The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-01-21

TO Know MS late, asked TIOreHce 10 De
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 rich % 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 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 alb
solutely destitute.
EsI 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
mans sutferings you are indebted for
your wife? That day saw the differ
ence between you and Carl Granger.
His heartlessness frightened me, and [
fed to you, and grew calm and happy, !"
spread over her face, chasing away the
care-worn look of a few moments be-
fore
"You fled to poverty, toll, suffering
Oh! my darling, l hoped to have shell
tered you from such. -
II fed from worse Come, cheer
up all will 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-
tons"
Mamma! mamma! Kriss Krin-
gle's coming See See Hurrahi Old
Kriss liked to have forgotten us, l
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! I am glad to see you
Where have YOU been this long time 2
And how did you find us2n Florence
asked, taking his hand and drawing
him in.
81 found very easily what I have
never lost. I've thought of you often,
but chose to come to-day. It is a good
time to come" answered the old man
Come! sit down here" said VIII
liam, getting up and offering his own
comfortable chair
Wait bit. If [ 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 viii not send you forth. Sit
down, answered William.
''The same unchanged ~ murmured
the stranger
''What shall we call you?" asked
Florence.
Kriss Kringle The children call
ed me so. Let them continue. And
you may say Uncle, if you prefer, " he
said
cOmlcaI expression was On his face,
smiles continued to play about his thin
lips, and he seemed very happy.
Whpn Elnrpnan To
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 a 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, Krlss Kringle said:
Your home is mine! you and YOURS
are mine! All have is for youl You
won it six years ago both of you. And
that day you had another friend with
YOU knew him by name before; [
learned his nature then [ heard his
remark when I was going out. Ha ha
He lost something then, didn't he
Eh?"
Florence and William thought the
old man was very shrewd to have read
the hearts of all, that Christmas-day.
But he meant not what they thought.
They knew it in after years
Go, make our children happy - he
urged. ''And, my good child, take
this, handing her more money, ''and
make the poor old folks you meet, and
the little children who are looking
longingly IN at the gay windows, make
them happy too"
Oh, what a joyous Christmas it was
For five years the old man dwelt with
them, and then be sank calmly to sleep,
loving hearts ard gentle hands soothing
him
And then, from a lawyer of high
standing, came the startling informa-
ton that William Hartley and Florence
were the only heirs to all the immense
wealth of mark Granger Then, too.
1t was, they knew that Carl's heartless-
ness and rude, unkind speech had