Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-01-07

fcU YOU Tcmams 'SI = e
six years agof'
six years ago? Let me see! Why,
it is just six years since Maynard
Wight went to Baltimore
Just six years.
And you invested five thousand dol
lars in his future business. W&l. it
was pretty well invested, it seeis.-
Here is the young man at home afain,
in his old business, and as fouriAing
as ever. More so, indeed, for hewill
not have his father making ducksand
brakes of his capital The old geitle-
man is coming money in Chicago. in
real estate. / think, my dear, you nay
now send in your BILL
Nonsense, Uncle Ralph I had It,
ter this afternoon from Maynard
oh, no! So am to lose you?'
He loves me. He has loved me all
these years
And youy'
You know she answered, with "a
bright blush.
Yes, l know he said, gravely. 1t
is hard to give you up, Eta, but viii
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
'Ettap
'Wellv
4 am afraid I can't keep that sec,et
of yours much longer
Keep it till o-morrow, Uncle Ralph.
[ am to say yes or no at Marion's to-
night
The Christmas party at Manon's
wondered loudly at Aunt Etta's snac-
countable delay. All the young savages
were beating tattoos with their feet
upon the sta;rcases, and loudly declar-
ing it was too bad Aunt Sta did not
come, that the tree mf1 Ijbe lighted
The more deSssoas, EaI0er peo-
pie IN the dS Adefed why
Marion was Zhmg the door SO
anxiously. MayAxa wight, listening
courteously to the smal talk of Ma
rioa's eldest daugMar,tyas thinking
Eta meant to say no, and stay at
home.
Suddenly Marion vanished, and in a
few minutes all the children filed into
the front parlor, and fixed their eve
upon the folding door that hid Sc
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
message of hope or certainty Of disap.
pointment for him.
1t opened, revealing glare of light,
and the great tree in the centre. Be-
side 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 a long wand, with which she de.
tached the glittering presents from the
tree. Everybody was too busy in ex.
amining the various gifts that were
being distributed 80 watch Maynard
Wight, but had they done SO, they
would have seen his eyes, wide open
with astonishment, gazing at a gay OBJ.
ject dangling from one of the branche:
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. Ger.
tainly in the past six years he had toe
often speculated upon similar one t.
be mistaken. Blue and red stripes and
yellow stars might exist in Thousand
socks, but certainly the one danglins
from tina: tree was the mate to the on.
kriss kringie had sent him six year,
ago. How did it get there? Wht
had owned the other one before it pass
ed into his hands ? He was beginin,
to think he must be asleep, when tn,
long wand hovered for q moment owe
the gay sock, detached il, and Eta
clear voice said:
'kriss kringle to MAYNARD Wight.
! Uncle Ralph took it from the wand
and handed it to the stil bewilderet
young man.
4 believe you know where to find tn,
mate he said. with meaning smile
Then it was you:' Maynard said
Not bit of it. It was Eta
'Ettar cried the young man, deepl,
moved.
See what is in this one. No one i
noticing US; they are all too busy Will
the tree
1t was q very tiny gift down in tn
tee of the gay sack. Only . little gol,
locket for a watch charm; but when i
was opened, Etta's sxeet face locke,
into his, and q curl Of Etta's brigh
hair faced the miniature.
Ny story is told. Uneh Ralph ha
one more nephew, and kn. Maynar,
Wight saws her husband has one pei
of socks she never has to mend, becaus
the only use TO which they are ever pti
is to dangle once a year On q Christina
tree, to hold Kriss Kringle's gift b
; Mr.. and Mrs Maynard Wight