The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-22

| out 70 formal tea-ur hkihSe -" '''"
ing parties. Most OF the asp.ranls ,ol
his favor grew d scourag' and called
him cross old bacnelOr, III ugh hc
looked lit 10 over thirty.
Squire Blair called the noisy groups
TO order as soon rs he could hear his
own voice In the confusion. After
some preliminaries the Santa lau' OF
the occasion began to drawl the nam
which labelled the various p:escns'
mir. Wallace Fosier!
That gentleman rose and received
tho pink parcel. which he unrolled anu
passed over to Mrs. Moonlight for IN
spcction.
The unlading Of the tree went on.
Bright faces grew brighter ~ their
names we're called, while small boys
and girls in gay clothing, cappcdb by t"e
inevitable Tam O'Shanter. glanced
along the aislrs like hunmins BIRDS
their hands full of treasures.
"Mr. Wallace Foster!' WAS again
called out.
He looked n triilc annoyed rs he
stepped again to the tree :,
THE slippers this time, Della
thought, leaning forward brcathlessly.
But Santa Claus lifted long wicker
basket, with a blue covering. from a
bough and gave it to him.
"Handle with care!' he said, gruiiiy.
NJ Mr.. Foster took the basket with some
bpsi otipn and went back to Mrs. NJ, on.
light.
What have YOU got now?' she
asked, bending forward with smiling
face.
Something precious, lshould thins, y
he said, az he lifted one corner OF the
dainty silk covering.
In his establishment he almost drop
ped the basket, for the face OF sleep
ing baby. framed in delicate lace. met
his eyes.
"Why. the darling!" said Mrs. Moon
light, as she drew down the quilted silk
and soft flannel, and disclosed the lit
tie hands clasped over the spo,less en-
broidcrcd robe.
Those nearest pcepcd, and in two
minute, the contents OF the basket was
telegraphcd to the remotest pews.
Mr. Foster was uneasy, Who had
played this practical joke upon him?
He felt himself the focus of all eyes.
The warm blood manilcd his face.
Mrs. Moonlight pitied his embarras5-
ment.
Santa Claus proceeded more lively
than ever, but the interest was divided.
Funny present to 4 bachelor and wo-
man-hatcr," said Mrs. Roberts, the
milliner, the bill of the robin perchcd
upon her bonnet pointing directly to
Mr.. Foster.
Somebody wants to plague him
he's so queer and Distant whispered
Stropcl, the merchant, to his wife,
whose attention was divided between
Mr.. Fosters present and her own, \
silver basket hcaped with grapes,
frosted cake and oranges in wax work.
Eyes, the child belongs to some one
in the church, probably. who will soon
claim it," she returned.
"Moscs in the bullrushes!' shouted
little Seth Bumstead, making hap
hazard application of his Sunday
school lesson, as he craned his neck for
q view, and subsidized with shamcd
face at sly shake by his mother.
Mrs. Moonlight drew the basket un-
der the shelter of her wings. Mr. Eos
ter looked disturbed. He did not even
unroll the slippers when they were
handed to him.
The tree was empty; the crowd be-
gan to move towards the door. But no
on, al 81 irp.I Tho IA, h,
Foster stood looking helplessly at
Mrs. Moonlight.
Il will take care of it tonight; to-
morrow we shall see what can be done"
she said
They waited until the last of the
crowd were near the door, then passed
out and walked down the street. Fos-
ter carried the basket, over which
Mrs. Moonlight had thrown . warm
shawl.
He looked at the sweet little face
with a sof,cnod, regretful expression,
then said goodnight and retired from
Mrs. Mooniight's sitting-room to his
chamber, where coal fire glowed in
willingly in the CRATE and soft. shaded
lamp-light showed the bright, warm
carpet and crimson window drapery.
In dressing-gown and slippers, before
the fire. he fell into n revcric. He re-.
called the happy Christmas night, two
years ago, richly freighted with joy
and love and hope, when warm, pas
sionate heart beat close to his and white
arms encrclcd his neck. He would
have laughed then at the prophecy of
his present desolation He had been
deprived of love, home, happiness. And
who was to blamep
There was II low rap at the door.
Mrs. Moonlight about the baby" he
thought uncasily, as he opened it,
A tall, stately woman stood there.
The light showed proud, pale, beau
tiful face, with dark, luminous eyes,
now misty with some strong emotion.
Louise"
sWallaccr
She reached both hands towards him
He drew her into tue warmth and
brightness and shut the door.
The two stood looking into each 9TH
er's faces. Hers was irresistible in its
tenderness in such contrast to the
pride and naughty defiance which had
marred lis loyelincss when he had last