1948-12-18 — Page 23

CHRISTMAS WEDDING

EVE

by Betty Smith

THERA was fast around the

that these last three years, sluce I've been away, I've come back for Christmas."

estges of the windźwpanes, But through the center of a hilly wreath, Janice coiff see now- Makes riding the wind, banking "Well," Mary Holwell remind- higher a white stretch of lawned her, "your grandfather never before the farmhouse,

Would the sun come out to RIDIFOW and shing down on

dazzling white world? Because everywhere it would be Christ- mas, and it would also be her wedding day!

(n)

"There's something; rather won- derful about being married Christmna, isn't there?" she suki Umughfully,

1-

wanted you to go away, to work, Janice sal quickly, still looking "But its like to work now," 1 the window. And

"But she isn't the slar In that

play, is she?" Mrs. Holwell naked.

"Oh, no. Elleen Shawn Is the star. She'n Regen, Doug knows her. They were-well, n

one time."

tle in love with each other at

COR

THE CHINA MAIL, CHRISTMAS-SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER - 18, -1948.

I

The girl at the window, laugh- ed. "You don't like Ford, do | you? -

"Oh yes, I liko him well endug), but, hơs (bd cooky. Lhought mint your refusal, to marry him might take some of the starch out of him, but it didn't.

Ho just told everybody that he'd never give up hope until you were married to some body else. Id needs taking down a bit.”

Still smiling, Jan turned from the window and let her glance sweep over the room.

1. Doug gripped her hand. "That's, nice of you, anyway, But s you know, of course, I'm the onɛ who's getting, the Chritsmns_gift.” Hoaring, volčer. In: the Halli Just then, Janibo sala' quickly, “Oh, want to, tell you, Doug, that you won't 280 grandfather tonight, I went to his room dari të rest for tomorrow. You'll meel- him at tonkist{***

Ford Westlay caine into the room. thêm Hb was tall, fair and good baking. Jisico had known

in all lily life.

-Au Be greated her, he kept lier It was a large room with Ivory hand in His far too long.

She wall-paper and woodwork, and drow hway,, sald' quickly, "You bright chintz. draperies at the Haven't met Captain Tyler, have windows. All the furniture was your Doug, this is an oil friend old-some of it was almost price of mine, Ford Westley. less, There were plo-crust The two men shook hands. tables, armeinira with carved

Ford requested almost at once: frames. There was a rosewood "I'd like to see Mr. Barrington." desk and an intald spinet which "Woll" Mrs. Holwell hesitated had belonged to Jan's great--"Counta Alon is resting, Ford," great-grandmother, und'. could' "But. I promised, to tell him still be played;

about that colt at the Manning

Between the front windows, co-farm: And I have all the in- fleeted in a mirror with an old formation, he wants. Couldn't I allt frame, stood the Christmas go up to lils room?" tree, tall and magnificent with "Yes, I suppose you could Bul jewel-coloured balls and a web wait, I'd bolter go with you." bed shimmer of silver.

There

As he followed Mrs. Holwell to

In the gracious dignity of its sur-the doorway. Ford glaced back roundings.

looked like some-ald casually, "Nice to have met thing straight from elfland.. A you, Captain Tylen" gift from the little men of the When they were alone, Doug forest to a house that was very turned to Jan. "What's the mat- old, ke themselves.

ter with that guy?" And then a Beneath

the tree there were look of enlightenment crossed his gleaming backages, wrapped in faco. "OH; bo's in love with

yout gold and red, úllvor and blue.

That's why he acted at though I had the plague." "We'll open our presents just the same tomorrow morning, Jan crept into his arms. "Ok won't we?" Jan inquired. "Bo-never mind Ford Lot's talk cause I won't be married unit about us. Do you like the house Doug? It will be mine BOTTLE six o'clock in the ovening, and r don't want that to interfere with day. And we'll never, never sell our Christmas."

$1, will we?" "Everything during the day.”. "I should say not! It's a mar- her cousin promised, "will be vellous old place. But you wrote Just as usual, except that we can that you'd fell me why look forward to your wedding." grandfather wanted

married here tomorrow. Tell me I'm (now."

He sank into an armchair, and drew her down on his knees "Jan; you're worthy of Inspection,

I SO beautiful! that old hall. Ivory-coloured, can't take my eyes off you.. That like the living room, it ran milk-white skin and glorious red straight through the house, with hair. And, your eyes seem bluer rooms on each sido. There, were than ever."

In other

words," satd Jan a few portraits on the walls and I'm all red, white and blue. I there was an antique sofa with chairs to match. Also, there was shouldn't think we'd need a fing

Oh." said Jan, "that's just the way I want it! And now going to take one last look at the hall before Doug comes."

It was

us to

your be

wont ic

hadn't Kone to Philadelphi Mary Holwell laugherl might never have mej, Dong." fortably.

"Well, I notice he "No, maybe you wolddn't. His didn't marry her. He's marrying a mahogany table holding a large at our house." But, the thought, people live there, don't they?"

"Yes, and I met him there last worry alatt. And your Douglas banister on the broad stairwayward Hat she mustn't: think of you. So you hoven't anything tollver bowl filled with holly. The with a stáb of pain, she would

needt a flag when: he sumner, right after he was gut-should be here with his sister

was wine

twined with kurel.

Jan that not now, She mustn't let dunted from college.

"Lovely old But Tve any minute now.“

houra!" thought, while her throat tighten-nnything dim the loveliness of never met his sister, Sandra. She was away, taking n

**1

of ed a little. Here she had been this night. was darling a dramatle

school. To Coush John to drive the sleigh born, as had so many genera – stopped in New York to see the inlo Columbus to meet them," play shot now, you know, Janice remarked. "They love That's why he couldn't be here | bat." for the lovely party you

course

think it

She added quickly;. "I'll tell tlons before her. Hero her mo-you why grandfather wanted us her and father had died, when to be married here tomorrow. she Wis so young, leaving, Hert's the family legend.

And it

to the care of the grandfather happened just sixty years ago to-

"Grandfather was engaged to

The gray-haired woman fore the Bro looked up from her knitting and guiled. "Of course there is. And your wedding to- morrow is going to anake onother lovely Christinas at the farm me lost night. I waɛ terribly "Ob, everybody'll being who was upstairs now in his night. for us to regarnber.

their sleighs this winter because room. We've had disappointed, but I can see how so many of them. I'm glad now he felt. Sandra's play is closing of the, gasoline shortage,” Mrs. And it was the kind of house a Southern girl, Rosemary Way- that John nud 1 huve always the Arst of the yeur, so Inst Holwell assured her. "Even where almost anything could ne. They loved each other madly, closed our house in Columbus night was the only chance Doug Ford Westley, who did so much happen. Things had happened, And, Doug, she was so beauti-

fit, Everyone ndored: for December and come out would have tomec 11, fer un-bragging about his grand new

But

had no here,"

sha

family, and derstudy will play her part 10-er, has his sleigh out. He said Turning back the living night and tomorrow, while she's he was coming over to see you room, she remarked, "There was grandfather wanted to be mar

no ried at the farm, so early in De- here for the wedding."

today, Jan."

here which one Christmas

"Yes, 1 know how Cousto Mary

I'm

you feel, glad.

ino,

istmas

Greetings

AS Wation & Co Ltd

Loo!

to

her.

one could have wanted to re-cember she came and they got ready for the wedding which member, Cousin Mary."

"You mean when Rosemary was to be on Christmas Day. Wayne ran away?" Mrs, Holwell

bad enough.

"But the night before Christmas

asked soberly. "Yes, that was they quarrelled about something: We have never known what it 'I was young,, of

was. Rosemary walked out of course, but I remember. ft. I

so one Waz wish I didn't. I wish I could this house when

small forget the look on your grand watching, taking only father's face. But I suppose I'm left. And no one here ever saw bag: All her other things she being: foolish. All uld hustees have their Iragedies, so why her again"

shouldn't this uno?

"Didn't she even write to your grandfather?" Doug wanted“-t know:

"Not at once. Оп Christmas Day, the guests kept arriving, and were told that there would be no wedding. The family couldn't

Your grandfather,"

," she added, "was a redhead like you, when he was young, I think that was why he worried when you were such a wild, tempestuous, child. He was afraid that the Barring ket word to all of thêm in ting, ton pride and temper might you see, because there were pl make you suffer as he had sutelephonics Cousin Mary says fered. But I must say she

sho, will ever be able to forget looked up to sulle affectionately arandfather's face that day, Bin, -"there doesn't seem to be guy-about two weeks Injer, ha receive thing wild about you now at en letter from Rosemary, say twenty-one. You're

prettying merely that she had married somebody else. She didn't even

nice girl."

་

of

And then, from outside the tell him whom she had married farmhouse, came the sound sleigh bells.

Juriice sprang to her feet, "They're here! Doug's here!"

She darted into the hall, and fung open the door:

::

or where to send her things.

"T"-don't think," Jon, went on thoughtfully, "that grantfatiter pver really got over it: He want od a child of his to inherit the farm) va five years; inter Marinar- red my grandmother. But every ou believed that ho sill loved And now, when he's Rosemary. so old; lin: feole that that: tragedy loft as a kind of: blight on the house, and that. 'it trare war u húspy marange: herd on; dnöther

christmas Day, it might help th

A tall men, carrying a kitcase, was coming up the walk.

A moment late he was inside. the door closed behind him. And Janice was in his arms.

With the first touch of his lips. she thought, "And only a few minutes ago I believed that I was

blot out, the memory of that happy!" comparing, darling? sald. Dous. Do you understand

wedding which nevan those place, pressing his cold cheek to her "Yes, I do," Douglas seid in- glowing-que. "I never rede instantly. "Epor ald fellow! I'm such a slow train. I thought I'd doubly glad now that we're being never get here!!

married there tomorrow... into "But she.. remembered, that's what No wants." where's. Sandra? Didn't that bind lille catchy In Jan rubbed. her cheek, against come?"

"Oh, yes, she came, all right her voice, "It will. Be so, worldart. But she was so intrigued with full Dough"- Thờrp......was a long

[ # aleigh, int Mr. Helwell of Baust. Before has added.. "Tall ind fered. 16 take her for a ride shut the play listenight. Wat They'll

he back soon. Have you, Sandra," marvellous?"""

| missed me?" DA AKRAMEN

“Well, stio was dorned good. I ** "Terribly! Oh, Doug. In can sikjut, know she had it ja; her."- hardly believe you resharel's taken and did you:, ., did you so

And that we're going to be Eileen, Shawnar married tomorrow, he addedDour, laughed and Inked hot. exultently. Just think zot", "fcourse I did, since she's start Jan, you're going to belong to me rang in the play? He added mat for, always1

goberly, “Darling. I wish) "you'd- For always she whispered, stra thinkinis ainut Eljčan,” k | And "- then," "Bột, you're", cold. But you were in love with

Take your coat off and come father

living room,, where there's "After a fashion.: ver. But

¿most boow fall in love with det He was so till, straight and Iresses and get over if a QUIERlY military-looking, so handsome in. I did: And of course, Ellen its: unltarm. Brown eyes dark wasn't in love with inesta balt, restrained from curling, and don't 15011606-16 FRE'S askin' that never quite lost 48 Hanstvo * Bot that I. San

Hry Chain't been yöity"sister. summer tan en met

Teniada as they went into the lfy?/Elleen'

Here he is, Cousin Mary shelaniechave gutten, that part.

Inggy room.; "Thin --Is--Douglas. -^ Look at him? Sco" she says, reas him 4 gaminggrin- och what ful me Hetting for Christmas!""* dyn |1=#WaU"--shifts Maży: «HONAU rting, "if n 'soklier's what työu Wanafe for ** Chr

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