Connecticut western news., 1891-12-17
would have placed them. but Uncle Tom

over to the window, stood still q mo- ment and then walked out into the hall way.
 "Gad!' said Lawyer Flint excitedly, ''l 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 jamlned 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 OH 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 as they shuffled around on the floor.
 ''Something for the little ones?"
 The question was asked by a pretty salesgirl. and it was addressed to liar 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 buy? 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.
 "Yes," be said, coloring, ''solnething 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 ivelier than ever as his purchases increased.
 ''Seven dollars and forty cents. please" said the salesgirl.
 1pto hn ci1 ho1 %o,o 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 hirn--wrrn- smiles Of amusement. Happy time. isn't it!" said jolly little fat man, glancing at the lawyers big bundle. ''l feel like dancing myself"
 Change. sir; thank you. Merry Christmas!'
 The exasperated lawyer grasped his bundle and hurried after the boots, which now Nemed anxious to get away from the store. When he struck the cold air and agaiu drew his coat around him he seemed somehow to feel less annoy ance. The excitement of the chase had warmed his blood. It was curious feeling that began now to steal over him, the like of which he had never experi- creed before, or at least not for many years, he sail 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 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 broise over the salesgirl's face as she handed him the package of candy, and away went the lawyer, after tho boots, which seemed determined to givt, him a lively chase before the evenin., was over. Again he was ill the biting ar. but the warm blood coursed through every vein in his body as he hurrie'l along. Again and again they stoppe,!, until the lawyers purse was nearly empty and his arms more than full Tie old boots seemed fairly wild with de- light, and Lawyer Flint could not, to save his life, help laughing at them ;ss they skipped aud 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 hastened and stopped before the house from whence the singing came. Up the steps they went; the door opened, and somehow the lawyer. too much fustered and con- fused to know how it was exactly. found himself in a room filled with children, pnl lovely ls.ly was saying to him: An! you re in time, sir. Thank you SC much We haven't distributed the pres ents yet. You will make d good many little hearts glad tonight, sir" And ali around him was warmth and light and music and q clattering of happy tongues: and altogether such q joyous atmosphere as he would not have believed could pos s.bly exist anywhere.
 Good night! Merry Christmas!' The sound rang in his ears as he followed the lively old boots out of the door and back through the dark streets into the avenue.
 II wonder where they'll take me now?' he said, chuckling and laughing softly. "Gad!' he continued, II had more than forty dollars in that pocket book, and there isn't enough left to- hello! there they go into a cigar store. H-m, cigars are too great a lu:.ury for Harders Flint; not tonight, though" he laughed. I'll smoke tonight" and he came out of the store a moment later with a box of choice cigars in his hand. And then the old boots led him back