The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-26

Inc iot Oh lnt llEAt booJ ueEdh tup- ]
ping the carpet gently, then they moved
over to the window, stood still mo-
ment and then walked out into the hall
way.
"Gad" said Lawyer Flint excitedly,
81 believe they are going out must
see the end Of this thing"
He threw off his dressing gown, hur-
lied into his shoes, overcoat and hat, and
followed the boots out Of the street door,
which had opened at their approach.
Down the steps they tripped gayly and
turned toward the brilliantly lighted
avenue The still, starlit night was Bit
terly cold, and Lawyer Flint shivered as
he buttoned his heavy coat close up
around his neck. Up the street he has
tened, following the empty boots, which
slipped sideways at every other step and
iammed their heels into the trodden
snow, but made their way rapidly, never
theless.
Around the corner, into the avenue, in
and out among the throngs Of Christmas
eve pedestrians, lodging here and there,
stepping on toes, stopping in front Of
show windows, kicking themselves to-
gether and stamping on the ground
| thus went the old boots, and after them
followed the excited lawyer
They turned into big store. "Now,"
thought Lawyer Flint, as he entered
the door, "some one will be sure to see
them,' but strange to say, the boots
were entirely unnoticed by the buzzing,
laughing, happy people who thronged
| the store.
The lawyer leaned against the toy
counter and watched the boots rs they
shuffled around on the floor.
Something for the little ones?'
The question was asked by a pretty
salesgirl and it was addressed to Har-
ders Flint He started, and for the
first time realized that he was in a
rather peculiar position. Why was he
standing around there, the people would
ask, if he did not wish to buy2 How
long would he be obliged to remain? He
couldn't tell, Should he say that he
was waiting for those old boots? No,
no; he didn't wish on any account to
call attention to the ridiculous perform
ance they were going through.
eyes" he said, coloring, something
for the little ones;" and then he went
about selecting tin horns, and silver
bells, and woolly dogs, and wooden
monkeys, and trumpets, and checkers,
and dominoes, growing white and red
by turns as he thought Of the fearful
extravaganza, and, glancing furtively,
with increasing impatience and anger,
at the boots, which seemed hvelier than
ever as his purchases increased.
"Seven dollars and forty cents, please"
said the salesgirl.
Into the silver ball went good ten
dollar bill! click, click, it shot upward
and slid across the cashiers desk, while
the lawyer groaned and waited for his
change.
Rattle te-tat-te, rattle-te-tat-te, rattle
te-tat-te, rat-ta-tat! went the old boots
close by his side. Several people looked
at him with smiles Of amusement.
"Happy time, isn't it;' said jolly little
fat man, glancing at the lawyers big
bundle. 81 feel like dancing myself"
"Change. sir thank you. Merry
Christmas"
The exasperated lawyer grasped his
bundle and hurried after the boots,
which now seemed anxious to get away
from the store. When he struck the cold
air and again drew his coat around him
he seemed somehow to feel less annoy
ance The excitement Of the chase had
warmed his blood. 1t was a curious
feeling that began now to steal over him,
the like of which he had never expert
enced before, or at least not for many
years, he said to himself, as he stopped
before a candy store and followed the
boots inside,
"Candy for Christmas" He smiled
almost to think that he, Harders Flint,
should hear such question addressed to
himself, and more astounding yet was
the fact that he did want to buy some
candy for Christmas, and that he really
stood there, pocketbook in hand, wait
ing for it,
Rattle-te-tat, te-tat-te- tail
A smile broke over the salesgirl's face
as she handed him the package Of candy,
) and away went the lawyer, after the
boots, which seemed determined to give
3 him a lively chase before the evening
t was over. Again he WAS in the biting
, air, but the warm blood coursed through
5 every vein in his body as he hurried
along. Again and again they stopped,
p until the lawyers purse was nearly
empty and his arms more than full. The
@ old boots seemed fairly wild with de-
Q light, and Lawyer Flint could not, to
1 save his life help laughing at them MS
e they skipped and slipped and danced
! along the sidewalk.
/ Away they led him, ont of the avenue,
down the dark side streets, until he
heard the sound of children singing. In
t this direction the old boots hastened and
4 stopped before the house from whence
e the singing came. Up the steps they
went; the door opened, and somehow
So the lawyer, too much fustered and con-
S fused to know how it was exactly, found
S himself in % room filed with children,
a and a lovely lady was saying to hiln'
n "Ahl you're in time, sir. Thank you so
much. We haven't distributed the pres
It ents yet, You viii make a good many
o little hearts glad tonight, sir" And all
IS around him was warmth and light and
h music and a Gathering Of happy tongues
2, and altogether such joyous atmosphere
e as he would not have believed could pos.
# sibly exist anywhere.
:, Good night! Merry Christmasl7 The
IS sound rang in his ears rs he followed
p the lively old boots out of the door and
s. back through the dark streets into the
o avenue.
l Il wonder where they'll take me
10 now;7 he said, chuckling and Laughing
p softly, ""al| he continued, Il hai
more than forty dollars in that pocket
l. book, and there isn't enough left to
.e hello! there they go into a cigar store
HIM, cigars are too great a luxury fot
b Harders Flint; not tonight, though" hi
laughed. "Tu smoke tonight and hI
ie came out Of the store @ moment late
u with box of choice cigars in his hand.
ID And then the old boots led him bacl
-s at a moderate pace 70 his bachelor
Is quarters. lie wui4tled softly as he re
L moved his coat and got into his dressing
e. gown and slippers; then be lit cigar
T. threw himself into the big chair befor
Up the fire and sat contsutedlt putting tn