Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-25

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was not there.
"Bless my SOUL" 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 mo-
ment and then walked out into the hall
way.
"Gadr said Lawyer Flint excitedly,
II believe they are going out. must
see the end of this thing"
He threw off his dressing gown, hur-
ried 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
jammed 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 a big store. "Now,"
thought Lawyer Flint, as he entered
no f.>c
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 as they
shuffied 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
rather peculiar position. Why was he
standing around there, the people would
ask, if he did not wish to buyG How
long would he be obliged to remain? He
couldn't tell Should he say that he
was waiting for those old boots? Ne,
no; he didn't wish on any account to
call attention to the ridiculous perform
ance they We're going through.
"Yes," 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 impotence and anger,
at the boots, which seemed Evelier than
ever as his purchases increased.
"Seven dollars and forty cents, please"
said the salesgirl.
Into the silver ball went q 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-t -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 oe 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
creed before, or at least not for many
years, he said to himself, as he stopped
before candy store and followed the
boots inside.
Candy for Christmas% He smiled
almost to think that he. Harders Flint,
should hear such a question addressed to
himself, and more astounding yet was
tie 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-tat!
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
him lively chase before the evening
was over. Again he was III the biting
air, but the warm blood coursed through
every vein in his body as he hurried
along Again and again they stopped,
until the lawyers purse was nearly
empty and his arms more than full. The
old boots seemed fairly wild with de-
light, and Lawyer Flint could not to
save his life, help laughing at them as
they skipped and slipped and danced
along the sidewalk.
Away they led him, out of the avenue,
down the dark side streets, until he
heard the sound of children singing. IN
this direction the old boots FASTENED and
stopped before the house from whence
the singing came. Up the steps they
went; the door opened, and somehow
the lawyer, too much hustered and con
fused to know how it was exactly, found
himself in Il room filed with children,
and lovely lady was saying to him:
"Ah. you're in time, sir Thank you so
much. We haven't distributed the pres
ents yet. You viii make a good many
little hearts glad tonight, sir" And all
around him was warmth and light ana
music and Gathering of happy tongues
p,,,.J, - iOt-or,c II N, NC