The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-12-24
CHAPTER III.

THE LUCK.
/ Christmas Eve, in this the most
memorable Of al years for the Wood
wyn household, tell upon Suaday.
/ TIE i0ng-anticiPsted tatai call on lhe
shares had come about a fJrt1igh.
previously, and the poor drudging
bank clerk, unpromoted yet save By
q very slight step, had met il with
greas difficulty aud many sacrifices;
1ul be returned to his little home az
Highgate on the Saturday night, de-
/ tsrmined that a. least for the next
two days care should he driven from
its doors, and thar nothing but graft
itude 70 the Giyer Of all good for
wha5 was stiil left to hin should f.l
bis heart.
So Jhe best fare bef.dng the sea
son tbE5 circumstances would allow,
though falling far short, maybe, Of
the pc5iusiou Of some form er Christ
mas times, had been prepared by the
"a eful house wiie. The minor por-
.iUu Of i,-lor the great feas. was, Of
course not 10 be dreamed o. TIL the
m0.rJW-Ta5 being set forth by de-
grees that sunday afternoon upon the
labill in the little parlor looking cut
upon the lawn a1d garden, ali now
crisp and brilliant under q freshly
fallen canopy OF snow. As far a.
Lhe inmeCiats moment was concern
ed, Oa9 Jnlng alone slightly cIouded
the happiness that, Notwithstanding
their troubles, beamed 10 ,he faces 0f
our Two i1ie4d5 and their Ht,Is giri.
No luciher news had been heard Of
that other luczlass aad l0ug-abseu-
Eember O.. -5e family.
''l could have wished, f" said George,
"lhat poer Tom could have arrived
10 ime 10 eat his Christmas beef
with as. There viii be enough for
aim; lad 1 Dad heartily hoped TIA.
be mighJ have cone to hGnd,' az We
say ID -ha ciGy, il simel1
Ihe words had hardly passed a.s
lips wne1, after the fashion Of coin
cidence so necessary for stories and
plays, aad which by critical readers
aud audiences is often held to be ar
Jihciz. in fiction, but which when &C.
earring Ia real life Is considered only
very i0rlulats," the bell a. the o1--
er gate beneath the iyied arch c.sng-
Ell with G bOiste-Ous peal, and two
minutes later the sitting room was
dwarfed in ils proportions by the ap-
peaTance within It's walls Of a huge,
broad ehested, large limhsd, weather
beaten man, sadly travel stained aad
battered as to his exterior, but, sikh
9 pair Of bright pure eyes. so fell Of
hope and cheeriGess that they made
your neart bound a. once with trust
and joy; and they made not only
the heart but the whole person OF
Alice WoOdwin bound; for, With the
rapidity Of lightning, she sprang
toward him, and before o word could
be uttered had flung her arms around
bis neck, and almost hidden bis
bearded, honest face by the deluge
Of kisses she poured upon it.
What @ talking and hand-shaki1g,
kissing, again and again, began after
iha;, VIVA: q succession OF incOhe-
rent quesLiOninrs and impossiblv
Constructed aus wers! What ingram
matical, voiuble sentences were scat
tered about, How tnere never seem
ed to be adv likelihood Of the per
fOfmsHce coming 10 an end and mat
Lers settling down sgain. FIrs--if
there ever could be g first in such u
complication Of sayings and doiDZs
Tom would take up bis little niece
with 50 much strength OF arm and
hand that the child's head appeared
imperiled By the low ceiling; then
ne seemed inclined 20 treat his own
sister il the same way; and was not
quite sure but what be would give
Georgs q Fuisr io his arms, 50 entire
Is overcome was be BY the bolster
OusDess aad strength ci his joy. Nor
was that Of the other three 10 their
degree lees demonstra,iye They
had thoroughly caught the injection
aud all the time, their eyes we're foil
Of tears az they could hold-aud
Mrs. WooCwyn's didn't hold them,
for they KEEP. running over and
streaming down her face, 50 that you
would have thought a private cata-
Faet was s0mew here a, WORK, and
Was ouly hidden from view by tbs
prOfusion Of her brown curls, which
now, fairly escaping the bondage Of
all ylait5 aud bands, were aOgiBg
about ia every direction, and getting
so mixed up and en!aBgied with ber
brothers locks, which were exactly
the same color, aud only, asit seemed,
IIIle less long-when his hesd
shook with laughter, that the c0ni2
sion Of appearance was quite a.
gFea. as the confusion Of tons us
rs degrees, however. little t-an-
guilty set in, and, wien every due
arrangement had been made Tor eve
- bOdy's comfort, the whole party
ieil 10 a. the repast. After c while
II was bot uatura! that certain
amount Of reactions should follow.
as We know tnere we're many crcun-
stances connected with the lit.le
group likely TO have E depressing ia-
fuence The evening, too, began to.
close in, aud for the FIRST bsN hour
after the ehaire we're pulled round
the Ere and before candles were
brought the conversation took rather
2 gloomy turn. Bat presently Tom
bringing his big hand down on bis
knees with heavy spank, said, while
the ruddy glow Of the fire which be
bad lust stirred showed bis face
beaming again with smiles;
"Well, lis TO use rspiniog; we
mus; Try and make the best Of mat
ters. 1t is true haven't got pen
ny in the wolld--not silver; DIT
Continued on tie Al page.