Santa Claus!" said Dick as they
stepped out on the platform. "Why, it doesn't seem cold at all; yet
look at the ice on the river! What skating, and what a moon! My
blood's up, and if I find the parsonage closed, I'll follow on to the
church and make my peace with the members. There's a kind of spell on
me! For the first time in years I feel as though I could shake hands
with Deacon Todd."

"Well, Merry Christmas to you, Dick,--I'm going to walk. Good
gracious! Have you come to spend the winter?" For various bags and
parcels were being flung out on the platform with that indifference
and irresponsibility that bespeak the touch of the seasoned
baggage-handler.

"You didn't suppose I was coming back to Beulah empty-handed, on
Christmas Eve, did you? If I'm in time for the tree, I'm going to give
those blue-nosed, frost-bitten little youngsters something to
remember! Jump in, Dave, and ride as far as the turn of the road."

In a few minutes the tottering old sign-board that marked the way to
Beulah Center hove in sight, and David jumped from the sleigh to take
his homeward path.

"Merry Christmas again, Dick!" he waved.

"Same to you, Dave! I'll come myself to say it to Letty the first
minute I see smoke coming from your chimney to-morrow morning. Tell
her you met me, will you, and that my visit is partly for her, only
that father had to have his turn first. She'll know why. Tell her
mother's card had Christmas magic in it, tell--"

"Say, tell her the rest yourself, will you, Dick?" And Dave broke into
a run down the hill road that led to Letty.

"I will, indeed!" breathed Dick into his muffler.

[Illustration]

VII

Repeating history, Letty was again at her open window. She had been
half-ashamed to reproduce the card, as it were, but something impelled
her. She was safe from scrutiny, too, for everybody had gone to the
tree--the Pophams, Mr. Davis, Clarissa Perry, everybody for a quarter
of a mile up and down the street, and by now the company would be
gathered and the tree lighted. She could keep watch alone, the only
sound being that of the children's soft breathing in the next room.

Letty had longed to go to the festival herself, but old Clarissa
Perry, who cared for the twins now and then in Letty's few absences,
had a niece who was going to "speak a piece," and she yearned to be
present and share in the glory; so Letty was kept at home as she had
been numberless other times during the three ye