anded that terrible Jerry.

"As soon as possible," said Miss Ponsonby. "Stephen was going away
next week, but he says he will wait until I can get ready."

"Do you think your father will object this time?" I queried.

"No, I don't think so. Stephen is a rich man now, you know. That
wouldn't make any difference with me--but Father is very--practical.
Stephen is going to see him tomorrow."

"But what if he does object?" I persisted anxiously.

"The acacia tree will still be there," said Miss Ponsonby firmly.

The Falsoms' Christmas Dinner

"Well, so it's all settled," said Stephen Falsom.

"Yes," assented Alexina. "Yes, it is," she repeated, as if somebody
had questioned it.

Then Alexina sighed. Whatever "it" was, the fact of its being settled
did not seem to bring Alexina any great peace of mind--nor Stephen
either, judging from his face, which wore a sort of "suffer and be
strong" expression just then. "When do you go?" said Alexina, after a
pause, during which she had frowned out of the window and across the
Tracy yard. Josephine Tracy and her brother Duncan were strolling
about the yard in the pleasant December sunshine, arm in arm, laughing
and talking. They appeared to be a nice, harmless pair of people, but
the sight of them did not seem to please Alexina.

"Just as soon as we can sell the furniture and move away," said
Stephen moodily. "Heigh-ho! So this is what all our fine ambitions
have come to, Lexy, your music and my M.D. A place in a department
store for you, and one in a lumber mill for me."

"I don't dare to complain," said Alexina slowly. "We ought to be so
thankful to get the positions. I _am_ thankful. And I don't mind so
very much about my music. But I do wish you could have gone to
college, Stephen."

"Never mind me," said Stephen, brightening up determinedly. "I'm going
to go into the lumber business enthusiastically. You don't know what
unsuspected talents I may develop along that line. The worst of it is
that we can't be together. But I'll keep my eyes open, and perhaps
I'll find a place for you in Lessing."

Alexina said nothing. Her separation from Stephen was the one point in
their fortunes she could not bear to discuss. There were times when
Alexina did not see how she was going to exist without Stephen. But
she never said so to him. She thought he had enough to worry him
without her making matters worse. "Well," said Stephen, getting up,
"I'll run down to the office. A