Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-19
HIS CHRISTMAS EVE.
BY ELLA W. BEATTIE.

1t is simple story and needs no ART
IN the telling.
Wellington Brown said to himselfth that
ne had been "playing in devilish hard
luck" Though his solloquy did not
betrav the particulars, it was evident
that he had poor opinion of wine, a
worse one of the world in general, and
the very worst one of women. by which
1t may be inferred that he had been
havi ng too much of all. Tt was only Il
an early hour for Wellington Brown
when he got to his rooms. Having
done one unusual thing, he concluded
to do another.
He made resolution.
He said to himself:
81 VIII get out of this cursed town."
and he dung his coat on chair, turned
up the gas, and hauled out his trunk
with that peculiar impetuosity of which
only man is capable. He put the bu-
reau drawers on the floor to have them
handy, and sat himself on a camping
stool TO pack his trunk. Before doing
this he put ON his hat This simple
thing is always of great assistance to a
man. Then he lit his cigarette and be-
gan. He found thirty-six neckties and
twenty-nine scarf pins, and as many
soiled and torn gloves as served to fill
his brazen coal urn half to the top.
-SOmeway, he wasn't pleasant-look-
ing object. There was something sui
phurous about him, so to speak. Some
thing more than anger showed in his
face. 1t may have been passion, or
chagrin, or revenge. But whatever it
was, it made it look profane. though the
face was a handsome one, firmly mod
eled, dark, and vlvacious, and the
fringe of the half-curling brown hair
which showed below the unbrushed
silk hat was graceful enough for an
artist.
But it is certain that though an artist
might have painted the features, he
would never have copied the soul that
showed through them. To tell this
story truthtully it must be owned that
betwe en- the puffs CT the cigarette Mr..
Brown INDUCED in an occasional oath.
1t must be said that in nine cases out of
Ten there was something original about
the GA tbs He came across a pack of
photog raphs, and flung them with vi
Vacious accuracy into the CRATE.
eco there, my beauties, and burn"
he erie d. you'll make a good blaze
andits the only good thing you'll do You
never danced faster than you do now,
made moiselle," he went on, watching
paIr of white pictured arms writhe in
the heat, and blow away up the Chin
~dey,; Il wouldn't have had room for the
neck ties if / hadn't put you out" he
said. There seemed to be something
wron with the cigarette, and he threw
it away and lit another. Then he went
on With his packing.
eff wake at Z I'll go to San Francis
CO." ne said with a grin at hideous
Chin csc idol that he had slowed away
in tn corner, land if I wake at I'll 90
to London.
He packed more furiously than be-
fore. Suddenly he stopped putting.
tsBy jove ~ said he. He lifted little
box from out tin chest filled with pa
crate. He lifted the lid of the box.
sfBy Jove - said he again, and he took
off his hat.
The box held some letters, and they
were tied together with pink ribbon.
Wellington Brown undid the ribbon
with fingers that trembled little.
''Absthinthe viii kill man as sure
as shooting" he remarked in apology
for the shaking of his hand. He looked
at the date of the FIRST letter.
81 was Is when | wrote it," be said.
She kept thema good while. | sup
pose she sent them back when l got
AlAtO kAdt SCIdPC at NOA1CSO, pOOT lltLl0
girl It's twenty years ago, easy" He
glanced idly down the page of the let
ter, written in the boyish hand he re-
membered in all of his school books.
"DEAR LITTLE Blossom" it began, sit is three
mouths now since saw you. But Ior my dreams
dear. could never staI6 it. You wouldn't be-
heve how hard | S1n working, I wrote last
night till l o'clock. Then l sat in the window
hour and thought of you I might well be
afraid of this great city. There is from il
even now. But am not afraid | think | feel
stronger than it. / might be miserable for al
the sin / here, and the suffering, but that
~aop pc in way | may remeoy it in part. Ii
ali aees some men have had great influence, you
know | shall write books that will make the
poev more helpful and the rich less prond.
read TWO books conatantly-my Bible and my
Honeg. go all the men write of will De gentle
and brave. But all this is the best | get from
YOU dear love. Your little hand seems to lii
softly IN mine as write, and leads me on to 9th
er heights.
90, Blossom, write to me. and let me see the
world ss it looks through your sweet eyes, glad
1letcitu aud redeeming.
Yours most lovingly,
"wELLINGToN."
Mr.. Browns face was flushed
SsRot !" said be, and it followed the
photographs. Yet he opened another
sNY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SwEETH EART," this on,
sale have grown to believe that art can onl.
n - r -