The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-01-14

clasping the envelope to her breasE
a. Il 1t had been a child. while d.
expression Of Joy tinged her features
with q beluty as Of spiritual you'd.
Then I will wait to open the meo.
sage until father can read Il Win
me-" she whispered
do you rest and warm yourseH
before you 60 back. Have you bad
breakfast" Elizabeth asked n
boy. Her pressing anxiety at res4
hospitality was her first thought
II didn't eat yet. Yes, Mis'iC
Vance, I reckon I could work down
a pancake" And the boy not only
looked yearningly at the griddle but
straightway went to the kitchen sink
and proceeded to wash his hands.
The round breakfast table was
drawn in front Of the hearth IRE
beside which Ira Vance sat in his
armchair, open Bible upon his
knees. The room Of itself told much
Of the family history, as well az
Of the gradual adaptation of the
best Of the old days Of the home
to new conditions, without any lapse
Of dignity.
The morning chapter had been
read before Elizabeth had gone to
the kitchen, and as Ira closed The
Book and turned his chair toward
the table, he repeated twice an
adapted line from the Epistle to
the Romans. from which he had
been reading:
For I long to see you that I
may impart unto you some gift
Yes, that is it, my son; at last I
would give you, something beside
the love you have always had but
do not perhaps quite understand.
Doubtless the fault is mine also,
for should not perfect love bring
understandings"
With military precision and much
stamping Of heels, the hired boy
marched through the door held open
by Elizabeth, gave the telegram in
to the hands of the astonished old
man, then balanced himself uneasily
on the edge Of the chair to which
she pointed, quite vercom by his
surroundings.
I'VE accept your holiday invita-.
tion," Ira read. Eleanor will take
the children to you for a two weeks
visit, leaving on Thursday moor She
will return to New York Friday, go&
ing to The Glen with me on De-
cember twenty-fourth. We have an
unexpected guest, a man whom you
will like. Can you entertain him
also?"
THAT seems very long for a tele-
gram, father. Emery never puts
nor than that in his letters" said
Elizabeth, hardly yet able to be-
lieve the news, but reading in her
husbands eyes that it was true be-
yond a doubt.
"Mis'is Vance, do you sense that
they're comm Thursday noon? And
today is Thursday" said Hepsy.
her words fairly exploding as she
placed a platter of crisp sausages
garnished with fried apples before
her mistress.
To-day? Today, did you say,
Hepsy? I don't realize that it meant
today" and Ira spread the yellow
paper before his wife, that she might
the better realize. AS Elizabeth
read it, slowly pronouncing each
word. a change came over her as
one who walking in q twilight dream
suddenly awakes to ind it full radi-
ant day. Well nigh springing to
her feet she crossed the room with
the gait of a light-footed m of
forty. opened the bookcase desk.
found paper and pencil. wrote two
or three lists; selected a silver dol
lar from a small box Of change and
was at the table again before the
astonished Hepsy had closed the
door.
Here. my boy, is a Christmas
dollar for you; now when you get
back to Westover leave this paper
at the market as you 60 by n
this at Banks grocery; mind also
that you say that Ira Vance's grand.
children are coming home for the
holidays and that these things must
be ready by moor today. If I were
you I think I'd start right along and
Hepsy viii give you some dough-
nuts to eat on the way. That Ii
unless you'd prefer a mince turn
over, if SO, there are some Of yes
terday's baking in the pantry"
ITO BE COETINIJFDJ