The Dickinson press., 1893-12-23
4 CHRISTM AS CARD.

one expects an exclamation of pleasure
and admiration; so it WIS not wonder
fl that Mrs. Austin. ln,ler these exact
conditions. looked anNiolsly into her
husbands face. She was holding up for
his inSp p,ction a large waX doll one of
tllr treasures for Madgc the hlutNcyct
darling of four years. who was count
ing the days until Santa Claus should
come. Every stitch of Miss Dollie's
elaborate costume was tho work Of
Mrs. Austin's busy fingers in hours
when Madge was dreaming of full
stockings and Christmas trees. and the
last stitch set. the result was displayed
for paplS approval.
Now papa was quite as devoted Il par
ent to Matlgr and two-yt.,r-nld Harold
as mamma, and took deep interest in
all nursery matters. 1t may be that
the memory of two other curly heads
and baby faces that had frightened the
nursery for II few brief months and
then been hid by coftin-lids dcepcncd
the love for the children who came
later to comfort the aching hearts.
But it Is very certain that the little
AuStlnS We're us much loved and pcttctl
rs children could be. and did not dream
more hopefully of Christmas treasures
than their parents did lovingly of sup
plying them.
So it was with some alarm, too, that
Mis-. Austin put aside her last triumph
OF necdleworll and threw her arm
around her husbands neck.
What is ii, Charlie:" she asked.
Hc drew her into Il loving embrace
before he said. sadly:
Il met my father again to-day. Mar
garet, 1t will kill me to have things go
OH so. lie was downright shabby,
feeble and broken; looking SO old and
so sick that could not keep the tears
out of my eyes. But he would not
speak to me. l said all could say in
the street, and tried to follow him
home: but he stopped short and said:
Il DO not know you. sir! You will cease
to annoy mo" And could not make a
scene in the street"
| There was clloling sounl in Charles
| AuStins voice aS he ceased speaking,
but, being man, he kept back the sob
that would have followed. Mrs. Aus
tins tears We're falling fast.
AT Christmas time, too,' she said.
ut is useless to send pres Charlie;
he has sent them back every Scar."
The story this conversation referred
to was an old one, Il true love marriage
made in the face OF disnEcri'ance and
patcrnal dsplcasurc. Mrs. Austin had
been Il poor girl, employed in the fac.
tory of Simon Austin. then Il man OF
great wealth and good social position;
n man purSe-proll. arrogant AMI full
of his own impnrtanc When his only
child, his itlolZrl. indulgHd son and
heir, told linn OF bis love fol pretty
Margaret Hay, Il factory girl, living Ill
the factory boarding house, wearing
calico dresses, aud r;Irn,ng mere nv
ing, the old man was Il manlac III his
fury.
lie would not see that the girl was
pleasing in manner, refined i'll taste,
well educated and Swcet-tempercd, one
to brighten any home and make any
good man thoroughly happy. He gave
a fierce command that tho matter
should end then and there Charles
Austin, utterly nllaccustomrh to being
crossed in any fancy, refused obrtirnc"
never before rxnctcd, and the convcrsa'
ton ended in IL stormy quarrel and the
young mans expulsion from home.
But with Il good fortune that does not
often follow disobcdicnt sons, Charles
was at once taken into the employ and
favor of his mothers brother, an ec.
centric old bachelor. who gave the
young couple a home in his own luSu
rious house. 1t was a new life to the
old gentleman, and he took the krcncSl
interest in all the household affairs as
Margaret managed them. loved and
mourncd the older children, and dying
when Madge was hut a year old, left
his entire large estate to his "beloved
nephew, Charles Austin"
And while the sunshine Of prosperity
had no clouds for this wayward son
the fathers fortunes had all gone awry
Some commercial panic was the first
blow to Simon Austin. and an effort tt
repair the loss by speculation only
added to disaster. He missed the cool
clear head of the son who had OF late
years been his active partner, the juds
ment he had first trained and then
trusted to guide his large business. He
was angry. and his angry impulses led
him into dire blundcrs, until he grew
so involved that there was no escape
and he failed for more than his entire
fortune.
AT once Charles FASTENED to him
Offering his entire wealth TO save him
only To be met by proud. fierce re
fusal to be under any obligation to /:
disobclient child or his bc.gar-wife.
Over and nvnr ,,,.,,.,,,, L.,
came more and more bitter to the ma,
broken and aged. did his son implor,
him to allow him TO help him. offer hin
home love, care. obedience oven. only
to be thrown back with angry srnrn.
A proud man always, Simon Austin
cherished his wrath as The last rom
nant of iii" old arrogance and would
not bend one inch. He found letters
telling him anonymous sums OF none,
We're In the bank in his name. an,
wrote back refusing to cllim them. III.
mlstr,:sl"d every offer Of service, ~
dictated by his son. and returned tt
Charles every scrap Of aid sen. to him
often perrl"xilg his s"n by Scndin,
what had moi com" from him, tllougl
he always refused to believe rhis.
And baing old and broken in hc:,ltl,
he sank lower and lower. unable to fiji
lucrative positions. and taking the worl
that gave him barely food and tn.
poorest clothing.
Very sadly the son and wife talke.
Of the iinp"ssibility "f helping one wh'
would not let any appeal touch him
until suddenly Margaret cried:
Charles. / have an idea. Let I'M
try to win y"nr father oyer. / Will snnt
him a Christmas card
My dear, he would not open The cI,
velope.'
But it will not 20 in an envelope
Don't ask any questions. Let me try
and see If Your father does moi din,
with us Tomorrow
Dine with us. Margaret. you mus
be crazy
Not bit Of it. Jnst let III" have m,
own way dear
"Do ynr ever fail to gat that" wa.
the laughing query. for something IL
his wife's face gave fresh hope t
| Charles AUstjn'S heart