The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-03-04
CHAPTER ~vIII-Continued

Next In interest to q great glass
star for the tree top, with places
for the candles to come through,
was a pair Of small red shoes that
completely fascinated the children.
'"These were the hrst shoes your
father ever wore." said grand
mother. giving n to each with .
sigh, after she had held them close
In her hands.
They're not q bit walked on or
dirty" said Tommy. $50 father
must have been dreadful small"
eyes. only a baby"
WAS my father really a baby
once?" asked Tommy with an ex-
preston Of such absolute incredulity
that grandmother did not laugh or
make light Of his question.
Eyes, Tommy, q little soft warm
baby that slept first on my arm,
then in that little cradle that is
there under the caves. He put his
head on my shoulder every night
just as you do. even when he was
old enough to sleep In a real bed
Why do you ask, darling, everyone
Is q baby in the beginning, dom
you remember little Bess?
ooh. yes, Of course. Bess was q
baby n there's a picture Of
mother when she was one. Some
how it's different with father, may.
be he grew up and got over 1t SO
quick that he forgot that he was
little. Do you think he yer knew
about it and the little red shoes?
Did you ever tell him, grandma?"
At last it was Christmas Eve!
Long before dark everything was
ready. the candles all in place,
the frosted cones looked as natural
as il they were out in their own
forest the morning after the first
snow. The crystal star on the tree
top sent out long rays as it caught
the freight, while underneath the
tree, ground pine, mats OF part
ridge vine, tufts Of thick, green
moss and bits Of bark, brought the
wood itself beside the chimney cor
ner.
Thirty candles" Tommy counted
carefully. "That makes fifteen for
me to blow out and fifteen for
sister, that is, unless you and grand
mother and father and mother'n
want to blow" he added anxiously.
II think that we old folks will be
content with the high mes that you
can't well reach" laughed grand.
father looking cross at grand
mother who was standing in the
square hallway.
II hear horses hoofs, but nc
wheels" said grandmother.
(Which means nothing, as they
are coming in an automobile" Yer
at the same time it could be seer
that grandfather was cooking hi!
best ear.
Another telegram, that makes
two in a week; there should com'
a third for good luck" announced
Hepsy throwing open the doc
through which the hired boy from
the Wayside inn again dumped wit
the tread of heavy high boots.
Both grandmother and grand
father started forward, but the DO,
held the envelope up close to hi
eyes and, with aggravating delibei
alton, that to him was like a dc
licious morsel chewed to the finish
read: MRS. Emery Vance, in car
of Ira Vance, Esquire, The Gler
Westover," adding, Hasn't she &c
here YETI"
mol Shall we open it, father?
Grandmother moistened her Liz
and. putting al arm about Bes'
slipped the other into the folds
her gown to hide its trembling. 1T
addressed to Eleanor and she
due at any moment now, so pc
haps it would be best to wait, thong
/ do wish We u1lsnt know whom
is from"
Having created and famed cur
osity the hired boy prepared to sa
isfy it.
Guess ] can help. you out Their
'tause I stood clean behind tt
operator when he took 1t down. az