The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-01-07
The Stranger at the Gate
By MABEL OsGooD WRIGHT
Cssydha b. Mshd oesA wrsH esf@s~~ WWUsrn

understand you. OF What you mean"
Pulling hersek together. while TIE
smile faded ~ when sunlight sud-
denly vanished at midday IL leaves
q strange. ominous gloom. wholly
unlike night shs said: Yes. that
10 It. Emery; you cannot under
stand" Then added quickly. when
shaE I take the children. and when
win you GOMEZ"
Better take them tomorrow with
out waiting to either shop on pack.
Then return and I viii 90 UP with
you on the twenty-fourth in time for
Christmas Eve. Whom viii you take
with ysu as maid. since Lena has
gomez"
mo one. Your mother writes,
DO not trouble to bring q helper,
Hepsy and I are both master hands
at child offending Besides. Emery,
I would rather not have q maid; I
want this Christmas to be. In every
way, unlike all others" With which
enigmatical remark she followed
the children. who had rushed back
to the living oom
I'VE are going to MISSIONER for
Christmas. children Do you hear?"
cried Eleanor. land father is going.
too. IN time for the tree on Christ
mas Eve. He has promised" she
repeated. Wit raised voice. while
her eyes sought those Of The Strang-
er. as II In this way she made sure
that the promise would be recorded.
The hubbub that followed the an.
nouncement brought its gsyety to
the dinner table. and IL was not
until the youngsters were sent 10
bed that silence again fell upon the
elder people: when the three men.
after the habit of their race. gath
cred before the fire.
Eleanor. having gone to put the
children to bed. presently returned.
a pretty flush upon her cheeks and
an evening cloak thrown over her
shoulders. She asked IN a very
casual tone: Emery. have you
asked DR.. Amunde ifhe would like
to 60 with us this evening? have
arranged for Mary to stay with the
children and the motor is already
here"
GO with us this evening -
where?" Vance started up in gen
uine surprise.
ITO the Kennsetts' tableaux par
ty; you must gurely remember that
you put great stress upon the fact
that we must accep. the invita-
tiop."
II believe I did. but, my dear
Eleanor that was ten days ago.
Matters have come ur today. con-
nected with our annual meeting,
OF the gravest importance, and 4
AVE a great deal on my mind.
am hah expecting a telegram to-
= vt, and also to be called by
- e. As for the doctor here. he
sr.,y ted that he was not to be
tsssts,A ed. but be left to stay
sar,eshM in u home. SO he will
,ep me. a mpany."
..very VIA then. as I do not care
90 alone. N ~ would better phone
,e KenusettsA,at once and explain,
addition TO expressing our
,grets," and Flea nor dropped her
.oak to a chair and unbuttoaed her
IT glove very slowly.
ST will do nothing On the kind"
aid Vance angrify, anti evidently
,rgetting that they were not alone.
Why will you be so nasty and
nal? Because business keeps me
hained, is it any reason that you
hould be deprived Of your pleas
AS to your going alone, that
lso is quite unnecessary, whlle
ere is Will, with absolutely moth
ag to do in life but to catch the
hadows of moonbeams and pine
ones with a brush full of paint and
asten them to paper. He will make
much more appreciative an
ympathetic art companion than /.
You'll help me out, as usual. old
nan and go with Eleanor? OF
curse you VIII"
Darrow assensad at once. and yet
here was a pallor in his face that