The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-12-20

echoes ringing in his ears? | kept my
last Christmas Eve just ten years ago,
| and | don't care about irving il again. "
| The icy wind was sweeping down colder
| than ever, and he began to feel strangely
| numb and bewildered. Half-despair-
! ing, aud vet with an odd sense of happi-
ness. he sank down upon flight of low,
broad steps and leaned his head against
| the balustrade. Across the street he
could see some one dressing a Christ
mas tree some one with cherry ribbons
| in her hair-and he smiled as he
/ languidly tried to guess who it might
be; then he smiled again rs he counted
four little stockings hung up before the
/ mantcl-picce.
A broad beam of ruddy light flashed
! out over the snow. A bluif-faccd man
! bent over him and shook him vigorous
| ly. Come, my man. he said, this
won't do! Another half-hour and you d
never have heard the Christmas bells
The man dragged him inside and looked
/ at him half-curiouslv. half compassion
atcly. Tramp, eh?" he CALCULATED.
"Wcll. even n tramp ought to have
shelter a night Ike this Wait here till
you feel better"
The stranger looked stupidity around
| him. Above his head rose II yaulted
roof supported BY lofty columns around
which were wreathed long strings of
cvergrccns, frightened here and there
by sprays of flaming holly. Some
! church, of course. but everything
looked strange and unfamiliar. The
| bluff-faced man stood on step-ladder
busily engaged in faShioning in ever
greens motto on the wall. His guest
! looked on, fascinated rs the sentence
! grew under the makers deft fingers.
" Unto us child is born unto us a
Son it read at last; and as its mean
inc grew upon him he groancd aloud.
The sexton, as he evidently was,
turned around pleasantly. Coming
round, | sce.' he said. "Well, now.
I've been thinking that it's hardly right
to send you out again tonight. Sup
pose YOU stay and help me. and I'll see
, you through on bed and breakfast?'
why, YOU don't know anything
about me-" said the other, slowly.
I'm risk all that. just come up
| here and finish out this sentence.
Here the rest Of it written out on this
piece of paper
Il know it well enough don't
want the paper" said the stranger
/ roughly; then changing his tone, he
added: 81 beg your pardon for speak
inc hastily. Just give me the greens
and I'll do my best
We'll. YOU are a queer chap said
the sexton, reliectively, but Jim
Davidson doesn't 90 back on his word,
and I'll do us | said. Here are the
green's, and you Il find the holly over
there in the COrne".'
The two men worked on in silence for
some moments; then came knock at
the door, and the sexton disappeared
for moment "Only the rector" he
explained. as he came back and met his
companions inquiriEg glance. "IIe
always comes 10 the church Christmas
Eve and waits till the bells begin to
-leastways he's always done so
since he took charge here, and that
nine years ago. | don't know what he
does here and | suppose its his own
business. anyway. Well, my lad. and
what is it now" turning to boy who
had been vainly endcavoring to attract
his attention
please, sir, and there's gentleman
down at your house that must see you
mt once-important business
"Tell him to come UP here, Jimmy.
IT'S nigh to twelve, and I'll have to be
on hand to RING the bells
lie says, Mr.. Davidson, that he can't
possibly come up to the church. but that
he won't keep YOU but a moment"
''Well, | suppose might run around
for minute or sc" heS;tatcd the sen
To Str
who had stood silently looking on:
you'll start the bells for me if |
shouldn get back in time. won't YOU?
Here are the ropes, and you can easily
get the knack. III be back, though,
| think, in time
He threw on his overcoat and started
for the door, then stopped, and turning
around with a curious expression on his
face, walked up to little closet set in
the wall. Closing the door. which was
partially open, he locked it, and slip
ping the key in his pocket went out in
silence.
who's that in the church
with you, Davidson" inquired the
rector, as he put off his heavy overcoat
''Only a poor fellow that | found
half frozen to death on the steps, sir;
I'm keeping him with me to help dress
the church, and I'm thinking I'll help
him to lodging tonight. It's bitter
weather to be about outside"
Quite right. You might ask him to
come and see me tomorrow. Don't
let me be disturbed Just now, though
Rev. Arthur Drayton, rector of St.
Peters, raked the Goals down in the
glowing CRATE and then, drawing up an
eaSy-chair, sat down before the fire A
handsome man, most people would have
called him. lrOn-gray hair and beard,
clear, clCan-cut features, mouth some
what too much compressed, perhaps -
but altogether a face that eXacted re-
spect, if nothing more. No one of his
numerous acquaintanceS pretended to
really know him. His parishioners re-
spccted and looked up to him, but they
never offered him their confidence and
he never seemed to expect it. At any
rate, he never showed the slightes; dis
position to besow his upon them. He
lived apart, and people respected his
seclusion. His past history none knew,
although many con ecturcd that he had
seen trouble. However, there are al
ways some people ready to set up any
number of theories for any given set of
facts.
Rev. Arthur Drayton looked long and
earnestly into the glowing Goals, and as
he looked his thoughts wandered back
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