The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-01-20

but she deigned no word 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.
Carlis attempts were fruitless. But
when an hour had passed, and William
Hartley returned, then, to his greai
chagrin, he saw a softer light glow il
her dark eyes, and her lips wreathed
with smiles that he had failed to draw
forth. -
That 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 grill Do you not know
that, besides his own fortune, Mr..
Granger is the only heir of an old
uncle, who is fabu1ously richf" said
Mrs. Cameron.
Florence's fathers disappointment
was as keen as his wife's, for he felt his
foundation trembling, and 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.
+" wonder what has become of that
old manln 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"
I" Do you know, William, TO that old
mans sufferings you are indebted for
your wife, That day I saw the differ
ence between you and Carl Granger
His heartlessness frightened nae, and /
fed to you, and grew calm and happy, -
said Florence, while beautiful flush
spread over her face, chasing away the
care-worn look of few moments be-
fore.
You fed to poverty, toll, suffering.
OH my darling, / hoped to have shell
tered you from such. y
al fed from worse. Come, cheer
up all viii yet be well did not tell
you. the last time / was out, saw Carl
Granger very much intoxicated. He
is living now entirely on his expecta-
tions"
Mammal mammal Kriss Krin-
gle's coming See See Hurrahl Old
Kriss liked to have forgotten us,
guess ~ cried little Willie, shouting
and clapping his hands.
Florence arose to look out, when q
knock sounded on the door; opening
which, she beheld standing before her
the old man of whom she had just been
speaking.
"Come inl / am glad to see you
Where have you been this long time
And how did you find us2n Florence
asked, taking his hand and drawing
him in.
"I found very easily what 1 have
never lost. I've thought of you often,
but chose to come to-day. 1t is a good
time TO come answered the old man.
"Comel sit down here" said VII
liam, getting up and offering his own
comfortable chair.
"Wait bit. If I set down, I don't
want to get up soon. Better know first
hox-v Lone oav, sfav ;, onrxrarad 4Ixa oIJ
man, still standing.
GAS long as you like. We are poor,
very poor, but if you want home with
us, we viii not send you forth. Sit
down." answered William.
The samel unchanged :" murmured
the stranger.
"What shall We call youl" asked
Florence.
"Kriss Kringlel 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 tool Kriss Kringle sent them &c
you !"
1t was only q little roll of paper.
Opening which, they found, told IL
words never palmer, No more power.
ty no more toilingln Many thousands
of dollars they held in their hands.
They could not speak at first. But
after while, when they poured fortl
their thanks, Kriss Kringle said:
Your home is minel you and your
are minel All I have is for you'll Yor
won it six years ago, both Of you. Anc
that day you had another friend Will
you knew him by name before;
learned his nature then. / heard hi:
remark when / was going out. Ha ha
He lost something then, didn't he
Eh7
Florence and William thought tn.
old man was very sh1ewd to have rea6
the hearts of ali, that Christmas-day
But he meant not what they thought
They knew it in after years.
$50, make our children happy :" b,
urged. Sand, my good child, TAX
this handing her more money, 'tanC
make the poor old folks you meet, ana
the little children who are lookins
longingly in at The gay windows, max
them happy too" l.
Oh, what a joyous Christmas it was
For five years the old man dwelt witt
them, and then he sank calmly to sleep
loving hearts and gentle hands soothing
him.
And then, from a lawyer of higl
standing, came the startling informa
ton that William Hartley and Florenc
were the only heirs to all the immens
wealth of mark Granger Then, too
it was, they knew that Carl's heartless
ness and rude, unkind speech ha,
wrecked all his prospects of ever pos
seSSinQ his uncle,s uaalfh Ha kna,