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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Signal, 1910-12-15, Page 41 1n, u.o,i, 1►rtgstnss 15, 1010 .1.,1=••••,10 THE sI('N I,.: t:(11)F,KII'Ft,. ONTAR 0 IOg7rlptt. 1tla, by American Prows /WOO - elation.' .� T >l h. d o i M from timer. Wpher," said Mrs. Yatltaee, thrusting her head wtthtu the open tlbrary door and read- ing from the yellow OUP in ber hand "'Snowbound. WIll arrive late this evening. Don't sit up.'" 'Thoughtful Christopher." murmur- ed pick Mason from the depths of. his easy chair. "Poor old Chris --what luck!" creed Ajay. while Alice murmured to bee lever, "I am ao anxious that your mould meet Christopher. Dick-" "Pray, who Is Cluistopber? Tell mq that 1, too, may be distraught at his aeotrrtval," drawled Penfield. survey - lag the love stricken Dick and his ber toothed with some disgust and turning t•. Amy. who was viewing him with .. unmistakable relish. "Chrtatopber Browning 1s our cous- in." she replied, with a wicked look at her Hinter. "The deerent feilow! Writes, you know." "I didn't know," murmured Penfield apologetically. "Well. Chris does write for the pa- pers, magazines ow earthing that will take the stuff." "H -m -m rt Amy looked it hint from mirth brim- med eyes. She was dresaing n doll for the cook's little niece. and she tied a pink bow on the dozen curls and then admired the effect with audible satisfaction. "Isn't she foo sweet? New I'm go - Ing down to the village to leave this at Mrs. Leo's. end you may come, too. Nr. Penfield. for the way Is long and the night Is stormy." Penfield arose with alacrity. Any- thing was better than sitting before the cheery Bre and staring at the pho- tograph of the girl he Loved unwisely and trying to summon courage to ask carelessly whom the picture represent- ed. Didn't he know? When t hey rest -lied the front door Anoran back to the library. and he hen id :he rise and fall of her shrill ,irlwh voice as she ezpostalat,d with her after. It was evident that she gained her point ter when she re- turned sbe was amines sad her eyes were as bright as .the snow cryatals sparkling under tis ttadiaace from the wide open door. e They plugged into the softly falling whlteoeas. nod Penfield bared his bead to the cold fresh air and endeavored to throat aside the burden that lay beavt- ly upon bis heart "Bach an Ideal Christman eve"' aald Amy. "When i was a little girl"— "Oh, %1'IIEN" interrupted Jark mockingly. "WHEN I was a little girl," insisted Amy serenely, "i used to believe that something wonderful must happen on Christmas eve. I would watch at the window and look for a messenger to arrive w•1fb mar•velouk ded'a of expPtt that a long lost uncle would appear and shower gifts upon a. Bur it never happened. Nothing wonderful ever sloes happen to me" -she added, with a dgh that was muffled in a mist of fly- ing lyIng finites. 'Time enough for things to happen when you are grown ap. child." Jack said gravely, and then, arousing him- self from til' unpleasant thoughta that. vampire -like, seemed to cling to him, he added: "Come! A race to the corner!" They reached -it laughing and breath- less,, Later, when they had returner! and were sitting before the fire, each wait -----A,ng for the other to make a bedtime stiyt,,Jack remarked latlly: "WheIt do you expect Mr. Browning to arrive?' —Amy giggled. t IIaked amused. and Alice and her m her exchanged glanres of distress. "Oh, any time before midnight. I suppose," replied Alice. with evident constraint- "We will not sit np--the arrival of the train is too uncertain. Onp of as will hear the bell and come down." "1 was about to volunteer to It np anti wait for him." said Jack. "I am In a wakeful mood tonight." "Really, Mr. Penfield," began Mrs. Latimer anxiously, when Amy inter- rupted nterruptet her eagerly: "Oh. mother. let him sit np It he Wishes to,, We FPI rt _up and greet ('hrls afterward, but there is no use in nit of US sitting here like owls until that train rotnes tn. it mal not arrive for hours yet. and Peters will be wait- ing at Hee elation with the sleigh, as Chris will be all right" "Very well, dear. It do.me't omega mutts fair to Chris," remarked Mrs. Lttlmmr gravely, "but you .may softie that between yourselves." "Perhaps I'd Netter go with Peters," mild Dirk. "I am ashamed that I did riot think of doing so before." "OA. Peters has goee." maid Mn. lab time. "1 tbnnght it test far him to be there to ease tli>i train *honk' arrive setter than imported." "ire east s p.rtiesdatty bad anile its, taidI sl .' said Psalbi & rrammie jACK PENFIELD'S CHRIST EVE. • .ag.. "Miss Amy and I got aluog Lt)gously The sap* Is very light and sot. and It is not particut'.Hi' cold. • 1I '.ours/• down in the valley at San- ,t..t'.en. where the train la stalled. it drifted. and that has caused the •iia•kade. • Mr. Browning Will not mind • i' ad%enture unless he 1e au invalid.,' he added doubtltilly. -silt. Chris 1s quite robust," replied .tlit•e sweet!}. "Now that It is settled Mr. Pe_ field is to remain up to grt.0t tfreodsin suppose we hang the stork - :i u. and go to lust We must deposit our gifts on the table here. and mother ill fill the stockings at some we sola' our. as usual. When Chris arrives tither and I will come down and give. • tie child assmet/dug to eat. You must west God was evewririere• That was his honey. Ile did come east because a girl had implanted the germ of restlessness within him—a restlessness that for- bade Um peace of mind uutil he could persuade her to reconsider her de - ch oa. The picture before him was an e%,Iar ement of one he bad taken him- self ith a pocket camera. Its dupli- cate i miniature was folded In h1a letter ase next hls heart In the sprin .It Brown had come to the west to visit his neighbors. the Clarks. She was a writer, one who was tired and wb_o'se body and soul needed relax- ation. She found it 'ruder the free blue sky as abe skimmed over 'the ranges side by side with Jack Pen- field, their Deet horses ever in harmony tbeu paused abruptly as Penfield ad- vanced - "y1r. Browning"— Jack stopped short and stared with unbelieving ryes The girl laughed- softly, and there was jay -in ber eyes els ,tie raised them to his. "WHERE did you come from?" she asked, dropping her, parcels to the table and extending both gloved -Male hands. "From the Bar T,"° he replied la- conieally, holding her bands firmly in bis great brown palms. "Explain why uu are here of all plates. 1 left you riding the ranges in Montana, and 1 see you again In the couutry home of my cousins, and you cali me MR. Browning:" she sold, withdrawing her hands and removing the heavy cloak that enveloped her. "I was expecting (;lristopher Brown - lug. —1 was sitting up for him. I. was surprised when you entered." "1 uta Christopher Browning." she said saucily. "Don't dare to tell me that you did not know THAT:" "1 didn't know it," he admitted hum- bly. "I kuew you us Kitty Brown"— "Oh, the Clarks always abbreviated ,eep up a rousing Bre, Mr. Penfield." It. And so you did not know you were "Depend on me for that." [returned with the spirits of the young riders, waiting for mel" she said musingly, a,.k. and it is true she found something br drawigg nearer the tire and holding 'there was mueb•ettnning to rfnd fro sides relaxation In the eyes of Jack nd a great deal of merriment .is the Penfield when the day came for her s klni;a were hung in the wide old to return to her enslaving pen. uuuneypiece. 'filen each one brought "You do not understand," she had gilts carefully wrapped and labeled. told him. "I could not give up my :tad with many attempts at secrecy work. and I do not love you as mach as - ihoy were heaped upon the library ta- 1 love theft. You can see." she bad 'de. Finally. with warm exchanges added with that frank smile of hers. .1 Christmas wishes. Mrs. lathier and "that my love 1s a divided one, and lt'r daughters withdrew. leaving the 'you cannot accept thatT' two Dieu alone before the tire. "No." he had replied gravely. "I can- °Wbeti Dick Mason haad finished his not accept a divided love." And >lo .•ttnr he. too, sought his room. and they had .turned their horses' heads • h.•n P.'ntield kept his lonely vigil. It homeward. and their parting had been x:is 11 •.'r•leL. and the storm W$1 ---n warm hand clasp and—that was all. 11. •tin:;. The soft spat of allow against 'Phut was all Jack Penfield bad to indoor pities bad ceased. and ?Ptak and dream about. The great her bands to the comforting warmth. "I've been waiting for you ever sedge you left the ranges, Kitty." he said gravely. She turned awes, suddenly, and her voles' shook slightly as she replied. "I told yoo that you must not." "1-caunot help 1t, j:itty. You must kuow"— he began. drawhttg nearer to her. "You. may help me distribute my gifts," she said quickly, recovering her composure, "and while we are filling tho stockings you must tell me bow you came to make the mistake fn my name and why yon, instead of my af- fectionate cousins, are waiting for me Jack told his story while the girl dis- tributed'tbe parcels bhe had brought among the limp stockings. There was et -en :t gift for the capacious sock that represented Dick Mason's Christmas. "1 have nothing for yours, Mr. Pen- field." abe said, regretfully surveying the remaining empty sock. "A little note saying that you had "'changed your mind"— he began. "But I haven't changed wy mind." she murmured faintly. "Are you sure?" he insisted. "Your eves. Kitty, betrayed you when you came into this room. Yon.WERE glad to see me. Say that you will go back to the Bar T with me in the spring." Site hesitated. "Oh, there 1s some- thing in the sock," she said evasively. and she stepped forward and, thrust Ing a hadd into the toe. brought forth a small card, which she exteuded to- ward Penfield. Ile took, it and glanced at the oppo- site side. lie uttered an exclamation of surprise. Then he held it out to her. She took It reluctantly. As he look- ed a warm dusk spread over her fare. and she cried impulsively, "Why, that's mine!" it was a snapshot of the coaster of the Bar T ranch standing in the cor- ral, surrounded by hundreds of horned cattle. "Did you take that picture. Kitty:" asked Jack eagerly. ' She nodded shamefacedly. "How did it get in there i" he asked, with a puzzled look. A merry voice called from the door- way: "I found it on the Boor of your room, Christopher Kit. carefully wrap- ped in tissue paper, after you went home at Thanksgiving. Of course 1 recognized Mr. Penfield when he ar= rived yesterday, and—and b wanted something wonderful to !tapper. on Christmas eve, arid for the first time in my life it has happened. And that's a11, except rnerry Christmas both.!" "Bless the child!" murmured .lack happily, gathering the abashed Chris- topher into hla arms. -'That's what I say, too," she whis- pered softly. "DIO YOU TAKE THAT PiCTURE, KITTY?" -bete was an oceaslosal tinkle of sleigh - ',ells from the highway which pro- claimed that belated Christmas shop- uers were venturing out. Penfield stared moodily at the plc ure of the girl he loved. 1t stood on 'he mnntel.dielf, framed 1n silver. it portrayed a girl in riding dress with Joe arm thrown over the neck of a noose. whose nose muzzled her other hand. She was'n wide eyed. soft fea- tured girl, with dark balr parted in the middle and topped by a tithed felt hat. iler round chin was lifted above the low colter of her white blouse, and from the crown of ber hat to the tire f her riding boots she appeared the mboditnent of life, health and love. et love ahe_had withheld from Jack Penfield. IIe was thinking of that now as he sat there—thinking hod strange it was thst he should have found her ptetnre fn the home of his conetn'a tlnneee, among people whom he had never before met, but who had greeted him warmly as Dick Mason's eoualn and had taken him into their midst as one of themselves. Ila had come out of the meat a fortnight before --out of rhe wear where he had made his home 'nr years—away from the open life of • he plains. the free air of Montana. .i -here he ws• king on his oern raneh. o the rw.retv111sed out. where to .Impls hearted Jeer Penfield (In' e.emed shat np le the sentry twirk sed geese ebssebats. la Me wild Ain eastern city swallowed her up. He had not asked for her address, bat as the months went by and brilliant au- tumn claimed the land, and the broad plain and distant ranges changed color under her hard. gold touch. he grew restless, and finally In December he arranged his affairs, and, leaving Ma foreman -tn charge of the Bar T out- fit, he bad come to New York to find Kitty grown. He bad been ton proud and reserved to ask for information from her friends. the Clarks. and his sat for the girl he loved had been quite hopelean. Then be had dropped In upon his rowan Dick Macon. who had picked him up and carried him off for the hntidays to the rnentry home of the h,etitrtovs, said hero lis' was. with the first clew to Kitty Brown staring hits in the face. Ile felt no elation now, for with the nearness of her diaeovery came the thought that ale would send him aura" again. Nev• .rtheinu he determined that he would unbosom himself to sweet, motherly Mrs. i.atimer in the morning. There was a tinkle of alelghbella drawing nearer, the faint sound of an arrival at the door, and he hastened to him feet to great the eom'ng stran- ger. whom he had almost forgotten. The hall door closed softly. and then the door of the /Rarely wea pushed gently open and a s1Mt, dark read ag- ue, •.rlth arta» bragging neer with ilsalgems 1411201 ii w..cocak. l a, This1 is the trade- mark which is found on every bottle of the genuine • Scott's EmuIsiOn the standard Cod u'cr 0i- preparation of the, World. Nothing equal' it to build up the Weak and wasted.—bodies Of young and old. - FOR SALC BY ALL DRUGGISTS Send l0c., name of paper and this ad for our beautiful Saving* Bank sod..hdd s Sketch -Book. Hach •,►sae contain, a Good Luck Pennrr" • SCOTT & BOWNE 126 W.11ustoo St.. West. Tommie.. Ont. sesesesesesesesiesessesesesesesesesessesehessi4 Durability is nowhere more essential than in .l stove ---an articl_srn-edoes not ex- pert to 1 ►urcha - every year. Moffat St ves Right in the Game and ' ages 'That's where we are when you ere talking ahstut .(iroceriee. \\re are not sdtertiei ng ttpecinl-be-rgsins, for uitir"- prices are alwaysat rock- • lit ttttno for goods of- quality. Try us for , WILL LAST,A GENERAT14 1 N: Made of . New Iron. Only. Has th - Finest Castings, the most hitt: active Orname ation,/ Coffees Sugars Fruits Etc., etc., etc. and is inade on purpose to endure under ail tions of use. 'Et erEry Moffat Range is sold wit 1- .t signed Guarantee that means all it says. di - QUICKEST BAKERS ,FUEL SAVERS Ma..c b} The Moffat Stove Co., Sturdy & Co • "i'IIE I.ROVERS tin the S.luttte 'Pbuoe 1t1 WESTON, L: rc'.tr i O NT ARE YOU INTEKESTKO IN FOR SALE IN GODERICH AT FRED HUNT'S HARDWARE STORE HAMILTON STREET Is I have received a carload of the celebrated THE SIGNAL'S Job Department GRAY CUTTERS and' should like you to see them. We back the Gray Cutter against any other Cutter in the market. 440. PRICES RIGHT. Not the Christmas Spirit. "it isn't the presents—It's the spirit," said January Jones, the millionaire miner of Goldfield, aprop..e of Christ- mas. "I was in 1 revelry shop last Janni'y. and tmrnething that took place there showed me that with ten many of us the Chtistmaa spirit 1s not the proper one. I was talking to the pmprletor. One of the clerks stepped up excitedly. lila eyes beaming with the hope of n big an le. •"Cay, boas' he whispered. 'give mo the key to the safe. There's a lady want n solitaire Jett like the one she has on She thinks It wt!l tin fnn to have Iwo rings nuke.' The proprietor did not hrina forth the key. H. only shook his head end said •nilly• 'Don't Waste any time on her The ring Mhut has on is n Christmas present. 4.4 sh• nnly **nth to find ant what • Robert - has the best equipment (f any country office in \Vestern Ontario .and turns out more j o b work than anv other countryprinting- Ufffce Massey -Hams Agen HAMILTON W., GODERIC Plumbing HEATING ELECTRIC WiRiNG ROOFING METAL WORK Etc.. Etc. Estimates cheerfully furnished. W. R. Pinder "There's a Reason" • 1'hotie 1 .'•.