6 GfiStiiifl! l i>OivgJCJ \ A pretty joung girl, well wrapped op against the cold night, and a half grown boy carrying a large basket, were crossing the street when an automobile swung suddenly around tlio corner. To save themselves, the girl and the boy had to make a sud den retreat, and In so doing they dropped the basket and it was crushed under the wheels. There were lour young men In the automobile. They were singing and laughing and enjoying the license of Christmas eve. They jeered at the boy for dropping the basket, and they raised their hats in mock courtesy to the girl. "Miss, I didn't go for to do It!" apol ogized the boy, who had been hired as a messenger, and who had been told that the basket contained food for poor families in the tenement be yond. "I know—l know," replied the girl. "It wasn't your fault, but I'm so sorry. The sick woman and her children won't have the food and toys now, but I have a little change in my purse and I can still do something. You needn't go any farther; it is just across the street. Good-night to you." "Missy," said the boy as she was about to move away, "you gave me a dime to carry the basket. Here it is. Give It to some kid up there who wants a mouth-organ. Oh, you must take it, and if you say so I'll wait here till them fellers come back and hit 'em with a rock." "But how about your Christmas, Jimmy?" the girl asked. "Oh, I can skirmish around, same as I always do. Night to you, and I hope that sick woman will get better." The girl crossed the street and en tered the hallway of the tenement and climbed to the third floor. Three •children were waiting for her on the landing, and uttered glad shouts at eight of her. She had been there be fore and had promised them that she would come on Christmas eve. With in the poverty-stricken rooms called bome a sick woman was lying on a bed. She smiled and was glad at sight of the girl. She told them the Incident of the auto and the loss of the basket, and then she counted over her scanty change and went downstairs to the nearest grocery. It was little she could buy. There would be Christmas eating, but no feast. The little stock ings with their holes would be hung, but there would be no Santa Claus to Oil them. The children stood with their faces to the wall and wept, and the girl held the hand of the sick woman and shed tears. As they sat thus the door opened and let in the cold air from the hall. An old man stood outside. He was ragged and unkempt, and hunger had given him the face of a wolf. There was not a soft line In It. Peering out of his own door on the same floor, he had seen the girl come bearing pack ages. There was bread on the table before him. The children cried out as they saw the look on the old man's face, and the girl rose up and barred his way. "I want bread and I'll have It!" he txclaimed iiercely. "Hut you can't take it from this lick womau and these helpless chil dren." "I tell you I'm hungry—l want bread! Why didn't you come to me Drat? I am old; there is no work for ine, but I will not die like a dog. Bland aside! You will not? Then —" He seized her by the arms and there was a struggle. The children were •houtlng for help, and the tnau-wolf wan Bearing the coveted loaves when tome one entered and seized him and whirled him about and thrust him out Into the hall, shutting the door on his Baths and snarls. The children ceased their cries and the girl looked up to ie« a young man standing In the cen ter of the room, gazing around him. "It Is your fault!" she half-sobbed. "You were in the auto that almost ran me down. You laughed in my (ac« as you raised your hat. Hut for you there would have b'-en plenty of food and souin presents here." I was one of them," the man answered. "It Is Christmas eve, and we were out for a lurk Yes, 1 looked straight Into your eyes, and In live minutes i was ashamed of myself. I came hick and hunted until I found the boy. When he told me that you wer< a Christ mas angel, and that he had kUi d hih la t dime to help out, I was still more ushaned of myself and ot m> fr sends Can you forgive me*" "Yoa, It Is Christmas eve," she said In a voli« hardly above a whisper an she seemed to listen to the ntei ry shouts from 11»«* street, "There are tens of thousands of persons on th<* streets In merry mood, but what have we here* What have we In every room In "his old rookery? War* you think lug 'if it when you crushed 'he lasket I was liiliimtiK' when yuo smiled In to my fae- ' "I was a brute," be answered 'I was bitilting my little uilta," she continued In a deprecatory way. "T nave a widowed mother to support, and I could not spare much. I was weeks saving up to buy what was In that basket You are rich, perhaps. It would h- ve been nothing to you." The children stood hushed and awed, and the sick woman closed her eyes and wondered at It all. The young man and the girl looked straight into each other's oyes as they talked, and her words seemed to cut him like the lash of a whip. When there had been silence for a minute, and the oia man-wolf was heard snarling as he paced the hall, the young man said: "I am ashamed and sorry. Let that answer for the moment. Will you come with me?" And without the slightest fear in her mind, and with a smile at the mother and her children, she arose. Intuition told her what was in the stranger's thoughts. He carried the bread and butter out into the hall and placed them in the hands of tho fierce-faced old man. He fell to de vouring them as If he had, indeed, been a wolf of the forest, and when another tenant came out and asked for crumbs he was frightened away by snarls and growls. "Now come," said the young man. Up one street and down another for an hour, they went. Wines and jellies and fruits, they bought for the woman whose aflment was starvation more than disease—food to last for days and days. They selected, next, gifts and new stockings to receive them —what- ever money could buy and the two could bundle into their arms, they picked up. And all the time, though neither one knew the name of the other, they talked and laughed and were like children In their delight. The return to the tenement was like the arrival of a lord and his lady. There was something for other chil dren, too, and a policeman, pausing in "I Have a Widowed Mother to Sup port, and I Could Not Spare Much." the lower hall, heard such shouts of pleasure and so much childish laugh ter that he glanced up the dimly lighted stairs and said to himself; "Old Santa must have changed his route this year and aome among the poor." And at a late hour, when the Christ mas angel and her guardian walked downstairs together and she was put into a cab for home, they still talked and still laughed, nor did they know that they would ever meet again. She had lashed him for his heartlesness. She was hoping that he would see that she had forgiven him. He had been almost brutal. He was hoping that she had seen his better side. No cards —no names. "Good-night," they said at parting; and when he raised his hat she knew that it was in courtesy instead of irony. iJays later, when the girl visited the old tenement again, the sick woman and her children bad vanished, but hud left word behind for her. The man-wolf was still there, but Instead of growling aud showing his teeth, he smiled at her. In another place, with light and air and food and comforts In abundance, the girl fouud the mother aud her little ones. It was a glad surprise, and to the look of in quiry the widow, no longer in bed. whispered: "He did it! Ho did It all!" One evening, when long weeks had passed, the young man was waiting at the home of the girl when she cam* from her place of daily employment. "I have been talking with the mother," he snld, quietly. "She says I may call What dues the Christmas Angel say?" (Copyright, 1910 l A Simple Gift. Wh<-n one wishes to send little more iban a remembrance at Christ inns yet does not care to use cards, | a novelty that can be made by the girl I who paints Is a mutch serutihor In the I ior in of a card Have an oblong background of col | 'ited cardboard, and on It paint a > 'lualm figure cut from hie emery pa I per In soft tones of brown, heighten 1 • d by gay touches In the costume. It 1 la then cut out and pasted on the mck which may be tell plain or painted wlib scenery to correspond Houietlnies th« 4e scratchers are • lone In entirely monochrome t'hll i|r«n with huge muff, plciurisqui' • 'olonlal or flreuse figures, or <|ualat (Hitch peasants can ha copied In 1 colors, CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1910. Cl«-i>Tn»af roF ipv CmvK JjH n)acfo E_J The crowded east-bound train dis gorged two passengers at the little red station and then thundered on ita busy way. A long stage, rusty and ramshackle, backed up to the platform and the driver's lusty "All aboard!" brought the girl and the young man hurrying into its dismal depths. "I s'pose you're for Ferguson's place," remarked the driver as he turned the horses skillfully in the nar row space. "Yes," said the man rather gruffly. "I thought there would be a carriage to meet us." "So there has —so there has! Been prancin' around her for two or three hours, but I guess they got disgusted; anyways, they left word for me to stay here till the train came in and if any one was bound for their place to bring 'em along. The train's four hours late as it is, and I don't suppose them ser vants want to be kept away from their Christmas dinner." "How long will it take us?" asked the girl. "A matter of an hour or so," was the unconcerned reply. The girl stifled an exclamation of annoyance and she drew still farther away from the vicinity of the morose young man. The latter turned up the astrakhan collar of his overcoat and dropped liis chin into its deaths. They had started forth that morning so joyfully—Polly Standish and Der rick Gordon—newly engaged and bliss fully happy. Things had gone wrong from the very beginning. Polly's aunt, who was to accompany ther»* *>r the short stay at Ferguson's hospitable country house, had failed to putin an appearance, and consequently had been left behind. That was vexatious. Then the train had been delayed by snow drifts and during the four hours' wait in the cold train Polly and Der rick had quarreled. "Nice Christmas day," volunteered the stage driver in his queer, cracked voice, as they squeaked over the hard packed snow. "Very!" returned Derrick, sarcastic ally. There was a long silence as the strong white horses plodded up the steep incline of the mountain. Here the snowfall had been light and only served to dust the dark green pines and hemlocks with a white powder. They had reached the top of a steep incline and were rolling evenly over a level stretch when suddenly, without an instant's warning, the stage crashed down and precipitated the passengers and luggage in an ignomini ous heap under the driver's seat. "Are you hurt?" asked Derrick cold ly, as he assisted Polly to her feet. "No, thank you," she said stiffly, as she peered out from the curtained win dow. The driver was soothing the fright ened horses and his nut-cracker face was knotted anxiously. "I.ost a wheel, by gorry!" he said, ruefully. "Smashed it to flinders!" Derrick had crawled out and stood beside him. "This is the dickens of a mess—how are we to get to Ferguson's place? Are we near a telephone—or where are we anyway?'' Luke Sanders scratched his ear thoughtfully. "I took a short road across—'taln't the usual route to Fer guson's and we ain't near nobody! Ten miles from anywhere. The only thing to do is for me to ride one of the horses into the village and send back another wagon. You and the young lady better get out and move about a bit and keep warm. You might build a fire —there's plenty of fuel." lie was unharnessing the horses as he spoke. "Why can't we all ride—or better still, Miss Standish can ride one of them and I will walk beside her We will get there much quicker and can keep warm and have something to eat. We're almost starved." Derrick glanced quickly at the stage where Polly's pale face was framed In the darkened opening. "Can't nobody ride Bob white. A jnmpln' kangaroo ain't nothin' to that horse If anybody gits on his back! Just you stay here and make your selves comfortable and warm and I'll be back in the course of an hour or so" lie tethered the ferocious lloh white to a tree by the roadside. Thou from the space under his seat in the stage he drew forth a basket covered with a white cloth. "This here basket has gut a Christ mas dinner ii Me my wife fined It up fur old Miss I' <nton down to the fur.l but I can stop md get another basket fill for the old ladi You two arc wel roine to it " 11 •* datlihered oil the watting horse and lulled as his horny hand rinsed around the generous bank note that Derrick slipped from his pocket ' Mt-rr ChrlMuia* to you and \our wife Kir.' be called back over his diiMtldef before he disappeared around I luri n th» mad Derrick did not dare to look at Polly Standish; he knew she was sitting proud and defiant with a contemptu ous curl on her red lip. Instead, he stared away through the aisles of trees, made Into golden paths by the later afternoon sun. It was too bad that Christmas should have turned out BO disastrous ly for them both. There was to be a jolly party at the Fergusons and In the evening a Christmas dance. Per haps Ralph Ferguson would send forth another conveyance for them—but It would go by that other road. They were marooned on the short cut. A glimpse of Polly's woeful face brought a revulsion of feeling. Poor little Polly was cold and tired and he was acting like a brute. Without a word Derrick approached a small elearing in the middle of which grew a young pine tree. It was the work of minutes to gath er an armful of wood and broken branches and to clear a space of snow. Presently a bright flre crackled cheer ily and then Derrick brought cushions and blankets from the stage and pre pared a place for Polly. "Come, Miss Standish," he said po litely. "If you will draw near the fire we will have some dinner." "I'm not hungry,'' said Polly, hold ing her hands to the blaze. "At least you will sit down and wrap this blanket around you—so," in sisted Derrick. "Thank you," said Polly without en thusiasm. From the blanket Derrick produced a large plate loaded with a generous Christmas dinner. There were turkey ajid cranberry sauce, stuffing and mashed potatoes and. gravy, turnips and celery, and a whole mince pie. Derrick managed to convey half of the dinner more or less daintily to the pie plate and this he placed before Polly. "Eat," he said sternly. "You will need the nourishment before we reach Ferguson's." "I am not a child," said Polly re sentfully. Derrick did not reply. He fell to his own dinner with a vigorous appetite and it was not until he turned to give "This Is Our Christmas Tree, Polly Dear," Said Derrick, in a Low Tone. Polly some mince pie that he discov ered that the weary girl had eaten a little of the dinner and then fallen asleep in her nest of blankets. For a long time he watched the changing lights on her sweet face as the branches tossed in the wind; then, softly he arose and approached the little pine tree standing In the middle of the clearing. The cones were silvered with snow and it looked like a Christinas tree decorated for a festival Derrick opened his suit case and brought out sundry white packages. These he tied to the tree with colored cord. Gay toys for the Ferguson chil dren were added until the little tree stood forth bravely In Its fine attire. "Polly!" he called softly. "Polly!'' Polly sat up with startled eyes seek ing his face. For the Instant she had forgotten their misunderstanding, but suddenly their light clouded. "Come here, Polly, and see our Christmas tree," urged Derrick. Reluctantly she came, a rose flush straining her pale cheeks, nut yet her red lips were obstinately set In a straight line. "This Is our Christmas tree, Polly, dear," said Derrick In a low ton*. "Yours and mine! Shall we be happy and enjoy not only this one, but many, many others after, please God? Say, dear." "Oh. Derrick, how wicked of us to quarrel when we should be happy! I urn so sorry!" sobbed Polly In Der rick's coat sleeve "And so am 1- and now I'm glad." said Derrick after a time. "Now, let's enjoy our own particular tree before anyone comes! I shall be Santa Claus and you may bo Mr* Santa Clans!*' "I have things In my hag. too," blushed Polly as she hastened a*a\ An hour afterward Ralph Ferguson brought a slelghload of merrymakers In search of them ToQCittvf they sat demurely on a log hefore a -Mug tire Near by stood A little pine trn», |M>W -lered with snow, and dripping with hanging cones "You're )u*t In time for the blggeat Christmas tree you ever saw," said Ralph as he gathered up the Hues and clucked to th» horses "We've ha-l our Christmas tree," said iieirlck m>sterlxusly. while Holly smll»d back at htm out of happy t>es right, nit i fponC iPaeftic 4H "Christmas comes but once a year— and when it goes I'm glad of it!" mis quoted Mr. Anthony Rlggs, looking sourly at the toe of his slipper. As Anthony Rlggs lived all alone In the big house, there was no one to reply to his unpleasant remarks. Downstairs in the kitchen his one servant clattered noisily about her work. Everywhere else In the house It was very quiet. And there Is no silence like that of a great house which has once known the Joyful clamor of a large and happy family. Years ago Anthony had had a love affair, but it ended most unhappily. The girl had married another man and Anthony Riggs had been left to develop into a morose old bachelor— and not so very old at that. "Christmas comes but once a year— and I'll try to get as far away from it as I can," misquoted Mr. Riggs once more, as he kicked off his slip pers and reached for his shoes. When he was buttoned tightly into his fur lined ulster and his sealskin cap was pulled down over his ears there was nothing to be seen save a pair of very bright brown eyes and an aris tocratic nose. Once in the snowy streets Anthony Riggs found himself nearer to Christ mas than he had been before. The shops were overflowing with holly wreaths and branches of mistletoe, toys and games and candy and nuts. Beautiful gifts were displayed In the windows and many happy, expectant faces were pressed against the plate glass panes. "Please, sir," said a small voice at Anthony's elbow, "can't you give me a job carrying your bundles?" "What bundles?" frowned Anthony. "Your Christmas presents—what you're going to buy, sir," said the little boy, respectfully. "I'm not going to buy any pres ents," replied Anthony quite fiercely. "Here's something for you—go and buy your own gifts and don't bother me!" He thrust a dollar bill into the eager little fingers and strode on, un mindful of the curious glances of those who had overheard his conversa tion with the little lad. A glittering window full of jewels threw a flashlight on his memory. It was in that same shop ho had once purchased a ring for Mary Wood. The ring had been returned to him and he had flung It into the farthest cor ner of his desk. It was there now. He turned away and sauntered on. In front of his own church, friendly hands drew him into the brightly lighted basement of the edifice where .the annual Christmas bazaar was in progress. 'i here was a merry throng of men, women and children moving to and fro among the b&oths devoted to the sale of fancy articles, toys and candy. Supper tables occupied one end of the room and In an obscure corner a for tune teller's tent was made of gay shawls. In the middle of the room stood a gigantic Christmas tree, load ed with gifts wrapped in tissue pa per. "Ten cents will entitle you to a gift from the tree," explained his guide. "I don't like presents," said An thony grimly. Deacon Smlthers smiled quizzically. "Very well, suit yourself, Anthouy! There Is the fortune teller —perhaps she will predict a happy future for you! There Is the supper table, that will Insure you a good meal —and the booths pay your money and take your choice!" Ho moved away and left Anthony lliggs standing pale and cold In the midst of the happy crowd Perhaps it was because he did not know what else to do that Anthony awaited his turn at the fortune tell er's tent, and once within its dim re cesses he felt foolishly aware that the future held nothing for him that he did not know. The gipsy's dark head was con cealed in the folds of a lace mantilla, from the flowing sleeves of her red velvet bodice, two slim brown arms and hand* flashed out and caught his large hand. The lace-draped head bent over bis palm. "You have had much sorrow," said the gipsy in a low musical voice, "but much of It has been your own ma king! Do the things I shall tell you and you will live to be very happy and se« your dearest wish gratltiel! " Anthony stuiled swdoulcally "And the three things I shall do?" he naked. "The day after tomorrow Is Christ mas day Tomorrow night you must make three per* ns happy Kind three persons who are poor and Racily and norrowftil and lake them to your home and provide them with a bountiful dinner; have gifts for them ai d when they have gone away blessing you then, you uiay r> celve a gift your self" "What will It he* I uoa't want a gill I ha Mill kepi veai*. pi ot oiled Anthony, as he pl.t • d Ot •» money on tit* table "Tine o i did then' iMiiit hi <«t— or you will lose your last chance ot being happy. And stay—" A allm hand arrested his going. "Yes?" Anthony's voice was very cold. "Be sure to have that ring in readi ness—you may need it!" And the next Instant Anthony found himself elbowed out of the tent by impatient waiters at the door, and without another glance about the dec orated room he left the church and went home, much perturbed. Of course, Anthony Riggs knew that the fortune teller could be none other than some member of his church who was familiar with more or less of the detail of his life and habits. He was surprised at his own lack of Indignation because his pri vate affairs had been discussed by a stranger—indeed, he almost felt a glow of gratification that he was still numbered among those to whom something wonderful might happen. "I'll try It, anyway," said Anthony that night as he blew out his candle. "It can do no harm." It Is a simple matter to make poor people happy. Anthony Riggs found it so. The day before Christmas was marked by a series of galvanic shocks for the servant maid in the basement of Anthony's fine house. Before night the pantries were filled with delicious viands and the smell of spices and mincemeat pervaded the house. Anthony's three persons became six, for it was so easy to add another one and still another to the little company he had invited. They were old men and women and they enjoyed the feast of good things with a pleas ure that made Anthony's heart ache as it had never ached since the day when Mary Wood had sent back his ring. At last he sent them home in car riages laden with the remains of the dinner and with many gifts that would add comfort to declining years. The best gift of all was that Anthony Riggs had promised not to forget them —he would be their benefactor till they had passed into the hands of the great benefactor. When he was alone in the brightly lighted parlor, with the blaze of the chandelier falling on the silver threads in his black hair, Anthony thought "And You—You Meant What You Promised?— That Happiness Would Coma to Me?" of the bitter years he had wasted —years In which he might have made many persons happy. The re ward of good deeds was warm in his heart this night and he forgot that there was not one to offer him a gift with loving words. He had received the greatest of all gifts—the love and gratitude of his fellow men. The door softly opened and a worn an crept to, small. Blender woman with dusky hair and dark eyes shining like stars. Aninony Riggs did not look up. He had forgotten that the fortune teller had promlsod him a gift that night. On his little finger was a small ring set with a single pearl. "Anthony!" The visitor's voice was low and musical. "Mary Wood." said Anthony hoarse ly; and then with a glance at the black litre draped about her head, be added: "You were the fortuue teller last night?" "Yea." "And you—you meant what you promised?- that happiness would come to me?" "It has come, Anthony," ahe faltered drawing near to him. "We were so mistaken you and I —and the year* have been lung lam free now- they Kaid you needed me ami that night when I saw your bitter face 1 knew you B*i ded the Influence of a greater love than mine before we met " Anthony Itlggs took his sweetheart Into his arms. "I have found the greater love, Mary, and Its root la pity \|y love for you will he better and worthier because of my love for the poor and needy And tomorrow to morrow you will marry me and be some my Christinas gift In truth*" "Yes," said Mary Wood And so Anthony Itigg-t slipped tin little pearl ring on her tlngei K'up) right A Way Out of It. Anna was tusking Christ was pre* eats oh. ili tr, this dot-<>a'i look nlfs." •aid sh< Utile Helm looking im remarked In a eyn»|N»thltlng ton* • i>h. a ell stmtle, vou ran give II to •on • une who Is near »ight»d "
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers