Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-22

him. He did not despair. He was young
yet, in good health, and full of energy
but yet at his heart one thought lay will
dull, heavy pain. 1t was not the mer
fancy of a young girls vanity that mad
Eta sure Maynard Wight loved her. H
had given her a perfect and true love, but
as she rightly judged, his pride closed hi
lips, when business misfortune fell upol
him. She was wealthy, and he would nc
offer a less income than her own. He wa
no fortune hunter, to live upon His wife
money, Or even to take her money for TIN
stepplng>stone to his WI prosperity.
AS he strobe home in the dusk of the De
cember evening, the bright shops, the bus,
crowds attracted his attention.
"Christmas eve,' he thought. cit will
not be a very merry Christmas for us, bur
brighter times may come before anothe
year. [ had hoped to have the right tt
give Eta a Christmas gift, hut that too
must wait till brighter days. l wonder if
some more fortunate sutton will win heI
before I feel free to speak !"
Such thoughts are none too lively for the
holiday season. but Maynard could not
turn his mind to brighter subjects. 1t was
a hard trial for him to meet these heavy
reverses in the very commencement of his
business career, especially as he felt asst T.
ed he could have averted them if he had
had full control in the business. Could he
but accept the offer Of Hill Il Hill, he was
certain that in Il few years he could take a
stand again amongst the successful mer-
chants of the day.
"There is a package in your bureau, Mr..
Maynard, " the servant said, as she opened
the door for him. lit was left a few mo-
ments ago by a little boy"
IAN right. Is my father in ?"
"In the dining-room, sir"
"Get The package, and bring it there"
It was a small package, directed in a stiff
hand, the letters being printed in ink in
stead of written. The gentlemen bent over
it with some curiosity.
Somebody has sent you a Christmas
gift, Maynard" said Mr.. Wight.
Of all the odd gifts, this seemed the odd
est. 1t was a knit cotton sock, of gay
colors, with red and blue stripes, and a row
of yellow stars at the top. A folded paper
was in the toe, and on this written, in the
same stiff hand as the direction :-s.Kriss
Kringle to Maynard Wight" But inside
the paper were five crisp new notes for one
thousand dollars each. Maynard could
scarcely believe his eyes.
Hill & Hill I" shouted his father. "Now
I can go to Chicago with an easy mind"
But who could have sent it ? Pinch
me, and see if [ am awake"
"Who sent it ? Kriss Kringle, of course !!
Here is his own word for it,"
1t was useless to speculate about the gen.
erous giver, but it was quite against hui
man nature not to do SO. One wealthy
friend after another was mentioned, and
the probabilities discussed, but not once
was the blue-eyed GIL named, whose heart
was full of joy at the thought of her pow
CT to aid the friend who Was dearest of all
friends to her.
If she had hoped that Maynard would
tell her his love before he went to Balti-
more, she WAS disappointed. He called
upon her, as he did upon his other friends,
to peak his brief farewell, but he did 10
more. He would wait, he told himself, till
he had succeeded in his new enterprise. If
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 congratulated herself upon the
fact.
q am sure it will kill me if Eta mar
ries 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 consent now to lose Eta
she is all the world to him." And Eta
would smile and kiss her sister, never
whispering one word of the hopes that
were still aliye in her heart.
Uucle Ralph knew her secret, and Uu>
Gle Ralph was the wisest and kindest of
friends. He knew how the new partner of
Hill q Hill was prospecting in all he touch
ed. He heard the first rumor of the fact
that Maynard Wight was to again return
to his old home, and establish himself once
more in his former business. lie wa one
of the first to offer his congratul ltions to
the rising young merchant, and invite him
to resume his visits to his house.
christmas Eve, and showing FAST
Eta said, as she rose from the dinner I'd
BILE. Il suppose we must go to Ma
rion's."
81 would like to see you staying away
from Marion's on Christmas Eve" said
Uncle Ralph.
eff the snow was two feet deep, we
would have to go, l suppose" said Eta,
laughing.
eff you don't, we shall have a commit
tee of half a dozen or so of those young
sayages Of hers here, to see what had be-
come of Aunt Eta"
Uncle RalphI' said Eta, coming to
her uncle's side, and putting her hand
upon mis- shoulder.
"What is it ?" Some weighty matter, to
judge by your face"
do you remember Christmas time six
years ago?"
"Six years ago! Let no see! Why, it is
just six years since Maynard Wight went
to Baltimore"
"Just six years"
"And you invested five thousand dollars
in his future business. Well, it was pref.
ty well invested, it seems. Here is the
young man at home again, in his old bus.
mess, and as tlourishing as ever. More 50
indeed, for he will not have his father ma.
king ducks and brakes of his capital. The
| old gentleman is coming money in Chica-