Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-12-24
A LIVELY OLD PAIR.

Harders Flint, Esq, lawyer, sat alone
in his bachelors den in big easy chair
his feet incased in pair Of dilapidateC
old slippers, resting on the fender, hi:
| hands thrust half way into his trousers
pockets and his head bent forw-rd unit
his chin rested on his breast On the
table beside him lay couple Of newspa
pers and a yellow covered law book
open at the page he had been consulting
Lawyer Flint was deep in perplexine
thought, to judge by the expression Of
his face, for his brow was clouded and
his lips compressed, and occasionally he
turned his head toward the open volume
as if inclined to seek further aid from
it, but with slight shake of the head
relapsed again into his former attitude.
He had sat thus for a long time when
there was u knock at the door.
"Come in" said the lawyer, without
looking up.
A servant girl entered, handed him a
note and withdrew.
Lawyer Flint opened the note, read it,
uttering an exclamation Of impotence,
arose and paced up and down the room.
80 Rolingold can't meet me tomor-
row because it's Christmas he NUT
tered, as he stalked across the floor; 'sev-
cry day is important in this matter and
yet he, the one most interested, delays
proceedings twenty-four hours simply be-
cause it happens to be Christmas. Cad.
I can't see how u business man like Rol-
iRgold can be 80 foolish. Well. " he con
tinued, '.let him take his holiday and
enjoy it If he can; | couldn't. It's many
and many long day since Christmas
interfered with my business
He returned to his chair, but the train
of his thought had been interrupted and
his face now wore q cynical, hard look
as he gazed into the cracking fire. Once,
long ago, his Christmas days had been
bright, too, but their brightness was OBJ
scured by more vivid recollections of
other Christmas times in later years,
when ambition and disappointment and
poverty and greed had steeled his heart
and left no room for Christmas thoughts
Oh, the years that he had worked and
starved and boarded to reach his present
condition Of comfortable independence
As he looked back upon them now his
lips closed tighter and the bitterness
deepened in his face.
From distant part Of the house came
the sound Of music, ana the laughter of
children, and the hum of conversation.
But the lawyer remained motiopless
with his head upon his brea
Rat-tat, rat-tat, rattle-tattle, rattle
tattle, rat-tat rattle-tattle, rat-tat tat.
What was that? 1t seemed to come
from the closet at the other side Of the
room. The lawyer went over and opened
the closet door: there was nothing to be
seen except a lot Of old Jaw books piled
upon the shelves and pair Of hesvy old
boots on the floor.
THAT noise must have come from be-
low stairs, after all, he said, "bat it
seemed to be right in the room; sounded
just like some one dancing on bare
floor"
Il was just thinking Of Uncle Tom, I
he continued, '-and there are the boots
the old man left here when he got his
new ones at the close Of his visit, a
month ago. must tell Joe to take them
away
He went over to the chair and sat
down again. Uncle Tom, he said to
himself. "Bahl / hope he enjoyed his
visit here. | didn't. I'd 90 crazy with
that laundering old man around me,
nudging me and slapping me on the
back, trying to get little fun out Of
me- as he said, with that everlasting
good natured laugh Of his Christmas
II soon be here, he said, rs he was leav-
ing, n hope you'll brace up, Harders,
and enjoy yourself. I'll show you now to
DO it if / could stay with you Well, /
wonder now what he'd do to show me
how to enjoy Christmas said the law
yer, as he settled down in his chair.
Again the sounds of laughter and con-
versation came family from below. The
vioiins struck up lively air and
Rattle-te-tat-te, rattle-te-tat-te. rat-te-
tattle-te-rattle-te-ta
The lawyer looked quickly toward the
closet, the door Of which he had left
open. He rubbed his eyes and looked
again. Yes, there could be no mistake
about it, there were Uncle Toms boots
stepping about on the closet floor, rat
Ting off the time with heel and toe,
siding across and back, right boot first,
left boot first, up with the right, mp
with the left, and, as the music grew
louder, up with both, crack crack! the
heels came together twice in the air,
landing on the floor III exact time with
the music, and finishing up with live
ly at-te-rattle-tattle, rat-tat-tat.
Then they came briskly over toward the
astonished lawyer exactly as though
they had feet and legs in them. Over to
the fire they walked, turned heels to-
ward it and stood there wide apart.
InvoluntariIy, Lawyer Flint glanced
up as if expecting to see the ruddy, jovial
face and portly form Of his Uncle Tom.
There We're the boots just as the old man
would have placed them, but Uncle Tom
was not there
''Bless my SOUR exclaimed the law
yer, but this is mighty curious
The toe of the right boot began tap
ping the carpet gently. then they moved
over to the window, stood still Il mo-
ment and then walked out into the hall
way.
Cad" said Lawyer Flint excitedlv,
II believe they are going out. must
see the end Of this thing