The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-12-30
CHRISTMAS GIFT.

"A ner:y Christmas. Mis Mabel! =
1t was the frst time Mabel bod
heard the words that day. From
early dawn she toiled at her needle.
The bells we're Ginning eleven and
Mabel stood. dripping and shivering.
On the threshold Of the wretched
tenement, one of whose poorest apart
ments constituted her home. The
night was dark and stormy. aud she
had had . long walk, through the
driving rain and sleet. from the fash
ionxble quarter ia which hes rich en-
ployer dwelt. to the humble one tina!
contained her own miserable abO.ie.
"a merry Christmas. Miss Mabel
and here's Christmas gift for you.
said q little dumpy old gentleman,
touching her arm AS she WIS ah'ut {,
ascend the steps. aud thrusting q
crumpled slip Of paper into her hand.
Whit sharp eyes the little old gen
tleman must have had to recognizt
her in that dim and shadowy light.
for it to.k the second glance oi
Mabel's. young snd keen rs they we're,
tn make out the jolly features Of Mr..
Weutworth. who had once EMPLOYED
her {" copy some papers. for which
he had paid her lihraIly.
Mabel would have said Thank
you for n gift. whatever it was; but
before she had time To- do SO. the lit
tie I'D gentleman MAS off,
M wonder Mabel started when She
had lit her lamp and inspected hs'
present. Such sre seldom made out
side of st.rytnn.ks. II ,cas a check Il
bearer. on one Of the city banks, for fr'
hundred doilurs!
What a muni6cent git to come
from one almust stranger And
how opporiuneIy il came. too! Sh.
would be able to pay ID the arrearsgs
of rent now. that had given her q
much trouble.
Mabel went t. sleep with bel
treasure under her pillow; and while
she is dreaming happy dreams. il
which q lace she has sr,iven hard Il
banish of late is constantly coming up
let ns tell the reader who she is.
Mabel Gleason's father-she had
lost her mother in early infancv--wa'
q wealthy merchant. whose study il
had been to lavish on his daughter
an only Child, every p"ssible induIg
ence. aud to adorn her with every al
tainable accomplishment. 1t is No,
tho much 70 say he iiolized her; AND
had her heart been less true, or heI
h. I'D less steady. she must have beeI
totally spoiled.
A financial crisis came. culminat
ing in q crash. among the victims %
which VAS Mabeis father Crushed
aud broken 10 spirit. his health gave
wav, and the end Of few months saw
Msble an orphan and penniless, foI
nothing had been saved from The
wreck of her fathers fortune.
Feeling she could better bear he,
altered condition among strangers
she had left her native city. and
sought a home and employment in the
metropolis. The result We have
already seen.
Mr.. Wentworth's check was duly
honored-it would have been good f"'
an hundred fold as much. Mabel
keeping out no more than sufficed io'
present needs. deposited the balance
in q savings bank. She took tidy
room in "a respectable street, which
she was fortunate enough to secure on
moderate terms. and straigh;way al.
vertised for pupils in French and
music.
Fortune seemed to smile on Mabel
at last. She rendered go complete
satisfaction to the few pupils that
gave her q trial, that she soon had a.
many as she could take. Her income
enabled her to add TO instead Of dimin.
ishlng her deposit in the bank and
che vas beginning not TO be so rigid
now in her Punishment. during her
waking moments. of that face that
always would come up in her dreams
But q checking blow WAS in store
fer poor Mabel. She was on her way
from the house ola pupil one day.
when Q stranger accosted her:
4 am sorry to trouble you. Miss.
but il IL necessary you should 60 with
me. l am detective, and | have a
warrant for your arrest. As am not
in uniform. no one need know you
are in custody
We'll YOU not at least inform me
Of what I am accused ? Msble ventur.
ed 10 ask.
MY instructions are to answer no
questions said the man doggedly.
You will learn oil at the police office.
and it is nv opinion the sooner We
2" there the better
Seeing no alternative. Mabel nc
quieeced. and walked in silence ut the
side If the of6ceS.
When cs.nfronted with the Judge
4 shrewd. but wiil,al pleasant l".kipp
an q high seat-she wxs
not ~ much iniimidated n nigh
have been expected. She had had u"
lime Z" COLLECT her thoughts by IN.
sav. and there is ever q true Courage
in innoce, &c that makes the weak
strong. aud inspires the timid with
x,ldnses.
will you he good enough to tell
me, sir. whv l have been Trough,
,erer Mabel asked. in a voice So
yentle and musical. and with q aush
N her face 81 far from hetsken guilt.
hat his Honor forgot the prisoner,
Ind remembered only the lady.
.You presented a check s"me time
ince, Miss Gleason. for i've hundred
loIlars. purr'or,ing to be drawn by
Nr. Wentworth on the--bank. ON