St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-25
A BURGLARS CHRISTMAS.
Prologue.

Prologue.
Chicago Globe.
William Wilder was born on rugged
New England side-hilI farm early in
Buchanan's administration. Within a
week baby John NOrthway came to the
family in the neighboring house, sep
arated from the Wilders' by low stone
fence on which tiny garnets might be
found.
just as the little urchinS were growing
into the glerieS of top-bootS and made
over breecheS, the fathers of both an
swered their country'S call and fell, side
by side, at Bull Run.
Mrs. NOrthway did not long survive
her husband. His faithful maiden sis
ter took the orphaned little Jack, and as
he and Willie grew up she was "Aunt
keZiah9 to them both. At play and at
school together, doing the same chores
about the house and barns. the boys
early showed marked Similarities. With
a kinship entangled through intermar-
riageS running back to the first settlers,
little else could have been looked for.
The first difference came when, as
hObbiedehoys at singing school, they
suddenly found out how lovely a girl
little Ruth Fay, who lived Just across
Stony brook, had grown TO be. AS they
became older and were carpenters ap-
prentices together, the fights of child
hood, soon begun and sooner ended,
took on feeling OF bitterness.
After time, with no known reason,
viii made friendship with the town
drunkard, an old and picturesque sur
vival from worse times, who served the
end for the folk thereabOut that the he
lat did for the ancient Spartan.
Little Ruth, Older but no taller, looked
with wondering aud plying eyes upon
Will staggering down the road as she
came with Jack from choir meeting one
night. Three days later, when he
asked her to be his wife, the same wOn-
der and pity was on her face as she told
him no.
Within the month. as he went home
to his mother one evening just as it
came on to rain, he learned from her
that Ruth was to marry Jack Mort
Sick, with mind full of remOrse and
regret, yet unwilling to blame himself.
VIII cursed his mother when she told
him he deserved his fortune, and took a
fearful oath that he would never see
her nor the little town again. He went
away through the rain. and was never
seen afterward in the East.
Jack NOrthWay married Ruth FaV.
and for time was a second son to the
lonely Widow Wilder. When, after a
little, she died, she willed him the Wild
er farm. With strong sense of right,
he advertised far and wide for his old
playmate without result. Some years
went along; he and little Ruth sold the
farm, babe the faithful aunt good-by,
and went the West in search of fortune.
Chapter Z.
A small woman, ragged and haggard,
sat on the floor in a Squalid tenement,
with three little children crying about
her, fourth whining upon,her lap. The
room was dark, the snow falling fast
without, and they were gathered about
the place where the stove had been. as
If the memory of glowing Goals could
give them warmth and light.
A football was heard in the hall and
the door slowly opened.
Are you there, Maud?o queried a
heavy, raSping voice.
The woman answered to her name
feeDly-poor soul, she had never had
any name TO add to Maud-"Yes. Is it
you, Bill?' But the three children
stopped sObbing to yell dad! Dad ~
and rushed toward the door. One by
one the man picked them up and kissed
them. Then he seated himself on the
floor beside her. took the little one from
her knee and put his arm around her
tenderly.
Pm in tough luck, old woman" he
said. "Fhey got on TO us, aud Just got
away without being pinched-and we
didn't get the swag, either"
Have you any money at all, Bill?''
she asked, as she leaned back on his
shoulder.
Not Soumarkee," answered he.
do you know what night it is?V
mo, don't. l had too much to think
of getting away" Bill said. not petu-
lantly, but stating a fact.
She whispered in his ear moment
and he burst out with: by God, it is
Christmas eve, amt it?''
The children, keeping still until now.
heard the wonderful name and fiocked
round their father. begging for pres
entS. All recalled the last Christmas,
just after the great Safe-blowing case at
BelOit, where no arrests were ever
made. Then every childish wish was
gratifed. But the babe on his arm
never stopped its puny wall.
Bill put the little one back on its
mothers breast, walked to the door with
love and desperation mingled on his
face and went out, saying: "Wait fol-
me three hours, Maud. You'll have a
Christmas or Eli be dead by that time
Chapter Ii.
John Northway and Ruth, his wife
were putting the last touches on the
evergreen tree their love had planned
for their little boys and girls. North
way walked to the window and pulled
up the shade behind the tinsel-fecked
tree.
Its showing hard" he said, $50
Jack will have a chance to use his new
sleigh went glidldg past, Its good go
ing already"
why" said Ruth, as she went to
his side, $50 it is. | hate the sight OF
bare ground this time of year"
1T wouldn't be like home, would it,
small girl?'' rejcined John. 'sAnd
speaking of home, shall we open Aunt
KeZiah'S box tonIght?'
No, dear, leave it till morning and
surprise ourselves and the children, too
Is there anything more TO DC done to
the tree?''
Not thing. Well leave the candles
for Christmas night. The boys may
light them if we put them on. Every
thing is fastened on with wire, Ruth
dear, aud all the presents, neighbors
and all. are on top of Aunt KeZiah's
box. Yes, and the stockings are all
filled, too" said he. answering her
silent questions one by one.
Next year We'll have a truly fine
place to hang the four small pairs be.
fore yToa:t xyf, T0bn9 lt;s hard .C0ri- ,,