Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-12-25
AN ANSWERED PRAYER.
A Christmas Story,

A Christmas Story,
The sun shone bright and clear on
the first snow of the season. It was
Christmas morning, and the first bell
for church had just stopped ringing.
Miss Gwendoline barley took up her
best bonnet and examined it closely.
Certainly it was very shabby. Then
she went to the glass, and looked ut
herself, put on the bonnet, smoothed
out the strings, and remained staring
before her, lost in thought, till reused
by the second bell for service.
"Good gracious!" she cried, "Imust
have been dreaming!" and started for
the church on a run. She was not CO.
ing there for any special purpose OF
Christmas, but because she sang in
the choir. For the same reason it
was important that she should be in
time.
The dream which had come to her
that morning was one OF the past-of
her girlhood. The first bloom of her
youth had worn off some time ago; in
fact, might have been said to have as
suddenly left her as Robert McKensie,
her lover. They departed together.
Her troubles all begun through q trifle
some flowers, note OF two, and a
Jew other attentions from the wrong
person.
Miss Gwendoline's lover was proud
and hasty. Miss Gwendoline herself
was rather fond Of standing on her
dignity, and a little bit obstinate
When her lover asked for the notes and
explanation, Miss Gwendoline refused
him both. This suspicion she consid-
cred an insult.
A few more hasty words and he was
ordered to leave her, which he protested
himself delighted to do.
Poor Miss Gwendoline felt her heart
break when the door closed behind
him. She had her dignity to main
tain, however, so no one, not even her
mother, knew how she felt on the sub
ject.
Midnight tears, if judiciously NAH
aged, will leave no trace.
After much hesitation, she wrote
him a little note of apology, and hint
ed that if he were to ask again for an
explanation he might possibly get it.
But The who hesitates is lost," and
Miss Gwendoline's note reached it's
destination just twenty-four hours
after the person it was intended for,
had sailed for England How well she
could remember the day when she
found he had gone.
1t was on a cold. rainy after
noon in December, while carelessly
looking over the paper that she came
across list of outward bound pas
sengers, and among them was his
name. At first she could scarcely be-
leve her eyes, and went to the window
that she might make the most of the
fading light. Never for q moment had
she supposed that he would leave the
country. 1t was so, however, for
there was his name.
Unheeded, the paper fell to the floor,
and Miss Gwendoline, with g. sigh,
rested her head against the window.
The rain came down with monoto-
nous drip, drip, as if it never meant to
stop. Two or three forlorn Titles SPAR
rows were huddled together under the
caves OF the opposite roof, and Miss
Gwendoline noticed how the rain
drops, as they chased each o:yher
down the glass, would blur and hide
them from her sight.
The day was in harmony with her
feelings, and she never forgot it. At
that time she felt as if there was moth
ing more to live for Misfortune kept
up it's old-time reputation of never
coming singly. In q few months her
father died, and the poor little thing
had another cause of heartachc
There was much talk over the set
thing OF the estate. Lawyers came and
went at all hours. A most compli-
Gated case, they declared. It seemed
simple enough when presented to Miss
Gwendoline, for after the bills was
paid there was nothing left.
Working hard from morning to night
is not calculated to keep one young
and pretty.
Day after day for three weary years
years that seemed to have a.
thousand days, instead OF only three
hundred and sixty -fve-Nliss Gwendo-
line trudged from house to house CIV
ing music lessons.
Day by day she saw her beauty
fading before poverty and hardship.
Once, soon after her fathers death,
she had written again to Robert Nc
Kensie, telling him all he had ever
wished to know.
She was much changed by her
troubles, or would never have done a
thing like that. The pride was for
gotten, and a great longing seized her
for some one to lean on, some one to
take care Of and comfort her.
Yet another trouble came to Miss
Gwendoline, and then fortune, having
done its worst, left her to what peace
she could find.
Tired and cold, one evening, she re.
turned from her usual round oflessons
to find the fire out in the sitting-room,
and the lights unlit. She paused at
the door till she got accustomed to
the darkness, and then began to feel
her way across the room.
After a few steps she stumbled. Her
mother was lying ON the floor at her
feet.
Without a word, she raised her up
till the light OF q street-lamp shone in
on the upturned face.
"Never afterwards, in trying to re-
member c0nld she tell how lono she