West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-12-25

for Il; or If yoa can not. tho
good wife can. ch.''
Lionel looked at tho bill IN dumb as
tonishment: 81 an angel had come in and
clapped him on the shoulder he would
not have been moro surprised. for 1t was
q fifty dollar bill.
But sir" he stammcred. al have
becn with you 50 short time. have
not merited such consideration"
That's all right sir. You'll have
ample opportunity TO mako IL up in your
future years Of service. for do no; In
tend TO part with go faithful an assist
anti
There was more in tho manner than
In tho kind decd itself. and Lioncl's
heart bounded up with gratitude. lilo
thought OF Mary and OF the many. many
uses tho money could be put 10. warm
blankets, tho winter cloak Mary had
needed for years, and---but his faco
fell There was dunning letter In his
pocket nt that moment which he had
concealed from Mary--from tho holder
OF note against him for fifty dollars
and pcremptoriiy demanding payment.
No, no, IL would be wrong TO appro-
pirate orc dollar of tho gift for personal
neods MIR. Dale was n shrcwd reader
faces, and I.ioncfs thin. anxious face
had appealed TO his sympathics strongly
since no had entered the Office. and he
noted the change of expression.
what is IL, Webb?" he said, kindly.
you look depressed and troubled"
As Lionel heard tho kind voice and
looked into tho kind face an impulse
camo 10 him 10 tell this man his troubles
it Was so hard TO boar IL alono and to
wear smiling face over heart SO filed
with anxious care. and hardly knowing
what he said, hc poured out his story OF
the past, OF Mary and OF hcr pitiful
shopping to-day. ''lt hurts mo SO, Mr.
Dale" ho said, in conclusion, "that I
can not nsc even a dollar OF your gcncr-
ous gift for her. !"
How much now would cover this on
tire indebtcincss?' asked MIR Dalc.
ilc was drumming thoughfully on his
desk and looking kccnly at Lionel, not
in b'amo or In doubt OF the truth OF his
story. bat In making an effort 10 put
biTsalf in anotbcr's place.
"Fiftcen hundred dollars would paw
every dollar"
e. Mr. n-.,r scf,ectcd In The light OF he
millions ,lc sum seemed very trinc:
YET ho-a oas a ,inp whose r:rcugtA ami
happiness were being wasted Gnr tho
lsck of IL. ''Whss you'd you say. shca,
II should loan you this money and let
you work It out gradually rs you can
afford it?'
Say, sir. should wori; on wings. &,
would make my heart 80 light"
Then p.t on your wings." rctnrncd
Mr.. Dale. smiling. '.for wcll have tho
matter arranged at an early datn. And
fow go BONE aud spend tLis money for
Mary and tho children with clear con
scicnco."
Mary was filling tho stockings when
Lionel came homo and. poor soul. shc
had evidently bcdn shedding tears over
the task
A pretty ruchc and ribbon for Jonnio.
and a pair OF stockings snd winter
gloves for Amy. tho mcrcst necessities
amid the ocean Of lovely. tempting
things sho had seen that day; pair Of
warm gloves for Lionel which he would
not buy for himself lay In hcr bureau
drawer. and there hal been just enough
left 10 buy n small chicken for the
Christmas dsnnor, for n turkey was not
70 bc thought OF this year
She bad not heard him when he
opened the outer door softlv ard ne