Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-12-20

lars in his futare business. Well, it wa
pretty we'll invested, it seems. Here Is tn
young man at home again, in his old bust
ness, and as fourishing as ever. More SO
ind ed, for he will not have his father ma
king ducks and brakes of his capital. The
old gentleman is coming money in Chicago
in real estate. I think, my dear, you may
now send in your blu
Nonsense Uncle Ralph! I had Letter
this afternoon from Maynard"
| "Oh, DO So am to lose you p
"He loves me. He has loved me al
these years"
sAnd you p
"You know she answered, with q
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 go, or Marion
will be sending that committee you mention.
ed"
"Etta p
"Well p
II am afraid I can't keep that secret of
yours much longer"
"Keep it till tomorrow, Uncle Ralph.
I am to say yes or no at Marion's tonight "
The Christmas party at Marion's wonder
ed loudly at Aunt Etta's unaccountable de-
lay. All the young savages were beating
tat.oos with their feet upon the staircases,
and loudly declaring it was too bad Aunt
Eta did not come, that the tree might be
lighted. The more decorous party of older
people in the drawing room wondered why
Marion was watching 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 fled into the front
parlor, and fixed their eyes upon the folding
door that hid 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 a mes
sage Of hope or certainly 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 flushing her round cheeks. In her
hand was long wand, with<which she de-
tachsd the glittering presents from the tree
Every body 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 establishment, gazing at gay OBJ
ject dangling fl ON one Of the branches of
the wonderful tree. There was every, vari-
ETY. of Christmas fruit there, but he never
needed any Of it. Wider and wider grew
his eyes.
Certainly he knew that object. Certain
ly in the past six years he had too often
spsculated upon @ similar one to be mista.
ken. Blue and red stripes and yellow
stars might exist in 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 beginning
to think be 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,
# believe you know where to find the
mate" lie said, with meaning smile
''Then it was you p Maynard said.
.'Not bit Of it. It was Eta"
''Etta p cried the young man deeply |
moved
''See what is in this one. No Que is no.
icing US; they are all too busy with the |
ree."
1t was very tiny gift down in the toe Of
he gay sock Only little gold locket for
| watch charm but when it was opened,
Etta's sweet face looked into his, and curl |
If Etta's bright hair faced the miniature.
My story is told. Uncle Ralph has one
more nephew, and Mrs. Maynard Wight
avs her husband has one pair Of socks she
lever has to mend, because the only use to