American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-12-18

side and knecling down before her. "And on
Christmas night, tool What is it, dcar?''
Posie sobbcd outright "I-don't know
but L begin-to teel-awfully-discoura
Hark!' taking her hands from her face and
listening. "There's n knock at the door. Who
can it be, so late rs ths2 Light the lamp
quick, Rica." And as the lamp was lighted
Posie opened the door, to fall into the arms of
not handsome but good-looking, manly
young fellow, who dropped a brown paper
parcel on the threshold for tn G purpose of re-
cciving her.
MAXI exclaimed Rica.
ayes, Mark, my dear sister, answered the
young man. Take OF my hat, that's good
girl-its heavy with snow and rs soon as iNe
kissed my darling back to life again, III shake
myself out of my ovcrcoat."
But his darling came back to life herself
and chung around his neck, laughing ana cry
ing together, while she said, over ana over
again, 'Oh Mark! Mark! Mark! ana nave
you come back asain?"
"Tryphosa," said Mark at last, with the most
transparent make-beievc sternness, IF you
don't unclasp your arms. and stop asking me
if am here when you see am, I'll go away
again, carrying you with me-"
Posie grew sober, unclaspcd the dainty neck
lace helped him take of his overcoat, seated
him in the big rocking-chair and herself on the
foot-stool ut his feet.
- But, Mark said Ulrica-who had placed
the tca-kettle on the small stove again, where
rs though conscious that in honor of the occa-
sion it should do its best, it began to sing mer-
rily Immediately, and was trying to toast a
diminutivc table mat she had taken from the
table, having placed the platter of cold chick,
en- on the slice of bread which should have
been on the toasting-fork-" how did you find
us out?'
"why, don't you know?" asked Mark, in n
tone of surprise.
no time
had been promoted from the stool to her low
ers knee. " was so afraid that 1t wouldnt
come true, that didn't say anything about it
to her, and it's the first secret ever had from
RIGA in all my life
Mark drew a little card from his pocket and
placed the scorched table mat on the toast
plate, and read aloud the following lines:
"a merry Christmas, FRIEND whoe'er you be;
pray you pray that Mark returns to me.
''T - 49, A."
"Well?" said Ulrica-
"That's what was doing evening after even
| ing last week after you had gone to bed,' OK
planned Posie, speaking very fast, her checks
and eyes glowing, writing those words on
hundreds and hundreds of cards, and put a
card into every package and box of Christmas
candy sold, praying that Mark might find it,
for knew il he did, and loved me yet"-hcre
she paused abruptly, but not Intentionally, but
because she couldn't go on while Mark-but
no matter, she did go on after "A moment or
two he would be sure to find me, but new
er dreamed he would find me so soon.'
And nice time I've had finding you,"
laughed the young man.
Tell US all about it, do coaxed Posie.
I'm sure twill be tho dearest Christmas
story L ever heard
MY old chum Sam Lowry sont me the box
of bonbOns early this morning by way of a
joke" began Mark. ~ opened it Immediate
" Mt 1n inn INF nj al u Q
little daughter, who happened to be in my
room when it arrived, and there lay the card.
l knew the queer handwriting in moment,
although I'd received but one note from the
writer in my life. By-the-bye, 1 have worn
that note as near as possible to my heart ever
since the first day read and kissed it,.
Don't believe it," said Posie; but she did,
all the same, and was not the least bit sur
prised when he produced it from its warm
resting-place.
And then the signature. or course saw
that at once. There could be but one person
on this continent whose name was spelled IT.
one dot, " four dots, and "a 1t didn't need
the additional proof of my own name to con-
vince me that the card was written by my
long-lost darling"
Mark" suggested Ulrica, mildly, 81 if you
would kiss Posie at the end of each paragraph
instead of at each period you would get on
much faster with your story"
"ru think of it,, said Mark. 'WeI, 1
| emptied my box into the lap of the landlady's
baby, seized my hat and went in search of
Sam. 1 found him smoking and reading the
newspaper in his own room. Where did You
get that box of bonbons?' shouted /, without
any preliminary remarks.
".Good heavens. were they poisoned?
asked he, starting to his feet.
".PoisonedI No, they're the sweetest sweets
| that ever Were. But where did you get them?
Tell me as quickly as you cam
direction of the store where they were bought,
adding: "A lovely little girl with big black
eyes and dark brown curls, and But
waited to hear no more, but left the house as
precpitately as had entered it.
.sTo the store flew. As might have known,
1t was closed. From its shut doors to the near
est druggists, where a directory told me tn Q
residence of the only member of the firm who
resided in the city. Into street car and up
town went; stopped at the door Of a fine
large house.
"sMr. Easton is at home, but engaged said
the servant who answered my ring.
"sMost important business, said /; and in n
| few moments Mr.. Easton came out into the hall
"a tall, dignified, elderly gentleman, looking
as though he had never even heard of a love
affair in all his life.
~ beg thousand pardOns.' stammered,
and hope you will grant them for the sake of
| the day; but can you tell me where can find
Melville?
His shrewd dark eyes twinkled He began
| to look as though he might have heard of one
| or two love affairs. I'm afraid can't help
you,' he said; and then, seeing the disappoint.
ment that clouded my face, he added, kindly
| GO to our superintendent; it's very likely he
| may know
Thanks, and merry Christmas, said ], as
hurried away. The superintendent lived in
Brooklyn. took a carriage, and in couple
of hours reached his door.
| "Thanks to the blessed Christmas Day, he
| was at home with his little ones gathered
around him, and with the kindly Chri stmas
influence upon him he heartily forgave my
| intrusion, and tried to remember if he had
/ ever known where that pretty black-cyed girl
who sold so many candies lived, and came to
But Miss Tryon will know. Miss Tryon is the
head OF that department, and she is dining
| two blocks below here with my sister,"
"He gave me the number, and off started
again, and in five minutes was talking on
the subject nearest to my heart with Miss
Tryon.
~ just happened to have Miss Melville s
direction impressed upon my memory said
| she mischievously. "A young man in our es-
tablshment got me 20 write it on a Christmas
box he was sending her.
e. Who is that young man, Posie? He'd bet
ter bewarerD
"'Youre an angel said 1, and left her
laughing. l don't wonder. l must have
seemed rather ridiculous. Back to my native
city L came, and here 1 am, and there's a
couple of silk dresses in the brown paper.
three months ago. And postponing all other
explanations until some future time, let's
make the most of the few remaining hours of
| Christmas Day."