The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-12-21

| nard could scarcely believe his eyes.
chill Hill !" shouted his father. "Now
can go to Chicago with an easy mind"
| But who could have sent it Pinch me
| and see if am awake"
"Who sent it I? Kriss Kringle, of course
| Here in his own word for it."
| 1t was useless to speculate about the gener
! Gus glVer, but it was quite against human ma.
ture not to do so. One wealthy friend aftel
another was mentioned, and the probabilities
discussed, but not once was the blue-eyed girl
named, whose heart was full of joy at the
thought of her power to aid the friend who was
dearest of all friends to her.
| Ii she had hoped that Maynard would tel
her his love before he went to Baltimore, she
was disappointed. He called upon her, as he
did upon his other friends, to speak his briei
| farewell, but he did no more. He would wait,
| he told himself till he had succeeded in his
| new enterprise. If Eta loved him, she would
not marry for time, and he would bind her
by no promise that might prove irksome in the
uncertain future
| Christmas after Christmas came, and Eta
was still unmarried. Marion was sure that her
sister would be an old maid, and loudly con
graduated herself upon the fact.
u am sure it will kill me if Eta marriea
now" she would say. "Those young ones of
mine think more of Aunt Eta than they do OF
me. As for Uncle Ralph, he would never con-
ssszt now to lose Eta she is all the world to
lin" And Eta would smile and kiss her sis
ter, never whispering one word OF the hope
that was still alive in her heart.
Uncle Ralph knew her secret, and Uncle
Ralph was the wisest and kindest of friends.
He knew how the new partner of Hill & Hill
was prospering in all he touched. He heard
the first rumor of the fact that Maynard Wight
was to again return to his old home, and estab-
lish himself once more in his former business.
He was one oflthe first to offer his congratula-
tions to the rising young merchant, and invite
him to resume his visits to the house.
"Christmas Eve, and showing FAST" Eta
said, as she rose from the dinner table. 81
suppose We must go to Marion's."
"l would like to see you staying away from
Marion's on Christmas Eve," said Uncle Ralph.
of the snow was two feet deep, we would
have to go, suppose" said Eta, laughing.
elf you don't, we shall have committee of
half dozen or SO of those young savages of
hers here, to see what had become of Aunt
Eta" -
'Uncle Ralph !" said Eta, coming to her
uncles side, and putting her hand upon his
shoulder.
"Whatis il? Some weghty matter, to judge
by your face"
'sDo you remember Christmas time six years
ago 2"
six years since Maynard Wight went to Balti-
more."
"Just six years."
"And you invested five thousand dollars in
his future business Well, it was pretty well
invested, it seems. Here is the young man at
home again, in his old business, and as flourish
ing ever More so, indeed, for he will not
have his father making ducks and brakes of
his capital. The old gentleman is coming
money in Chicago in real estate. 1 think, my
dear, you may now send in your bill"
Nonsense, Uncle Ralph l had letter this
afternoon from Maynard"
ooh, no ! So am to lose you ?"
"He loves me. He has loved me all these
years"
"And you !"
"You know" she answered, with a bright
blush.
eyes, know" he said, gravely. at is hard
to give you up, Eta, but will give you gladly
to Maynard Wight. He is my beau ideal of an
honorable gentleman"
"Thank you Now we must 90, or Marion
will be sending that committee you mentioned"
"Etta %
"Well !"
81 am afraid I can't keep that secret ofyours
much longer"
"Keep it till tomorrow, Uncle Ralph. l am
to say yes or no at Marion's tonight"
The Christmas party at Marion's swondered
loudly at Aunt Etta's unaccountable delay. All
the young savages were beating tattoos with
their feet upon the staircases and loudly de-
claring it was too bad Aunt Eta did not come,
Lat the tree might be lighted. The more de-
cScous party of older people in the drawing
room wondered why Marion was waching the
door so anxiously. Maynard Wight, listening
courteously to the small talk of Marion's eldest
daughter, was thinking Eta meant to say no,
and stay at home.
Suddenly Marion vanished, and in few
minutes all the children filed into the front
,nrla ot,1 Gxya1 fhair %no fo11
door thathid so many delightful treasures upon
the Christmas tree. Maynard Wight fixed his
eyes also upon that door, certain that when it
opened there would be message of hope or
certainty of disappointment for him.
1t opened, revealing glare of light and the
great tree in the centre. Beside it stood Eta,
dressed in bright blue silk, with her light
curls decorated with blue ribbons, and bright
light of happiness in her large eyes, and flush
ing her round cheeks. In her hand was long
wand, with which she detached the glittering
presents from the tree. Everybody was too
busy in examining the various gifts that were
being distributed to watch Maynard Wight, but
had they done so, they would have seen his
eyes, wide open with astonishment, gazing at
gay object dangling from one of the branches
of the wonderful tree. There was every variety
of Christmas fruit there, but he never needed
any of it. Wider and wider grew his eyes.
Certainly he knew that object. Certainly in
the past six years he had too often speculated
upon a similar one to be mistaken. Blue and
red stripes and yellow stars might exist in a
thousand socks, but certainly the one dangling
from that tree was the mate to the one Kriss
Kringle had sent him six years ago. How did
it get there? Who had owned the other one
before it passed into his hands? He was be-
ginning to think he must be asleep, when the
long wand lowered for moment over the gay
sock. detached it, and Etta's clear voice said
"Kriss Kringle to Maynard Wight"
Uncle Ralph took it from the wand, and
handed it to the still bewildered young man.
81 believe you know where to find the mate" ,"
he said, with a meaning smile.
"Then it was you p Maynard said.
"Not bit of it. 1t was Eta"
"Etta !" cried the young man, deeply NOV
ed.
'See what is in this one. No one is noticing
us they are all too busy with the tree"
1t was a very tiny gift down in the toe of the
gay sock. Only little gold locket for watch
charm but when it was opened, Etta's sweet
face looked into his, and a curl of Etta's bright
hair faced the miniature.
My storyi is told. Uncle Ralph has one more
nephew, and Mrs. Maynard Wight says her
husband has one pair of socks she never has to
mend, because the only use to which they are
ever put is to dangle once year on a Christ
mas tree, to hold Kriss Kringle's gifts to Mr..
and Mrs. Maynard Wight.