The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 21, 1937, Page 17

THE DAILY ALASKA. EMPIRE, TUESDAY, DEC 21,1937 /qne?n)‘fyers‘ “The doorbell, Amanda! It m: be the man with the hobby-horse,” cried Natalie Parker, as she gath- ered up a confused heap of Christ- mas ribbons and gay colored wrap- pings strewn about the sitting room. There stamping on the scraper. was a sound of quick and crunching of boots The old servant lopened the front door and a man'the crumpled brown wrappings and set an enormous package in the fled from the room. hall, said something about the blustering snowstorm and was gone age in to Natalie, a chirpy sound piness. of funny little tingling music issued | from the bulky bundle. Her black |young gir eyes snappe with delight as she | |cut the heavy cords. Out tumbled a hobby-horse, a | handsome fellow with a leather | bridle; a white, woolly lamb wilh: button eyes and a bell on his neck; | a long-eared rabbit with a perky‘ = tail; and a queer little whimsical top that seemed to laugh with merry music every time it was| moved. There was a Wwispy angora cap just big enough for a baby, | and a tiny white muff, oh, so little, | of real fur with a tippet to match. | Amanda gasped! “All ‘'em Christ- mas gifts! No one cep'in, you Mis‘ Natly, v\oulfl ever Lhi}\k of sech | ‘the Dumfounded Youth. things! I jes hopes ’'em Harlow | chillun ‘preciates the—the—" her voice waveerd. The sleeve of |lived in Hillsboro. her alpaca frock brushed across | joined the lovely old Early next morning Natalie set- tled back in a train for a five-hour As the woman carried the pack- |ride, her heart brimming with hap- Many changes had come over the “Why, Natalie Parker!” Exclaimed Parker, a widower, lived with hi daughter Natalie and: the faithful Amanda. When Mr. Parker pass- ed away Natalie closed the house {and went to teach kindergarten in Boston. Amanda went with her. The train dashed along through a whirling snowstorm. Deep in the tender mood of reminiscent reverie. Natalia fell asleep. “Hillsboro!—Hillsboro!” She awakened with a bound. | Clutching her grip, a box of barley J and almost dragging the | candy, cumbersome and unwieldly pack Natalie, still half asleep, stepped out at the very end of a long frosty platform. coat was waving good-by to some- one on the train as it pulled out. In his excitement he took a long, |free stride backwards on the plat- |form and crashed into Natalie. The two went down in the drift- ed.snow in a heap. The cord broke o nthe big bundle. Helter-skelter but | sister, married Arnold Harlow and the multitude of Christmas gifts Her house ad- scattered in every direction. rambling | They looked at each other in tear dimmed eyes as she picked up 'stone homestead where Benjamin plank astonishment — then amazed EVERY GOOD WISH for Christmas and a year of Happy Days. HOTEL JUNEAU CLARENCE WISE—Owner-Manager May you and Luck and Laughter and Happiness and Good Cheer Be Very Close Together Throughout a BRIGHT YEAR! ® his car. #% | “‘Bruce, g |fun. Edith doesn’t know I'm com- recognition. “Why, Natalie Parker!” the dumbfounded youth. “Bruce Draper!” — exclaimed the bewildered girl, actually spell- bound. From somewhere in the snow came the sound of queer little rip- pling music. They looked at each other again with wide open eyes, then burst into rollicking laughter. They gathered up the wayward toys and Bruce loaded them into With the girl beside him, a triumphant smile played over his face, and they talked excitedly as gasped #§ 'the motor raced over the hills. €| “Mother and Aunt Em just, left !for grandfather’s farm and I'm go- |ing up tomorrow, but now tell me about yourself, Natalie.” surprises are so much |ing.” Natalie got a real surprise, how- ever, in a few moments, for no one was home at her sister's house. %= 'After repeated ringing and pound- |ing, she looked at Bruce in dismay. Her eyes wandered toward the | Parker home. Juneau Dairies, Inc. ‘*MAKERS OF ‘JUNO-MAID’ ICE CREAM'’ A tall young man in a big four| ‘Oh, Bruce! I have the ke the stone house! Let’s go over and build a fire; we can at least keep warm until they come.” With logs from Harlow’s wood- pile Bruce soon had a roaring fire romping on the hearth. They stood pefore the flames, the girl's blond hair like an aureole of gold fram- ing her face; the man, tall and bronzed, alert and capable. | “Let’s look through the house,” suggested Natalie, leading the way. At the turn on the stairs there was a wonderful beehive window on the landing, and a friendly window- seat. They lifted the lid. Many |things were stored in the seat. “What's this box? Candles!— Christmas candles!” Bruce. “Let’s light up the win- dows!” Back down stairs and soon the rambling stone house was a glitter of lights. Bruce went over to Harlow's to get some more logs, and returned with the wood and a package. | “Natalie, somebody delivered | these holly wreaths at Edith's; I put them in the windows. Ho, ho!— What's this? Mistletoe, too!” “Here's a footstool, Bruce; tack it | on the hall arc looked up smiling, but the firm | face of Bruce Draper wore an ex- pression of grave appeal. With a combination of strength and ten- | derness he took her in his arms. “Dear Natalie, this mistletoe. is a symbol of the plighting of love’s | troth.” His voice trembled. of mutual confidence | and understanding which had been almost instantaneous. Her blond head rested in the hollow of his | shoulder. Through the half-closed eyes warm tears gathered — his| a moment benediction. The heavy front door swung open | suddenly. nold, little Phillip and Pet/er—-nnd‘ Natalie and Bruce awkwardly stam- mered and blushed in confusion. “Well, well,” chuckled Arnold, “we saw the lights—we—we thought —er—," and o ng the hall he gripped Bruce firmly with a friend ly hand, while Edith kissed her “Look here, Bruce,” said Arnold, “let’s make this the reopening of the old homestead and send for Amanda.” I A T Ehe GOOD CHRISTMAS HABIT | Jud Tunkins says if you can't be | least help others by keeping your personal annoyances to yourself. R NOEL, NAME OF TWO TOWNS Noel, the French for Christmas, is the name of towns in Virginia and Mi they dashed | g found them at the back door. We'll | | With a flutter of ecstasy Natalie | # There was a moment of silence, | Bf words clung to her senses like a|§ There stood Edith, Ar-|§ tiny Marjorie, looking in wonder, as | & | B happy-hearted sister. | merry on Christmas you can at|§ called out g In Appreciation-- This Holiday Season Is Our Opportunity- to Wish Joy and Gladness to All Our Friends and Assure Them of Our Appreciation. HAPPY NEW YEAR! . . . | 51 o O MAY THE Merriest Christmas that has ever been your fortune LEAD STRAIGHT INTO A NEW YEAR THAT IS ENTIRELY HAPPY— CLEAR THROUGH! Juneau Laundry