Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-12-24

he able to keep YOU both as hne ladies: but
since | can't, I'd rather YOU swept the streets
than starye with silk dresses on. So, Ale,
come; don't let's lose a minute. Put on your
hat and shawl and I'll go over 70 Brooks with
you or some one will be before us
Half an hour later Allie was engaged at
moderate wages, in view of her ineXperieuce,
rs Mrs. Brooks waitress. And they had been
none too prompt, for a girl was inquring for
the place MS they came out
Mrs. Jamison sat for u time in deep thought
after they were gone, Suddenly she started
up and ms the result OF her reflections said;
"They shan't get ahead of me, after all" And
she went to a closet, took down her old dress
makers sign and hung it over the door.
Father and daughter saw il in the moonlight
and came in laughing. Her husband eX
claimed: GOOD for you, neither. We knew
yon had the true Yankee grit, after ALL The
wolf can't howl nj our door now
Little Ben, in his desire to add to the hope.
full aspect of affairs, was near exploding with
his secret. He felt that he might venture a
hint without disobeyiu2 the doctor SO he
pulled his mother down and whispered;
Suppose Santa Claus is cured of the'Panic,
after all.n
She, with laugh, repeated what he said to
the others, who gave each other Wink, init
mating that, as far as the little ones We're
concerned, they would see to it that the chill
drens saint was at least better; but Mr. Jami-
sen put on long face and said: Don't eN,
pect too much, Little Ben; hen be powerful
" eal this year, and not able to bring many
things
Little Ben could trust himself no longer,
and went off to bed ehuckling over bis
superior knowledge, and soon gided away To
the land Of dreams on the coveted skates.
Frank Walters wrote he would be home the
day before Christmas in the afternoon.
Great was the surprise when it was known
among the smart, dressy girls OF Allies old
set that she had gone out to service, and
many snubs and cuts were received. But |
am glad to say that few, the cream of them,
treated her more kindly than ever when
they learned the facts. Thus the step die her
good service, for it winnowed out the chah'
among her acquaintance and gave her Il
good radiance of all the empty Drained,
empty -hearted ones. And one Of this class,
who also admired Frank Walters immensely
and would gladly supplant Allie if she could,
mot that young gentleman ON his way home
for the holiday and fastened, with much
commentary of her own, to inform him of
what she termed the disgruCeful fact She
did not understand the sudden light Of cXulta'
ton that cleaned in his eyes, but felt much
cOmplmeutcd when he said, gallantlY, that
he was sure she would never do such thing
but, under similar circumstances, would sit
in her fathers parlor like lady.
II must be confessed that Allie had many
misgiyings, and that cold chill of fear gath
cred at her heart as the hour approached
when she must explain all to her lover. Still
she meant to do it hravcly, but IN her own
home. She obtained a brief leave Of absence
for the afternoon of the oath on condition of
returning in time to get tea, With an odd
little feminine impulse she made the best
toilet possible and sat in state to receive him.
He was much surprised TO find her looking
more elegant than he had ever seen her, and
she noticed that he, too, was quite deliberately
dressed They chatted away for an hour, but
both were under restraint for something was
evidently on their minds Mis-. Jamison pru
IDENTITY kept out Of the way, and left the young
people to manage for themselves. At last
Allie rose, and said in voice that She tried to
make steady and matter-of-fact must ask
| YOU to excuse me. | am living with Mrs.
| Brooks now, and must change my dress before
| | return
Let nue. be your escort" said Frank, gal
| lanty
81 don't think YOU will care to he when you
| see the change that viii take place in my APP
pearance; but you may if you wish" and she
| vanished, and with trembling hands put on
! her plain but neat working dress She felt
! that she was at the crisis OF the test, and If
! he failed her, work and poverty would form
/ the least part of her burden for future days,
/ As soon rs she had gone Frank startled Mrs.
! Jamisop 10y his abrupt entrance into the sit
/ tmg.room with the request that he might 20
/ up To Little }en's room, Rs be wished To change
| his clothes He soon came down to the par.
/ lor clad in a rough working garb. A little
| later Allie Joined him, but looked with no lit
/ tie surprise ut the mctamorphosc in him.
well, are you ready" he asked.
| Ycs-but---'
con, the tables are turned You are not
! willing to 80 with me "
Z y. Ia, INT / ,,tft N. n md tor
/ Perhaps we had better explain Il little
| "Ladics first" cried Frank, with twinklmg
! eyes
Weun said Allie. desperately, in plain
! English, am Mrs Brooks waitress, and am
! trying to earn eight dollars a month
al hope the time viii come when you viii
/ let me offer you a better situation he an
/ swercd, with a face SO comic and yet so kind
"You are not going TO cut me, then, as
| some Of my friends have" she asked, looking
| hopefully up.
! Not unless you cut me; for in plain En-
| glsh am porter and man of all work in ---
Hotel ] lost my place through the panic
and took the first honest work ] could find,
Allies laugh rang out like chime oi
Christmas bells as she said: guess we
are in the same boat, then"
He took her hand in both Of his and an
swercd earnestly. And in the same boat
may we always be, pulling together against
the stream, or with it, as 1t may be our lot
/ Allie, YOU are the style Of girl ! believe in.
! You'd stand by and help fellow in panic
| times If YOU had all the world 70 give
would not value it half az much as your own
dear self You are the Christmas gift have
set my heart upon. Now I've explained
What is my answers
With head bent down aud face like the old.
fashioned blush-rosc, Allie seemed to him the
sweetest ideal Of Santa Claus as she SAID:
" indeed Frank, I've adthing else TO give
As porter and waitress walked through the
winter twilight 10 Mrs Brooks there was
very few bat might have enyicd them,
The first thing That greeted Little Ben'-
ewes as he woke Chrstmas morning was .
pair Of skates hanging from the bedpost
j lNIlh . .Nuut md u nntIrA Ln wa. ON thi