The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-12-16

she whispered. She mounted the tall
stool, as if drawn by a spell.
Her breath futtered, her cheeks grew
She laid her finger on the tiny
she turned it, starting and trem-
bling at the unfamiliar signal, then,
growing more bold, she unlocked the
receiver and hid her small, pink ear in
its depths.
BOTH ENDS MEET.
"Hello! Who is itP" in a deep,
bass voice, came thrilling along the
wire.
30, Mr.. Santa Claus!'' TREMENDOUSLY.
''It's only Bessie! The mans gone
just a minute! He laughed at me-but
I do want a dolly so! Mines all broke
to pieces! l asked mamma, but she
cried, and said she didn't think Santa
Claus knew where we lived this Christ
mas. Please, Mr.. Santa Claus, if you've
got a thousand dollies, W ont you give
me just one?"
There was a sound of returning steps,
and the frightened child almost fell
from the stool in her haste. Flushed
and painting, she regained her chair
just as a sharp ring at the telephone
summoned the entering bookkeeper.
.'Who called me just nowP" came the
voice of his chief.
Nobody, sir!"
'.Nonsenser" The wire seemed fairly
to snap with indignant denial. There
was somebody, 1 tell you!-a child"
The young man glanced at his small
visitor almost in terror.
There is a little girl here, sir-a lost
child" he stammered, ''but / didn't
know-I was out for a moment, sir!"
II think you were! Hold! I'll come
down"
A minute later the proprietor entered.
His face wore a peculiar expression OF
excitement, but the book-keeper was
not to receive the reprimand which he
dreaded-Mr. Dinsdale scarcely glanced
in his direction. The gaslight threw
into full relief the figure of the little
girl. Her loosened hood had fallen,
revealing the golden glory other hair,
and her great blue eyes were raised,
eloquent with an appeal. He stood
still gazing at her, and his face grew
deadly pale. Slowly the color returned,
and with it a wonderful change passed
over his stern face.
1.-THE child's lost, sir, and just wan.
dered in here" explained the book.
keeper. I'm going to take her around
to the station. went out to call the
patrol and -"
Eyes, yes, 1 understand! Never mind
that! Who are you, little one?" he
asked in a strange, softened voice.
'.Tm Bessie, and 1 want my nam.
mai"
Bessie what2 Can't you tell the
restp'
'.Why, Bessie Eliot Gray!' answered
the child, YEARLY. "He said he'd FIND
my mamma, and 1 am SO tired!'
The bookkeeper rubbed his hand
across his eyes in amazement. Was he
asleep or wakingP Could it be his stern,
reticent employer, who had bent to his
knee upon the floor before the little
vagrant from the street!
"He is busy. Would you go with me-
to find her?"
What a swelling food of tender, re
morseful memories rolled over Elio'
Dinsdale's soul, while the childish eye.
slowly and gravely searched his plead
ing face! He almost held his breath
In some dim, unreasoning fashion, j
seemed to him that his very destiny
hung upon her verdict. If that pure
young soul surrendered itself to him il
trustful confidence, he would accept the
omen that a new day of good will ant
peace might arise upon his selfish, bittel
past. The blue eyes paused at last
looking straight into his own, holding
compelling his gaze BY the power o
their innocence. A light like sudder
sunshine glorifed her face, her lip
parted in a smile that showed her tiny
teeth in a bewitching row, and with
swift, wordless impulse she threw boil
her soft arms around his neck.
THANK God!' he murmured rever
entity. Then to the child:
'.Let me get my coat and hat, then
and we will 60"
In five minutes, he was ready for tn
street. In his hand was a great box.
'.Shall we look inside first?" h
asked, as he lifted the child to his knee
He cut the strings, unwrapping witt
deft fingers fold after fold of silken pa
per. All, the cry of delight that wok
the sleeping, silvery echoes, when tn
last was reached and the wonderful
blue-eyed, 1axen-haired, waxen beaut
was laid in Bessie's arms!
"Then you were Santa Claus!' sh
cried, when she could find her breath
'.But you aren't old or funny. Where
your fur coat and the RENDERS, an
why don't you come down the chin
ney?"
II was struck all of a heap" said tn
book-keeper, that evening. rehearsin
the story to an eager audience at HON
flor he tied on her little hood q
handy as a woman, and wrapped he
up and carried her out in his arm:
dolly and all. But, when he was fairl
outside the door, what did he do br
| turn back and call to me: "A merr
| Christmas, Mr.. Holliwell! Buy some
thing for the baby's s~tocking' And, 6
I'm alive, he tossed me this gol
eagleT'
A slender, pale body, dressed
thread-bare black, was ~conversing wit
the official, in tones distraught wit
anxiety, as Eliot Dinsdale, with his littl
charge, walked into the nearest polio
station.
mamma! my mammal"
The lady turned. and with al ina
t~iculate cry snatched the child to hi
breast.
Mamma! mammal! don't! You
break my dolly! And here is Mr.. SAINT
Clausr
The mother looked up-a startle
wonder grew in dilated eyes-a wave
color surged over herface and left it pa
as ashes.
my brother Eliot!'' He rather sa
than heard the whisper that parted hi
lips.
1T is 1, Maryy' He bent his hea'
speaking too low for other curious ear
sThe child trusted me! Can you TO
give-for her sake-on Christmas Eve:
Mary Il. P. StansberTy, tn Interior.
The Camera in Medicine.
1t is now suggested that photograph