something in her Eyes. But
if you're really set on feeding me with
a spoon, let it be greats"
Odd his desire to please her, yet it
seemed to improve him, for she said
With s1o a k l9vely burst burst of of,,i laush d39c: rea,-
ly." Amazingly she sat beside him on
the bed, and amazingly he loved her
doing it. you'd like a real get-your-
t~eeth-into-it breakfast, wouldn't you?
Well, you Ear have it today. Sausages
and bacon, as well as tea and toast"
Exceptional today?"
"But, of course, Christmas day. Hang
the cost and let's be happy, you Know"
she laughed.
Aren't you always happy?" he asked
almost %pleadingly.
She thought that out.
Eyes, always, of course. There's Mum
and Dads and life's lovely. I mean,
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real things, can it? But with Impend-
ing Doom hanging over"
She stopped, caught her breath, gave
him a scared and embarrassed glance.
"Ah," he said softly. That's why you
didn't expect me to be an old duck.
I'm the Impending Doom?"
Tn sorry" she breathed gently.
only your different way of looking at
things. You-every n is really decent
underneath. and Christmas is no time
for hard thought anyhow"
Hardron lay thinking that out for
hours. He'd often heard the same
mental generality meaning nothing;
but this man Bob Rule and his fam
lily not only said it but acted on it.
This money might of his had a mean
look when ranged alongside common
human decency. He felt ignorable.
Where, yesterday. he would have
duc eidef him NH into a': Bob Rules Sisss house tleG ni as a
lucky stroke for getting at his man
from inside his defenses-now ne felt
mean. Big Business seemed very little
and very cheap beside the warm splen-
dor of the Rules thoroughly unbusi-
nesslike kindness.
The thing irked him so much that
he insisted on rising at midday. He
got down to find the whole family set
ting the table in the diningroom for
the Christmas dinner. 1t looked so en-
chanting that he turned away quickly
and said sourly to Bob Rule:
Il suppose you got my car out Of
won't until this snow goes. and
that may be a week." Bob Rule said.
"Hum!' Hardron froWned. But it's
not so far to Several village. I've booked
a room in the inn there"
TOO far in these drifts"
Frail?"
"Worse. The spenny Brooks impass-
able. I'm afraid you are marooned here,
Mr.. Hardron."
They stared at each other, Bob Rule
smiling. Hardron surprised at his own
queer sense Of shame and pleasure.
1T can't be helped" Bob Rule said.
Don't let it interfere"
But I simply can't stay in your
house, Rule"
why not? You're welcome. There's
iClemmy setting your place now"
Clemmy looked up at her name, pat
ted a chair: place of honor. Next
to me, too"
II told you you were her body"
!Bobbie grinned as he came in with a
turkey up for you. Ghastly, these
women"
But, hang it, Rule" Hardron's
throat felt a little tight. Il came here
to- mean in the circumstances
Lets forget them" Bob Rule smiled.
We're all human beings and-well this
is a day of truce"
"a day of truce ..."
christmas day and all it means.
GOOd will among all men-no good say
ing it unless we mean tiff only for
a day. Call it an act of God, if you
like. and behave accordingly"
II think I do like" Hardron yielded
with a sudden strange, grateful glow.
Il haven't sat dow to a family
Christmas dinner since-since my first
raise in wages enabled my mother to
afford a turkey"
We're bringing ours in now" said