The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-25

She rose 70 her fsst, hu9Gins up hsr load.
Sne twist q psps. tell 70 sne ero1nd:
Mar Mssy; sns y, p's MIN e nm ~'n s"s nice
'' :is fesis ike sioyes, .he .aid, for want
of . happier thought, handing Il 70 her
Miss Maria sei.-d the parcel. almost
10 her cheeks; her eye. fell. 81 20 hot
gloves. II ain't surely"
The door closed upon her suddenly, I'm
~as sss sss% %s,S ssrE I, l .t;s 5n III ,s s,,sn: :,r,. 70.
esthsr; .SNhas h.. zone wrong Aunt
Il do Believe" added Bella, "thas .eoin'
ali that reconciles her IN New York"
hurriediy thrustinG her purchases. into q
deep drawer she had emptied for the pur-
II don't believe,' she thought. with q
prick from her tender Coincidence. 81
DONE believe I remember Of ! bought
them gloves or NOT; They Va: othe.
She paused e to To- consider soms;
md bsamsd, II done -sSr;sly know how
AM them m~ufiiers:. Celia, she chose for
r mS' o a". or %'1 shn. , dark blue .ss 4 h hos sS' she ne
gazed down into the drawer. 81 hope
Iwa. the RID ones, but won't know till
NnTIA Ulu60.
Day after day Miss Maria added to the
contents of the drawer. "Whether or
no,'' as she phrased IL, In meant To give
family, from Joseph down TO the GRAND
hoy. But, with these weiRhtier matters,
her own preparations vent on. "The
girls" could not understand why their
aunt wore those shabby shoes, when
Sarah had helped her buy q new pair, or
why shc made stch n mystery of even n
carelcssly bestowed upon her one day,
and which disappeared and were no more
seen. though her bonnet hung awry upon
the good gray head as usual.
Poor Miss Maria! She found il hard
work. but n never relaxed her ardor,
now that this idea wa hers. Her winter
careless fashion that puzzled Mrs. Joseph,
used already to tine country woman's love
OF S Se Shr; anm q , .xn cs1 "s .ran
After The q O'Clock dinners, through
whose courses she hurried her way, MISS
and began at once her work for the night.
Her whitehead cheeks were a dull red with
excitement, her faded eyes glowed with
To be resorted and tied up. with lavish ex-
penditure of paper and Irvine. ats such
FUN openin' 'em!" she thought.
Back and forth trippcd Miss Maria. back
and forth between bureau and chimney,
until the long, dangling gray stocking was
up with packages. IL was only = o'clock,
but she was used to early hours. s.Tn be
up before tn light" b thought, with her
simplest look, SO she went to bed
strai0htway and very soon to sleep.
Now il happened that the Conways had
not only been generously remembered ~
their late boarSler mt this holiday time, hut
strange To say. they had rememtered her.
Every one. from T" him F" down to next to
the baby. had helped mn a good-sized box,
with which the exprcssnan came banging
on the door about . o'clock. The Bascons
were genuinely pleased. and "a little
good will. Bella said. after a little talk /:
"Can't | run UP to Aunt Maria's room
with IT,. right away? She'll he as happy
as a child, and IL seems too good to keep
till morning."
The rest approved. and Bella tuggcd
bravely at her load To the door, where only
a glimmer ct freight; met her eyes as she
conscious of her knock and of her en-
trance. But some one on the hearth rug
started gmiltily, and turned To meet the
air.
"Moliy. !" cried Miss Bella.
hand. Mistress aud maid stood together
before each other.
The maid was tirs. to speak.
poor souls done fer 'erself. an gone =
sleep, like tn baby she is. Been her own
Sen,y Claus, she has, an men, cook
thing she held, with n superior smile, $50
as she shouldn't miss a ChristTnasr'
Inc ready tears sprang To her mistress
eyes.
"O, I never dreamed il was like that to
herr" she gasped. "You make me SO
ashamed, Molly! We must do something,
tool"
She hustled about the room, depositing
the Conway box at one side OF the CRATE
and helping Molly tn suspend her tribute.
This shall he the sweetest surprise the
dear thing ever knew" whispered Miss
Bella, with a catch in the whisper. ~
hope IL isn't too late To make her very
happy yet"
Aud the others were much astonishcd at
sight,, "A little later. of the youngest Miss
Bascom. i'm furs and dainty toguc,
equipped for "a walk. Not less astonished
when. as in response To their inquiries.
she burst into tears. and turning tai her
mother, caught her around the waist in u
gale OF kisses.
"Supposc IL had been your" she said.
stranded among u set OF heathcn. who
never expected you to do anything hut
live upon pictures and drink, you darl-
inR!"
Bella. are You daft?' asked Sarah. in
some scorn.
"No, hut Aunt Maria is. and We didn't
care, and let her hll her own Christmas
stocking"
They were sympathetic enough now,
and Bella told the whole story. Every
body offered, in much good humored con-
triton, to accompany this last Santa
Claus on her tour. till Mrs. Bascom settled