Evening star., 1940-12-19
CHAPTER TX,

Long threatened Dy gray skies ana
suuen horizons, Mountain Greek s
prophesy Of white Christmas was
being fulfilled. The first few flakes
were great, white, leisurely things,
floating carelessly through the heavy
air, beautiful isolated stars of frozen
lovelinesS.
Those first flakes rested with q
gentle tenderness on gray stone and
brown branch. Then with vicious
suddenness, the heavy clouds ripped
open and snow whirled tiiickly on q
rising wind.
Ma stood at her parlor window
and watched the winding road dis
appear under the assault of the bliz-
card. The pine trees bent before
the wind and the naked bushes Shiv-
cred at the onslaught. The cruelty
and beauty of winter lay on her
heart like sharp thorn.
Within the shabby little farm
house there were warmth and cheer
The walls were thick and strong.
The roof curved protecting arm
over all. And though the wind went
wailing eerily down the chimneys,
still the flame on the hearthstone
was steady and bright and cheer
full. The old house stood stockily
in the path of the blizzard and de-
fled 1t with the knowledge OF q
thousand defeated storms.
Christmas Eve! A different Christ
mas Eve from Mas radient. and
rapturous plans. A lonely, disap-
pointed, bewildered Christmas Eve,
Knocked by an empty house and
smothering snow.
Darkness swooped down from the
hills on a heavy wing. Soon the
road was a smoky blur in the shad-
ows, and the trees were gaunt ghosts
wrestling with invisible giants. Ma
turned from the window and care
fully tended the fire.
wonder if the roadll be closed
OFF," she thought bitterly. Not
that it much matters. Only Dan
did say he'd come up on Christmas.
It would be nice to have somebody
In on Christmas"
Can't Break the Habit.
= She Lit a pair of tall red candles
and placed one carefully IN each
. window. Then she snapped the lock
off the heavy front door. Christ
mas habit" she justified herself.
1--WE done it all my life. Can't
break the record on my last Christ
mas" In the warm cheerfulness
of the quiet house, the words cast
an ominous echo. Last Christmas"
She plodded into the kitchen Tor
q lonely meal. The icebox was piled
with food, and Ma made wry race
at it. Waste" she shifted, "and
with hungry people walking the
streets!"
She made a cherries supper OF
odds and ends of leftovers. washed
down tastelessly with a cup OF
sturdy tea.
The clock in the parlor coughed
apoiogetically, then spat out nine
wheeling strokes. Ma turned out
the lamp and crept into the big.
threadbare chair before the fire.
place, racked in an abandonment OF
grief and loneliness. Through the
darkened room the fire stretched
warm arms. The candles in the
Windows burned with steady flame.
Shadows linked hands and danced
about the Christmas tree, thrusting
prying fingers into the brightly
wrapped presents at its foot.
. Ma leaned back against the worn
brocade and wept the horrible,
retching sobs of grief and loneliness
and despair.
How long she sat there she did not
know, could never have told. The
fire sang pleasantly, and the wind
howled with renewed anger. The
clock ticked on, unself- consciously,
In the manner of inanimate objects
to which time is no factor.
Suddenly Ma sat upright. Was
that a step on the porch? Was that
q knocking at the door? She lis
tened again. Yes, it was. Maybe
maybe the children had changed
their minds after all. Maybe it was
Dan. Maybe
She raced across the room, fran
tically wrenched the knob and flung
open the door. The candles flared
suddenly in the rush of cold wind,
until the doorway was haloed with
light.
Visitor Is Desperate.
A man stood apologetically on the
threshold, complete stranger.
He was young man. And he
.was shabby and pitiful in the swirl
ing of snowflakes out there in the
dark In one swift second, Ma noted
- that his coat was thin and sleazy
spring model, utterly unsuited to
turning the edge of such bitter cold
He twisted ragged hat in his
gloveless hands.
He faced Ma timidly in the far
ing candlelight, and when he spoke,
his voice was gentle and frightened.
II saw your lights, Ma'am," he
said hurriedly. "Is THERE'S there
q man in the house?"
I'm alone" Ma admitted rashly.
"But come in, man. You'll freeze
out there in that miserable coat.
Come in. say"
i've got to have help. I've got to
have help right away" His face
was gray with cold and terror. "Is
there another house up the road?
My wife"
'This is the only house on the
mountain side" Ma snapped.
But I've got to have help. My
wife"
Your wife? Out in a night like
this? Good heavens, man, you must
be out of your mind. Where is
she?" Ma was hastily lighting a
lamp. The man closed the door
reluctantly against the storm.
"She's-doWn the road" The man
was frantic with anxiety. She's
sick. I've got to get help. Have you
. phone?"
Ma was squirming into her shabby
coat, jamming her shapeless old hat
down over her eyes, drawing on a
darned wooden scarf and mittens.
Il haven't got phone. Well Just
have to go out and bring her in