The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-20

not altogether vanity. Mrs. Miggies awoke
early, threw an old coat Of Jonce's over
mite Jessies couch, and, putting on
ner warmest shawl, slipped quietly
out into the hall, and closed the
uoor silently behind her. As she reached
tae street she encountered Mr.. O'Reilly and
Ihe other gentlemen Of the tenement. who
! Win their pipes in their mouths and biz
MULES about their necks, were clearing the
sno" from the sidewalk. and as Mrs. Mig
giles moved away up the street without 40
much as Christmas greeting, Mr.. O'Reillv
"lhKed knowingly to his companions and
remarked: 1T looks like Miggles dos be
drinkin' agin.n
Mrs. Aiggles following path she knew
100 well, entered the nearest police station
ana advanced upon the sergeant.
w here is my husband, sir. an how
muon does 1t C st me this timer she de-
The sergeant looked up in surprise from
MS blotter. and said:
"Ah, good morning, Mrs MigCles: Won
wish to see your hushandf"
This was unusual courtesy from the SER
geant, and MrJ. Miggles was rather pleased.
something IN her appearance had evidently
Modified the officer. Thea q policeman
entered In response to a call, and the ser,
geanl said:
Billings, this IS Mrs. Miggles; she wishes
70 see her husband" And Billings led the
way to the officers room, with Mrs. Mig
giles following, growing more and more un-
easy at every step. Something uncommon.
she felt, was in the air. The policeman ap-
preached stretcher about which a half
dozen men were gathered, and upon which
lay mans form covered with a great
blanket. Mrs. Miggles' heart beat very fast
and hard. and her breath came ia quick gasps.
She was frightened now. The men parted
at sign from Billings, and she saw that the
figure on the stretcher was that Of her hus-
band. His head was bound up In blood
stained bandages, and formidable array
OF knives and lancets and
saws on the table at his head
told that the surgeons skill had been tried.
Mrs. Miggles' eyes flashed indignation now.
Jonce had carried this spree too far. She
bent over him, half in pity, half in anger,
and her feelings gave way.
"a int you ashamed of yersep, Joncep'
she cried. Coin an gettin' done up in q
saloon brawl when"
mot quiet so loud, madame. (" interrupted
the surgeon. Your husband was knocked
down and run over last night by an express
wagon, and is very seriously injured"
But Mrs. Miggles held her point. "Well
he'd been drinkin' else he wouldn't been
ruined over" she said, decidedly. "Iknow
him, do"
81 think you are mistaken, madam" said
the surgeon. "He had not been drinking
this time"
Just then the covered form moved
slightly, the eyes opened owly and Jonce
saw his wife. Evidently he had heard the
surgeons words
mo. Sal,n he said. 81 warn't full this
time, not this time. l was comm home
was, an was steerin' by the salooa on the
corner when l seen a little girl, bout like
our Jessie, standin' out there in the street
an big truck a-bearin' down on her.
had jus time to grab her an pull her away
when long come the wagon an W,
The eyes closed again, and the sur
geon bent anxiously forward, but il
was only passing weakness. Jonce looked
up once more aud spoke: "Sorrv to Spite
yer Christmas fer yer, Sal; l allus was 6
good deal of gawk, yer know; Tut when
yer get home, Sal, JUS tell Jessie about it
shen understan' how it was, Jessie will, an
gin her this fer me-" He raised one hand
to his breast pocket, and, producing a little
package all covered with blood, lifted it tc
his lips and kissed it, "Gin this to jessie
Sal, an tell her Merry Christmas; l was
bringin' it to her when-when-"
And at the very same moment that the
head sank back upon the stretcher and she
eyes closed again, LITTLE Miss Miggles awoke
with a start in her tiny bed in the big tene-
ment, and was surprised to fad tears in her
eyes on Christmas morn.
(3EOpan PEpcv TAccApr