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

Punctually at five 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:
"See here! came across some one
to-day who wants to make you pres
eAt OF q good warm coat and hat. A
friend Of yours."
Me! A friend Of miner You must
be Mistaken
I" Well, he's friend of Toms, and
he thought, you know, that it would
please Tom to have you come home
with q new dress"
Eyes, 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 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:
90! don't think it can be for me,
There must be some mistake
" 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 little while. He
waited, however. till the coat Nell had
on was sent out to him; and then pro-
ceeded to q clothing store, where he
ordered suit of clothes to fit inside the
0vercoat.
When he went back for Nell he hard
ly 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:
.'Do you think Tom will know the
Nell who left him few hours agoP'
20! don't say that, or I'll take them
all off"
"Well. well, I can't wait for that
now, for it's getting late; and 1 want
you to help buy some presents for my
grandchildren"
''Or' said Nell, suddenly, when they
had gone some distance from the store.
Swell"
Il left Toms coat and hat"
''It's all right. I told them to send
it to Tom"
Nell looked surprised; but the old
gentleman hurried her into 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 l 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 q little more of
it; and it's not to 90 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.
and then little sick child in
the next house.
When they reached Mr.. Weston's
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 room, where
she was told she could put them down.
had she done so when she
sprang forward, and, throwing herself
On the floor by the side of lounge,
crleO, eXclteQly:
"Why, Tom!'
"Well, Nell. How nice you lookr'
"But, Tom, what does it all meanp"
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, Tom7''
Eyes, Nell; and you won't have to
,ell papers any more. Think of it!'
But Nell was crying now; and the old
gentleman, standing by the table,
stopped in his work Of christening the
bundles to wipe his eyes, while the
pleasant looking lady who was assist
ng him looked attentively at the boy
md girl before her.
20 Tomr' was all Nell could say.
And when her cry was over the kind
cooking lady led her away to take off
her wrappings and have something to
bat; and then there were lots of chill |
iren to see and get acquainted with,
md then there was the Christmas tree.
Nell had never seen one lighted before,
hough Tom had; and to her it was all
,av end an 1o1inhtfu1 Cnch loto ~