6 ACORN The man clutched him by the arm. "Are you mad or Len! Len! Is it you," and he caught him to his breast. "Thank God," the father murmured, "I've found you at last." It was a happy pair that wended their way toward Mr. Carson's rooms that night and, as Len laid his tired head down to rest he murmured, "We won't go back to Alton anymore, will we, father?" "No more, no more, laddie," and he stroked the brown head till Len was fast asleep. LEONE ENGSTROM, '11. Old Tom's Christmas "A cold night, isn't it?" "Cold? Well, I should say so! And the wind! Did it ever play such havoc?" Harry McClure threw off his overcoat and shook the sleet from his hat. "Goodness, I have never known such a storm. Some people say this is a mild climate. Why, if I hadn't seen your light, I don't know where I'd have been." The old man shook his head. "'Taint such a pleasant evenin' as it might be fer Christmas eve, I guess," he said with a strange twinkle in his eye. Then he added in a more serious voice, "But what brings you out a mile from the village in such a storm? You surely didn't leave before it began?" Harry, not caring to discuss his troubles, let his head fall dejectedly, and as he did not answer, the old man said no more. Presently Harry asked, "Did you ever see a storm that'd beat this?" "Aye lad, just fifteen years ago tonight. I was a young man then not much older'n you are now, I guess. I look like I was more than that? Well, yes, I do. They call me "Old Tom" around here, but I'm really younger than some of them that calls me old. Well, it was fifteen years ago tonight and I'd been here about six months. I built my cabin here by the lake 'cause I was always fond of water and, besides I could earn something by fishing and taking pleasure parties out in summer. You see, I was always wild and the folks disowned me after I bolted from college so I had to shift for myself. "I hadn't been here long before I met Elaine. Somehaw we were often together during the summer and I learned to love her and she loved me, I thought. I would that I had known it then, as well as I know it now. Many were the pleasant afternoons we spent on the lake and up the river that runs into it about a quarter of a mile from here. Fifteen years ago that river had its channel just east of my door, but it changed its course on the night of that storm. Well, sum- ACORN 7 mer drifted into winter as a boat drifts from quiet into swiftly moving water and almost before we knew it, December days had come. I remember it all now. Some trivial jealousy of mine had caused a misunderstanding. I left Elaine that afternoon, in anger, but inwardly resolved to call and make matters up that evening. But the storm came. "I remember how the wind howled and shrieked and how the sleet beat on the window pane. It seemed impossible to venture out, so I decided to see Elaine in the morning. It was not so with her. All evening she watched for me and as the hours passed on and I had not come she determined that she must come to me. The fury of the storm, the wild rise of the river, nor darkness, nor danger did she consider. She only knew that I had not come and that she must go. "Throwing a cloak around her, she rushed out into the storm. How she ever reached the stream, I do not know, but I am certain that she reached it. The river stimulated by the heavy and furious storm was beating madly against its banks, like a caged animal fighting for freedom. Two boards had been washed away from the middle of the bridge. Elaine Well, I thought I heard her call, but then it seemed it must be, but the raging of the storm taunting me. "Morning came and the storm disappeared with night. I walked down to the channel, where the river had been but the night before and I saw there lying with her white face upturned Elaine. Aye lad, I can never describe my feelings or the torment I endured. I think I shall not live to see another such storm, for it seems I still hear the voice of Elaine calling me and why you're not going are you? The storm is not over." Harry had slipped in to his overcoat and now held his hat in his hand. "Yes," he said, "I am going. I thank you, my friend, for the story you have told me and for the warmth and shelter you have given me, but, well I think the storm has gone down some and you see, Lucy and I had a quarrel today and I wouldn't like her to try to find me in this. It isn't so bad for me." In the morning Harry and Lucy walked over to "Old Tom's" with a basket of good things for his Christmas dinner. To their amazement they saw that the river was again flowing in its old channel and there on the low bank of the stream not far from where the old foot bridge had been fifteen years ago lay "Tom." His face was turned toward the sky and something like a smile lingered on his lips. After all these years he had answered to the call of Elaine. -MYRTLE YOUNG, '12.