The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-01-12

3
Florence, and he jumped IN, closed the
door, and ordered the driver to the
street and number directed.
I s'God bless you! You are q good
child. / shall never forget this day.
Perhaps I'll come to see YOU again
some time the old man said, when
leaving.
The same contemptuous expression
was again on Carl's face, and he said
sneeringly:
"Quite distinguished acquisition
to Miss Cameron's list of acquaintanc-
esin
( A deep flush mantled her fair brow,
but she deigned no werd of reply.
Carl Granger saw he had been indis-
Greet, to say the least, and endeavored,
/ by putting forth his most fascinating
powers, to cast away the cloud that had
gathered on the face usually so bright.
Carl's attempts were fr1l.tless. But
when an hour had passed, and William
/ Hartley returned, then, TO his great
chagrin, he saw softer light glow in
/ her dark eyes, and her lips wreathed
with smiles that he haa failed to draw
forth.
t Thet night Carl Granger, determined
/ to know his fate, asked Florence to be
his wife, and, to her parents great dis
appointment, she kindly but firmly said
she "could not love him."
"Foolish girl Do you not know
that, besides his own fortune, Mr..
Granger is the only heir Of an old
uncle, who is fabulously richI' said
Mrs. Cameron.
Florence's fathers disappointment
was as keen as his wife's, for he felt his
! foundation trembling, aud knew before
/ long it must fall And so it was; be-
/ fore another year had passed the stately
mansion was no longer his. He was
almost penniless. But he was true,
loving father, and would not barter his
child's heart for gold.
And SO, when William Hartley won
Florence, he took her not from home
of luxury, but one as humble as his
own Years rolled by, bringing with
them JOY and sorrow, until six had
passed. During the last one clouds
had gathered, swift and dark, over Viii
liam Hartley and his loved ones; and
SO on Christmas morning, six years af-
ter the one when the strange old man
was helped by Florence, they were alb
solutely destitute.
81 wonder what has become of that
| old mani" said William, during the
day. 81 called few days after took
him home, to inquire how he was get
ting on, but he had gone from that
place"
"Do you know, William, to that old
man ssufferings you are indebted for
your wife, That day I saw the differ
ence between You and Carl Granger.
| His heartlessness frightened me, and l
! fed to you, and grew calm and happy"
said Florence, while beautiful flush
spread over her face, chasing away the
care-worn look of q few moments be-
/ fore
''You fled to poverty, toll, suffering.
Oh! my darling, l hoped to have shell
tered you from such"
/ Il fled from worse Come, cheer
up all will yet be well did not tell
you, the last time I was out, I saw Carl
/ Granger very much intoxicated. He
is living Cow entirely on his expecta-
tions.
Mamma. mamma Kriss krin-
gle's coming. See See Hurrah. Old
Kriss liked to have forgotten us, /
guess - cried little Willie, shouting
and clapping his hands.
! Florence arose to look out, when a
knock sounded on the door; opening
which, she beheld standing before her
/ the old man of whom she had Just been
speaking.
"Come in! 1 am glad to see you.
Where have you been this long time
And how did you find usl' Florence
asked, taking his hand and drawing
him in.
81 found very easily what have
never lost I've thought of you often,
/ but chose to come to-day It is good
/ time to come" answered the old man.
! "Come! sit down here said Will
liam, getting up and offering his own
comfortable chair.
"Wait bit. If l set down, / don't
want to get up soon. Better know first
how long l can stay" answered the old
man, still standing.
Gas long as you like. We are poor,
very poor, but if you want home with
us, we will not send you forth. Sit
down." answered William.
! 1.-The same unchanged :" murmured
the stranger.
What shall we call you Z" asked
/ Florence.
"Kriss Kringle. The children call
ed me so. Let them continue. And
you may say Uncle, if you prefer" he
said
| A comical expression was on his face,
smiles continued to play about his thin
/ lips, and he seemed very happy.
When Florence went out to prepare
| the frugal dinner, the old man called
the children, and listened to their lisp
ing voices. William was watching, very
much amused, when the old mans words
were whispered, and little Willie, seem
/ ing to understand, lowered his tone, and
the heads of the old and the young were
close together, at some mysterious plot
/ ting.
/ The fathers amusement was changed
to the greater amazement, when, soon
after Florence came back, Willie ran
up, exclaiming:
"Christmas gift for mamma, and pap
/ pa too! Kriss Kringle sent them to
you"
1t was only little roll of paper.
Opening which, they found, told in
words never palmer, "No more power
ty! no more toiling." Many thousands
of dollars they held in their hands.
/ They could not speak at first. But
after while, when they poured forth
their thanks, Kriss F-ringle said:
/ Your home is mine! YOU and yours
are mine All 1 have is for you, You
won it six years ago. both of you. And
that day you had another friend with
you. l knew him by name before: 1
learned his nature then. 1 heard his
remark when I was going out. Ha ha !,