Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1909)
12 THE MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY,, DECEMBER 10, 1009. i r i ft CHRISTMAS AND AN ICEBOAT, By GEORGE P. CARD (Copyright, VXO, by American Vroxt Aio- I V elation. T had ntopped Knowing, but tlio wind still blew n hurricane. The sun was shining, but the air wns so filled with the drift that the outside- world wns hidden from those who tried to peer Into It through frost ed wlndowpanes. Myles Fearing had been trying to ponctratc the shimmer ing mist, but he Anally gave up the attempt In disgust. "How long nm I likely to be held up In this Infernal placer' he wondered audibly, "lteckon ye'll have a chanco to hang 'up ycr socks In that thar cblmley," consoled his host, tho proprietor of the comfortless little public houso In whldh ho had taken refuge from the storm when the stage which had brought him tins far had succumbed to the Inevitable. "There won't be anythln' lcavln' hero 'fore mornln'. anyways, and mebbo not then. Bet tcr make up yer mind to stay hero overnight Sandy Claws Is tho only feller likely to do any travelln' fer some time in theso parts." Fearing did not take kindly to the proposition. Ills knitted brows did not relax, and ho drummed viciously against the frosted wlndowpane. "For two cents," he threatened, "I'd cross the lake on foot." Mine host shifted his quid and looked properly serious. "1 wouldn't not even to spite the meanest life Insurance company In Amcriky. Seventeen miles and a half to Oriskany as the crow flies and u good thirty-eight around the lake road 1 reckon yo'd better take pot luck with us." With this wholesome advice he left the room. There seemed to bo no help for It, and the weather tricked young man flung his six feet of baffled humanity into a big splint bottom armchair and proceeded to lose himself in a far from agreeable reverie. lie really had abun dant reason to resent his unexpected captivity. Jnst across tho lake In the snow enveloped village of Oriskany, as he knew perfectly well, a certain young woman for whose good opinion he would' have risked anything capablo of being risked was trying to convince herself nil against her better Judg ment that be was a hero quite supe rior to ordinary, everyday heroes; that by some clever maneuver possible only to Ideal heroes ho might circumvent tho evident design of fate to prevent him from keeping his engagement and make his appearance at about the hour . "ami nm ready to use them to tho beat . ... . . - m . . . M ft I ........ t ...... ...... 1., I, ,.. ,11.. fixed In his letter or acceptance of her Invitation to upend tho Christmas holt days In Oriskany. He had pictured It nil so minutely. She would be at the station to meet htm. and together they would walk leisurely to her father's house. That houso would be n gleam with lights, and holly wreaths would hang In every window. Of course there would be mistletoe suspended from the hall light and as they passed beneath It All off schedule now, postponed" In definitely by the strops of wenthcr. Tho realization wns sickening, but "Want to go over this afternoon?" Fearing saw before, him nn over grown boy of sixteen, n shock of red hair falling low upon his forehead, his advantage. If you doubt It, try mo and see." "Oh, you're nil right." the lad admit ted, with an appreciative gleam lu his eyes. "Now, listen. Night In that shed nt the bottom of this here lot there's nn Iceboat belongln to a city chap that comes out here every summer. He'll bo here after Christmas to sail his boat, mul I'm goln' to help him. Now, what's to prevent mo and you from tnkln' n skim over to Oriskany? Just to see if the thing's In good runnln' or der, you know," he added, with a sug gestive squint of hts left eye. Fearing did not stop to go Into the moral consideration of the situation. The prospect of gettlug to Oriskany was too attractive for that. His ea gerness to accept the proposition was so great that he could hardly wait un til tho youthful originator of the scheme was ready to put It Into execu tion. Toward nightfall tho precious pair made their way through tho drifts to the boathonse, and half nn hour later the rakish looking craft was ready for , business. I As the landlord's son had predicted, the frozen surface of the lake wns as i ."roe from snow as If It had boon swept. , Tho force of the wind had nlso lessen ed greatly, but enough remained to make the voyage a daring venture. It , was n ticklish business to put on full sail in such n breeze, but Fearing . would be satisfied with nothing less, and his reckless companion was only too willing to have it so. Almost be fore the self appointed crew of two could adjust Itself the machine made a leap for the open roadway and before tho first half mile was completed was speeding nt a rate that would have made n bird envious. Luckily there was nothing to opposo Its progress. The Ico was lu prime condition nnd ns smooth as crystal. All tho Intrepid navigators had to do was to keep the craft In position and haug on for dear life. Fearing was sport enough to enjoy tho risky busi ness even divested of Its ultimate ob ject nnd the lad wns too excited to remember the financial end of tho matter. Tho soventeen miles nnd a half were traversed with n speed that must havtf made u now record In Ico yncbtlng had It been noted. Almost too soon the lights of Oriskany ad monished them that It was time to lower the canvas and make ready tho drag. Five minutes later they were nnm nimln nn form (Iran, tho vneht's "Tt.cn I'll foot it! Sevcnteon ration nccb burlw, ,n nn ,mmonso 8tOWdrIft that rose like n fortification along tho shoro. "OeoP tho other ejaculated. "Ye must 'a' wanted to git to Oriskany mighty bad." A little later, when Fearing nnd tho girl for whom ho had accepted n des pernio chance stood under tho mistle toe, he did not reproach himself for what he had done. WOULD BATE MADE A BfJlD RNYIOCS. darK eyes aglenm'wlth interest. "Fop sex yer anxious to git to Oris kany," ho continued. "no hasn't suggested any way to do It. has he?" Fearing returned glnmly. "Kin yo sknto?" "Never had n pair of skates on my feet" 'Too bad. By sundown the Ico Ml bo os clean as a wnx floor and twice as slippery. Tho northeast wind Is sweep in' nil the snow on t'other side of the lake." isnl much of a tramp." Fearing de clared, with n sudden revival of energy. Tho red headed youth sniffed dlsap provlngly. "If ye'vo got to cross," h" said, lowering his voice nnd movInT nearer to Fearing. "I enn put rt on t sometbln' better that Is, if yo've got the ncrvo and and n little snrnothh' That was dead ea3y," said the lad. 'Tho hardest Job's to come. I've got to get this concern back, nnd nnd probably I'll have to explain how It all happened." I'll keep the secret. Fearing prom- I 1 I 1. 1 1 ,ftft.T I.i MsimfV- to make it intorestln" to mo. henddod. ., , . ,i ,-, , h ro-nrl, ntmlm hf thing t0 W tb magCS. tl0 nuueu, uunuiiig mm a urauu uuw twen ty dollar bill. with a mysterious pantomime Fearing understood perfectly. "I've plenty of both." he declared. Chrlitmnt Chimes In Many Cllmot. Christmas Is always a season of good wishes nnd loving kindness. lu America almost all little children hang up their stockings on Christmas eve, to be tilled by kind old Santa Claus. lu (crmnny they make more of Christinas than we do lu America. Hvorywhoro the Christmas tree Is used. If n fatuity Is too poor to have n whole tree, a single brunch only will stand In a completions place, hung with the few simple gifts. A week before Christmas St. Nicho las visits the children to find out who have been good enough to receive the gifts the Christ Child will bring them on Christmas eve It Is a very usual thing to see on a (Jennnn Christmas tree, wny u,p In the very topmost branch, an Imago or doll representing the Christ Child, while below are sometimes placed other Images representing angels with out spread wings. After the tree Is lighted tho family gather round It nnd sing n Christmas hymu. In England almost every one who can do so has a family party on Christmas eve. Young and old Join In the games, many of which belong especially to Christmas time. From the celling of one of the rooms a large bunch of mistletoe Is hung. If any little maid Is caught standing under It the one who catches her has n right to take a kiss from her rosy lips. In Holland the little Dutch girl puts her wooden shoe lu tlie chimney plncu ready for gifts. Just as the little Amer ican girl hangs up her stocking. Aud so In some wny nil over tho Christian world on the eve of tho twenty-tlfth day of December tho birth of our Lord Jesus Christ Is cele brated. Everywhere1 the Christmas' chimes arc ringing out the message the angels brought to Bethlehem "Fence on enrth. good will to men." Holiday Suggestions FOR EVERYONE DAAffC For .Men and Wom OUUIIJ en, Fertile Boys and Girls and for the Babies. . 8ubttantl.il Merits. "But," 'said the Impecunious foreign fortune hunter, "my dear .Miss (Joldl locks, why should you prefer another to me? 1 nm n man of titles." "So Is your preferred rival." smiled the womnu. "He Is nothing hut a plain American commoner," sneered tho nobleman. "Indeed, he Is a muu of titles, too," returned the heiress. "And my father has had nil tils titles examined by n competent trust company. Your titles arc but words; his are deeds nnd to some of tho best property lu the stnte." Baltimore American. Pictures Fine 'Stationery Whitman's Candies Christmas Cards, Etc. A general lino of Books, Stationery, Magazinos, Offico and School Supplies, Post Cards and Confectionery, will bo carried. 134 W. MAIN STREET WITH SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. Sherman Clay & Co. 134 West Main Street, Medford, Ore. Our Pianos STEINWAY KTJRTMA1ST EMERSON WELLINGTON EVERETT PACKARD CONOVER CABLE ESTEY A. B. CHASE LUDWIG KINGSBURY l i PLAYER PIANOS A. B. CHASE EUPHONA PACKARD KINGSBURY CECDLIAN CONOVER CAROLA ESTEY PIPE ORG.AN ORGANS VICTOR TALKING MACHINES CHICAGO COTTAGE OUR POLICY Reliability. One price to all. Superior quality of goods. A square deal to everybody. Easy terms. Our prices are the same in Medford as in Port land, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane and all our other stores. To offer an expensive article today at one price, tomorrow at another, and later at half price, indicates an enormous profit. SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. shuns such methods. A child can buy a piano as safely and as cheaply from us as the most ex perienced business man. 1 The fundamental principle upon which SEER MAN, CLAY & CO. is operating is honesty, be lieving "To thine own self bo true and it must follow as the night tho day thou canst not be false to any man." A number of second-hand Pianos an 1 Organs, taken in exchange, on hand. .SHERMAN CLAY & CO. 1 134 WEST MAIN STREET MEDFORD, OREGON GRAND O P E R A Beginning Saturday, Dec. 25 CONTINUING INDEFINITELY , INTRODUCING ARTISTS OF WORLD WIDE FAME, SUCH AS CARU SO, CALVE, MELBA, SCHUMAN-HEINK, S C O T T I , 'TETRAZZINI, E.AMES AND SCORES OF OTHERS NO LESS FAMOUS, WHO MAY BE HEARD In Every Home WHERE THERE IS A VICTOR O R EDISO.N MACHINE. SEASON TI0KETS--Can bo procured at J 31 W. Main street by buying one of these wonderful machines. Call nnd hear them and got prices. Whetsel Music Co. HtlMTC
