The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-12-23

Punctually ct Eve O. clock Mr.. Weston
met Nell where he had left her in the
morning. and. drawing herinto the only
quiet place he could find, he said. in
his abrupt way:
ssSee here! came across some one
to-day who wants to make you pres
ent Of . good warm coat and hat. A
friend Of yours -
Me! A friend of miner You must
be mistaken"
Well, he's . friend Of Toms. and
he thought. you know, that it would
please Tom to have you come home
with new dress''
"Yss, it would please Tom; but
"No butts in the case. I've got the
money and it's in my way. Come on.
and let me spend it before I lose it. l
hate to have other peoples money to
take care Of" -
Nell followed him. in q kind of dream,
into an establishment where ready
made clothing was for sale; but when
there she turned. as though she would
fly from the place. But Mr.. Weston
spoke to her and said, kindly:
"O!I don't think it can be for me,
There must be some mistake"
IS No, there's no mistake, and it's to
please Tom, you know"
Then Nell remained quiet while he
took one. Of the Lady clerks aside and
gave her some instructions; after which
he left Nell in her care. saying that he
would be back in q little while. He
waited, however. till the coat Nell had
on was sent out to him; and then pro-
ceeded to clothing store, where he
ordered a suit of clothes to fit inside the
overcoat. rs
When he went back for Nell he hard
~ recognized her in the extremely pref
ty girl, with her hair plated down her
back and simple. but neat, suit Of
dark blue. He smiled as lie saw her,
and said: ,@. MA.
.'Do you think Tom will know the
Nell who left him few hours ago?''
20! don't say that, or I'll take them
all off,"
s.Well, well, I cunt wait for that
now, for it's getting late; and want
you to help buy some presents for my
Observation-Disclosures.
.'Or' said Nell. suddenly, when they
had gone some distance from the store.
.sWell."
Il left Toms coat and hat"
Its all right. l told them to send
it to Tom"
Nell looked surprised; but the old
gentleman hurried her into q store, and
she soon became interested in his pnr-
chases, for he appealed to her from time
to time to assist in selecting something
for q girl about her age or for boy
something like what he imagined Tom
to be.
'.And now," he said, when they were
nearly through, ''you see didn't pay
you all that paper was worth yesterday +;
and thought you might like some more
of it now. to buy something for Tom,
you know"
"Why, you paid whole dollar. and
that was great deal more than it was
worth"
"Not to me. A thousand dollars
would have been cheap. So you see
you might as well take little more of
it; and it's not to 60 to Doctors bills,
but must be spent now"
Nell took hesltatingly the fve-dollar
bill he handed her, and again tear
met his eye; but he soon removed that
by interesting her in the disposition OF
her money. Tom came first, then Mrs.
Andrews, and then little sick child in
the next house.
When they reached Mr.. Weston
house both he and Nell had their arms
full of bundles; but Nell was frightened
at the sight of children running here
and there and calling loudly for Grand
pa! Grandpar'
run! run! Run away. every one Of
your he replied: "You don't suppose
I'm going to let you see even the out
side of these bundles, do you, till the
appointed time? Come, Nell, we must
get these upstairs before they get hold
Of them"
Nell followed him; but kept very close
to him until they entered q room, where
she was told she could put them down.
Scarcely had she done so when she
sprang forward, and, throwing herself
on the floor by the side of . lounge,
cried, excitedly:
"Why, Tomr'
"Well, Nell How nice you look!'
"But, Tom, what does it all mean?'
asked Nell, bewildered.
Then came the explanation, after
which Nell said, with the tears in her
eyes:
"Do you mean that this is really to
be your home and mine, Tom3"
Eyes, Nell; and you won't have to
sell papers any more. Think Of itr'
But Nell was crying now; and the old
gentleman, standing by the table,
stopped in his work Of unfastening the
bundles to wipe his eyes, while the
pleasant looking lady who was assist
ing him looked attentively at the boy
and girl before her.
20 Tomr' was all Nell could say.
And when her cry was over the kind
looking lady led her away to take Of
her wrappings and have something to
eat; and then there were lots of chill
dren to see and get acquainted with,
and then there was the Christmas tree.
Nell had never seen one lighted before,
though Tom had; and to her it was all
new and SO delightful. Such lots Of
beautiful things for everybody, even
for Tom and herself. How did it hap