HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1940-12-19, Page 23PAGE FIFTEENWINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES
But she
ehind, the organ rose
.....-, * Gran said,
“Merry Christmas to you all.” It was
m so sor-
know now — it wouldn’t
to clear it. "Are you —
■About time you did,” said Gran,
Dot widened her eyes at the sight
of Dusty and then said hurriedly,
“May I light the candles. Gran?”-
The candles, tall and white in silver
candlesticks, stood in twos and threes
on the window sills under the holly
wreaths. Dot carried a lighted taper
and touched each one.
Dusty watched her, then sighed and
turned to the table. "We may as well
begin,” He took a loop of the pop
corn which Sue had prepared, a string
of plump red cranberries and climbed
the stepladder. He wondered if Dot
remembered the tree they had trim
med together one Christmas, a tiny
table tree in Dot’s apartment, They
had bought it late Christmas Eve on
Bleecker Street for a quarter, which
was all they could spare. They couldn’t even afford any bright tinsel “or
lights or ornaments and Dot had cut
ollt and gilded Some paper arigels
Which Were so successful that she lat
er Soid the design to a novelty house
for twenty-five dollars .dnd had, in tile
bargain, met Stephen Emery;
The frangrance of the tree was so
pungent that he could almost imagine
himself in the woods. Why had he
chosen the popcorn? He knew. He
remembered the first Christmas he
and Joel were alone in the world.
They had insisted on returning to the
big old house which had been so re
cently cozy and gay. And Christmas
Eve they had trimmed a tree — with
popcorn and cranberries. Dusty had
sworn as he looked at the cold De
cember stars that that brother of his
should never pass another such bleak
and lonely Christmas. And never
should he want anything if Dusty had
breath-in his body and strength m Ills
limbs. Shocked into realization, he
was suddenly CoiiSciotis that he might
not have been so successful if Joel had
Hot bheii art iticentivS:
“And now we begin by socking each
other,” he thought a little grimly. “He
hit me first. But there wasn’t much
of a reason for it, beyond the fact that
he is pretty well grown and entitled
to his own opinions. Blit I still don’t
Understand why he brought She into
it-”
Sue? Dusty finished and climbed
down tile ladder, He went oyer to
where she stood by the table finger
ing an ornament. He took it. from iicir, “Let’s hang it, shall . wd?” iJusty
climbed the .ladder arid hung it far
_ back, ih tlie. furry darkness..
, Below:, Sue watched, , her. hands
clasped behind her bhek, her face up
turned. “Does a tree/’ she said, “make
yob feei all withheld inside — arid
soft of — good?”
Dusty said, “You’re an angel any
way,” and climbed down.
He thought suddenly that he’d like
to watch what Dot chose to hang on
the branches. She was bending over
the. ornaments.
“If she takes, those funny old-fash
ioned angels with their yellow hairs,
I’ll know she hasn’t forgotten. May
be she won’t even know why she
chooses them. It will be because once
We expected that we would spend all
our Christmases together."
Dot’s finger touched tmd disregard
ed the tinsel, the ornaments in their
separate compartments. Theri she
Spied the angels, “Look, Stephen,
look! Aren’t these the darlingdst?
Gran, where did you get them? They
must be years old.”
She carried them over to the tree. “I wonder if Dusty can possibly re
member a particularly dreary Christ
mas We spent together. Neither of us
had a cent. And I made some fuiinv
little angels to decorate a tree. We
simply had to celebrate some way.
I’m going to make a little group here
on this branch, have them flying with
their heads looking up at the tip. I’m
going to trim a little bit of this tree
for Dusty — because it’s possible that
this is the last time we’ll ever be to
gether on Christmas Eve.. A tree like
this — a really big one—-is wonderful.
I’d fogotten all about tree trimming.”
Gran turned to Jinny. "Why don’t
you help, too? It’s partly your tree,
you know.”
Jinny said, "Oh, Gran!”
."I’ve been thinking,” the old. lady
said, "that everything’s very simple
after all. If you have a great many
things on your mind, the thing to do
is to hunt for one that can be made
right. When you .make it so, the oth
ers straighten out by themselves.”
Jinny went over to the table where
Joel fingered the silver stars, framed
in tinsel, Joel looked up at her, his
eyes wide and full of pain. "The
trouble is, Jinny, once .you’ve said
words, nothing can erase them. If
Dusty-—”
"Except others words, Joel.”
Jinny’s fingers picked up a red stuf
fed Santa Claus with painted cheeks.
She hung it from one branch and
moved it to another, "Mmmrri—fhl#
tree, does smell nice. Like all the
Christmases I’ve ever known, What
Gran says is right, 'usually. I see now
the reason I’ve been so crushed is
thdt I’ve been so frightened because
there wasn’t Anything I could do,
What I honestly want more than mar
rying — though I do love Joel and
1'11 always love him — is to get a job
where I can be really useful. I’ve kept
mixing marriage with a job all the
time. I’ve kept seeing Joel and my
self running the mills together and
• me as a sort of guiding hand for the
housing project. There must be a job
for me somewhere. If Mr. Emery
likes my things, I suppose I could ask
him for one. I might even go to New
Ybrk and try.”
Stephen came up. He smiled down
at her and said, “You haven’t forgot
ten that you’re going to show me
something tomorrow, have you? This
is a jolly idea, isn’t it — trimming a
tree?”
."Yes/’ said Jintiy and noticed tliat
his eyes were' ve'ry dar.k arid kind.
“Gran says/’ shouted Jo'el, "tliat we
can’t have oitr eggiiog, or siip'pe'r eith
er, until we say our prayers. If yo'u’re'
all through, I’ll climb up and put the'
star on the top.”
. "This star.” .he said to himself, "is
for -Sue Garland. Tonight I can see
her and watch her and tomorrow, per
haps. Then I’ll never see 'her again
as Sue Garland — because in spite of
Gran and Dusty, I intend to.go away
. and stay away until she is safely Dus
ty’s wife.”
Gran’s cane was thumping. "Come
along,” she was saying, “we don’t
want to miss any of the service.”
sic, When her voice had suddenly
failed her, that voice on which she
had so depended, she had been fright
ened and alone. And Joel — there had
been no open door in her life. Except
Dusty’s.
Young voices lifted up as the choir
boys, angelic in their white robes,
marched two by tWo down the aisle
carrying candles.
"Glory to God On high
And heavenly peace on earth;
Good-will to men—to afigels joy,
At the Redeemer’s birth!”
Sue’s silent words, at first passion
ate and frightened, faded into an un
utterable peace. Strength flowed into
her and with it the conviction that
she would be ready for whatever
came. She raised her head while the
music Carried her up on wings.
Dot, beside Stephen, looked up to
let her eyes rest on the manger- in
the corner. A light- was trained on
the Child and the kneeling wise men.
She thought, "If you grasp life too
closely and try to mold it to your own
pattern, you are bound to fail, I wish
I could know if there is still anything
between Dusty and me. Is it the flav
or of the prist—-because then we were
so y.oiifig, so fearfully intense in our
love'?. Is it love, or the memory of
love?” Dot shut her eyes and tried to
make her mind a blank.
“Good-will to men—to' afigels joy,-
At the Redeemer’s birth!”
“Dear Father," Dot murmured,
“care for him and keep him happy all
his life.”
With a little start Dot opened her
eyes. “It’s Dusty,” she said to her
self. "It always has been Dusty.”
Then because her hand accidentally
touched Stephen beside her — Stephen
—who was so very dear, she smiled at
him. "But we can be happy together,
too, if it’s to be that way.”
She felt warm, oddly comforted and
more at peace than she had been in
years. She turned slightly to see what
had be'l’oirie of Dusty. She saw him
in the back seat, his gaze directly up
on her. His dark eyes were so full
of love and understanding that Dot’s
heart leaped.
"In a sense, he is as much mine as
if WC had married long ago. . Love .
like that never goes away — entirely."
Gran shuffled her feet in her flat
shoes and bent her head. ‘ “Dear
Lord,” she said, her lips moving
slightly; "I’ve been mighty independ
ent of Yoii in my past eighty years,
b'ut riow,- unless You think I've tried
tb'p.h'artl- to do Your business — it’s
d .fidley mdttdr to handle' the threads
pf destiny, — please' put Yottr Spirit
into my children. Let the'itl feel this
Christmas as it is meant to be felt*—
let them know themselves—and, dear
Lord, keep them from making mis
takes. Amen.”
Joel and Jinny ori each side of her
rose to their feet. She heat'd their lus
ty young voices as if from a great dis
tance. For now, suddenly old arid
weary, the burden of the years was
heavy upon her. This might be any
one of eighty Christmases. This
might be Christmas with the young
arm at her side Dexter’s. There
might, indeed, be two babies at home
dreaming of Santa Claus and presents
on tiie tree in the morning. Her
thoughts trailed, lost ill the meander-
iilgs of her hidmoty where the young
ones were dll mixed Up together,
young ones generations apart. She
drew a long breath as the organ burst
fprth in the happy, triumphant reces
sional. Ill oils sense, certainly, she
had done her best. She' felt inexpress
ibly tired. . t“What I can give them is only what
I know of life, my own experience,
which they, too eager to taste life as
it is, ignore. If I have in any way—
A drifting veil of lacelike snow
draped the dark fir trees. In the
churchyard two small cedars, brilliant'
with colored lights, stood on each side
of the walk. Behind, the organ rose
and swelled in happy rhythm. .
“Merrv Christmas/’ Gran said,
"Merrv Christmas to you all.” It was
repeated by the others as neighbors
stopped to exchang.e greetings.
Dustv held Dot’s arm- as they walk
ed back to the house. "Dot,” he said
lightly as they lagged a little behind
tlie others. “How is one supposed to
feel when an engagement is broken?
Crushed—or relieved? Or—what? Id
like to register the proper emotion
t C C 3 Li S C - •“Dusty, what? You can’t mean that
Sue—?” ,"That’s exactly what I mean.
"And now you’d like to cry on my
Shoulders?”"Something like that/
"Well, do. By all means. I have a
clean hanky in my pocket, too.”
Dusty said huskily, Dot—Dot—
how could wc—all this time? I have
XXVII
St. Stephen’s - ill - the - Woods was
built of stone; and tonight as they all
walked together’ down the shoveled
path, through the dark green branch
es of the evergreen trees in the back
of Gran’s estate, the arched windows
were shining invitingly, sending col
ored light patterns out on the snow.
Gran dnd Joel walked ahead, and
as they neared the church the cdrillion
in tile tower began to play a simple
melody The bells echoed in the still
ness and it seemed to Sue, who walk
ed with Dusty, that they vibrated, in
her oWii breast—chokingly, beautiful
ly; ds if she had never really known
Christmas before. A wdrm,- tearful
feeling spread through her. Every
thing seemed to have significance'.
Gran, ahead, with her straight back
and flaring coat; her slow careful step,
was the essence of a good life, lived
courageously, and wisely. And- Joel,
beside her, his arm under hers guild-
ing her through the darkness, was the
one to whom Sue’s heart turned.
Sue looked up at Dusty and in the
dimness his face was a pale oval, his
eyes dark shadows. But the face was,
she saw in a flash, and had always
been, the face of a stranger.
“Ohl” said Sue, tugging a little at
his arm. “Wait, Dlistyl”,
Now they were aiohe in a circled
shadow under a tree, while Dot. and
Stephen and Jinny went on, their foot
steps crunching the snow.. Dusty had
his hands on her shoulders, looking
down at her wide eyes, clearly lighted
by a sildden moon. “What is it, Sue?
What—?”
Slowly the echoes of the pealing
bells faded and died. In the church
the organ began with rich deep tones.
Sue tugged fUrioltsly dt her glove.
Now she laid the ring in his hand.
“Thank you, Dusty darling — but I
can’t, ever. I want to—but I can’t.
Please understand.”
Dusty looked down at it stupidly
for a moment. Then lie shook his
head as if
sure?”
"Oh, yes. .Yes, Dusty. I’l
ry — but I
'be right for us to marry.1
Dusty searched her face. "But,
dearest, why—why all of a sudden?”
“Dusty, I know now I have never
loved you. Please forgive me—’’ .. ‘
"There nothing at all to forgive,
Sue. We’d better forget it, if that’s
the way it is.” , .
Sue could say no’ more. __ __
nodded as she went up the steps of
the, church. After a moment or two
Dusty followed her, but lie let her
kneel alone quietly in one of the back
pews.
. Sue’s prayer came in little patches
of words. “I didn’t want to hurt him.
Please — make it right for him. He
is a darling, but not for me. I would
be cold and unreal to him. I wouldn’t
be what he wanted and in the end I’d
make him far more miserable than he
is at this minute, How could I have
been so blind as not to know in the
beginning?” now count wc—an,uns ihucj x ..«w
The answer came to het in the mp-? ;known for a long tixftfy Yvcn after buc
agreed to marry me, that there never
would be room in my heart <for an
other. Dot—it came over me so clear
ly as I sat there and listened to those
Christmas hymns. I kept thinking that
you and I—” *.
"Dusty," said Dot sharply. "I am
marrying Stephen,”
"No, you aren’t,” said Dusty, "be
cause you are marrying me, just as
we have always planned. You know
it—and, oh, Dot—you will, darling,
won’t you?”
Dot closed her eyes for a fraction
of a second. Dusty gripped her arm.
“Let’s—tonight. We’ve always put it
off before. I mean—tonight.”
Dot swayed towards him. "Oh,
Dusty. Yes, let’s,” But a little cold
feeling came over her as she saw Ste
phen walking ahead. “Stephen,” she
said, "I’ll have to tell Stephen.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
Gran said, as she sank slowly into a
chair, "My stars! You make my head
swim.”
Dot buried her face in her grand
mother’s soft, sweet old neck. "Gran
— Gran — I’ve always loved Dusty,
We just drifted and—”
"Well, is that aay reason for get-
tin’ married this evenin’? It hardly
looks well for you to come engaged to
one — both of. you — and then all of
a sudden — here you each get mar
ried to another.” But her eyes, for
all her sharp words, were kindly and
bright as a young swallow’s. “And
what about a license?”
Dot sat in the chair opposite Gran.
“That’s the funny pajrt of it, Gran. We
have a license. Maybe it’s too old to
be any good, although I think one is
always valid, isn’t it? Once Dusty
and-1 planned to be married and it’s
been in my suitcase ever since.”
“Hmm,” said Gran, “it’s a pity
you’ve been so long in makin’ up your
mind. You’ve lost a good bit out of
your life. For.such a smart girl, you
have been — a little slow. Dusty’s
worth talcin’ some trouble over."
“Yes,” said Dot, and the warm color
rushed up into her cheeks. "I mean
to take trouble over him all the rest
of my life — and I want to begin
right now.”
"Well, we’ve got the makin’s of a
good weddin’,” Gran said. "The
table’s all set for a weddin’ supper, if ■
you’d like it so. That fruit cake I’ve
been ripenin’ is weddin’ cake anyway.”
“Christmas Eve!” Dot thought, “and
I’m marrying Dusty.” But a part of
her cried out for the hurt to Stephen.
Dusty in the small living-room said
to Joel, “Well. I’ve you to thank for
turning me into a black-eyed bride
groom.”
Joel stared at him. “How long do
you think a black eye lasts?”
“I don’t think it will go away in a
couple of hours, do you?” said Dusty.
Joel stared at him. “You aren’t get
ting married — tonight?"
"Yes/’ Dusty said, “as soon as the
minister arrives. You’ll have to be
best man, old-timer.”
“Swell.” Joel held out his hand.
“I’ve been trying to tell you ever since
we came from church that I wished
I could take back every word I said*
this afternoon. I didn’t mean a single
one. If anybody has ever been—”
"Forget it,” said Dusty, “and I will.
Let’s drink to the bride, shall we?”Joel thought, “I promised Gran .1 *
wouldn’t, run away until after Christ
mas. That I would see it through —
but I didn’t think I’d have to face
anything like this. It’s like what I
suppose the end will be. After this,
Dusty, arid always beside him Sue’s
laughing face—•”
Dusty poured two glasses and hand
ed one to Joel. “To the bride and
groom!” Joel said a little unsteadily.
But he added to himself, "To you, Sue,
may you always be happy. May you
know the least of sorrow, the greatest
joy.” ., ,,
“Well, Joel.” Dusty said, smacking
his lips a little and setting down his
glass, “that’s that. A bridegroom is
supposed to be nervous, isn’t, he? But
I won’t have much time to think about
tllclt/* *
The room swayed before Joel, and
his head ached fearfully. “I suppose
you’ve taken care of all the little mat
ters, such as a ring and license — and
my heavens, man, you can’t get mar
ried in that necktie! You must have
another — a sober one, at least.”
Dus tv muttered as they went up
the stairs, “I hate to use the ring I
gave Site. It doesn’t seem in very
good taste. I’ll take it back and
change it for something else. Though •
I’m positive Dot won’t mind.’
Joel steadied himself oh the railing.
"Look here — did I hear you. say
Dot? What has Dot to do with it?”
“Dot?” said Dusty astonishe4,