Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-01-12

go; and when Brown returned with
carriage, William Hartley, with almos
womanly gentleness, assisted him in
and urged that he might accompan.
him home. An approving look from
Florence, and he jumped in, closed tn,
door, and ordered the driver to th,
street and number directed.
| sssGod bless you'll You are a gooC
child I shall never forget this day
Perhaps I'll come to see you agaiI
some time" the old man said, wheI
leaving.
The same .contemptuous expression
was again on Carl's face, and he sale
"Quife distinguished acquisition
to Miss Cameron's list of acquaintanc.
es!" - So r
Adeep flush mantled her fair brow,
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.
Carl's attempts were fruitless. But
when an hour had passed, and William
Hartley returned, then, to his great
chagrin, he saw a softer Light glow IN
her dark eyes, and her lips wreathed
with smiles that he had failed to draw
forth. 80 fs'se e - ,A
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 tscould not love him" ss ~ 7if
ssFoolish girl Do you not know
that, besides his own fortune, Mr..
Granger is the only heir of an old
uncle, who is fabulously RIGHT" said
Mrs. Cameron. =
Florence's fathers disappointment
was as keen as his wife's, for he fekt 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 a 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 Will
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 lab-
soluteIy destitute.
81 wonder what has become of that
old manln said William, during the
day 'sI called few days after I took
him home, to inquire how he was get
ting on, but he had gone from that
place. "al~ a1ss - AIa
"a Do you know, William, to that old
mans sufferings you are indebted for
your wife9 That day saw the differ
ence betweens You and Carl Granger.
His heartlessness frightened me, end /
fled 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-
SdYoa fed to poverty, tod, suffering.
Oil my darling. 1 hoped to have shell
tered you from such.
t'I fed from worse. Come, cheer
up! all win yet be well. did not tell
you, the last time I was out, I saw Carl
Granger very much intoxicated. He
is living now entirely on his expecta-
hons.
Mammal mammal Kriss Krin-
gle,s coming See Seei Hurrahl Old
Kriss liked to have forgotten us, I
guessi" 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
he old man of whom she had just been
speaking. ~ a. g - tE-sF ga
"Come inl 1 am glad to see you
Where have you been this long time 2
And how did You find us 2" Florence
asked, taking his hand and drawing
him in.
al found very easily what L 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.
HComei sit down here, said VIII
liam, getting up and offering his own
chair. giggs ss-s.i~.
"Wait bit. If set down, I don't
want to get up soon. Better know first
how. long I can stay answered the old
nan, still standing. a ), s1s.
p "As long as you like. We are poor,
7ery poor, but If you want a home with
rs, we viii not send you forth. Sit
down, u answered William.
"The same unchanged ~ murmured
the stranger.
"What shall we call you9" asked
ess k-. ss,.--.-.r4
"Kriss Kringlet The children call
ID me so. Let them continue. And
you may say Uncle, if you prefer" he
: Ascomical 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. es 9
The fathers amusement was changed
TO the greater amazement, when, soon
after Florence came back, Willie ran
up, exclaiming ::
fF Christmas gift for mamma, and pap
pa tool Kriss Kringle sent them to
you ~. s.., ,s..f
It was only little roll of paper.
which, they found, told in
words never palmer, mo more power
wi no more toilingln Many thousands
If dollars they held in their hands.
They could not speak at first. But
after while, when they poured forth
their thanks, Kriss Kringle said:
"Your home is minei you and yours
are minel 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
learned his nature then. I heard his
remark when 1 was going out. Ha ha !
He lost something then, didn't he
Eh 2"
Florence and William thought the
old man was very shrewd to have read
the hearts of all, that Christmas-daY.