The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-21


the street lamp, was singing with all her
small might. And such voice! 1t made
him think Of tho "herald angels" about
| whom she sang or, better still, of Rather
| inc.
He waited until tho carol was ended,
and then raising the sash called out in q
| persuasive tono Little ones, will you
| come here" and as the children hesitated
| he added Don't be afraid. only want
| to speak to you q moment" And a little
later Tony and his sister were standing
before the old man in the great wide hall.
II want to tell you how much have
enjoyed the anthem that you have been.
| singing outs there in the cold and to ask
| you if you won't como tomorrow and sing
| It for me again. 1 used to havo little girl
| like you," touching Katbie's hair softly
| as he spoke, ''who sang EVERY Christmas
| day.
Did she!' Kathie asked, looking up at
| the grim old man with genuine interest
| in her big blue eyes. "Why, that's just
| what my mamma used TO do when she was
u little girl, isn't it, Tony"
Tony, who, unlike his sister, disliked to
speak of what he termed family g fairs
before strangers, simply nodded and was
about to say that they would be very glad
of five minutes, leaning eagerly forward,
exclaimed in a hoarso voice: "Your moth
or, children? Who is she? Who are you?"'
Half frightened by the change that had
come over tho old mans face, Tony an
swcrcd wondoringly, 1--WE are mammals
children, Katho and Tony, and mamma
is Mrs. Anthony Giryin. The sudden
ness of the discovery was too great to be
borne calmly, and tho old man trcmbled
like palsied person as he rang tho bell
for a servant. Toll John, he said when
tho domestic appeared, Ito have the car
riage ready Immediately" Then, turning
to the puzzled children, he said in voice
that he tried in vain to steady: Little
ones, your mother was the littlo girl who
used to sing for me years ago Will you
take me to her. for / want to go tonight"
1t was years before that his daughter
Katherine had come up behind him one
evening, and putting her arms about his
neck told him with an unwontcd shyness
that she had that day promised to be An
thony Girvin's wife, and he, cnragcd that
his idol should be willing to marry poor
musician, who, though good and talented,
was guilty of being in moderate circum-
stanccs-hc, the fond, affectionatc father
had broken from the soft embrace and
commanded hcr-ycs he had used that
very word-to break her promise or to
leave his house forever. And how proud
ly she had lowered above him in her tall
beauty as she utterly refused to comply
with his commands, bccause-and the
words were CALLING to the fathcr-bccauso
sho loved Anthony Girvin moro than the
whole world. 'Then show your devotion
to this paupcr and go!' he had shouted
little dreaming that he would be so
promptly obcycd, for with slight bend
ing Of the beautiful head, she had gone
from tho room, and when with half
formed fear he went to find her note on
her dressing table told him that "ber de
yotion to this paupcr' was proved, for she
had left her fathers house forever" Tho
torturing remorso that followed almost
drove him insane, and when he was con-
WINGED that all search for his daughters
whereabouts was vain he had settled down
to an almost entirely secluded life, which
was in its very nature living death.
Tony always persists that they owe their
present happy life to Kathio's fondncss for
discussing family matters, but Kathic her
self and Kathio's idolizing grandfather lay
it all to the old Christmas carol.
eNSHEf