The free press., 1894-12-27

little things he had picked up.
"Now," she said, when he had put
down the last one and stretched him
self as if his back were tired, ''sit
down and visit. :"
And Mr.. Billups sat down.
She hustled around aminute or two,
putting the packages in order. laugh
ing the while, and Mr.. Billups never
lost sight of her an instant.
sit isn't half SO large parlor as
mine," he thought; ''it isn't one-tenth
as nicely furnished, it isn't at all well
located, and yet, it is million times
cheerier and brighter and more like q
place for man to live in"
When Mrs. Smith sat down at last,
he looked at her inquiringly.
"Well," she inquired laughingly,
"what is it ?"
GLOW would you like to trade your
flat for mine," he asked, furniture
and ALP"
| She was dazed by this and did not
understand.
,sYours seems so much brighter than
mime" he said to relieve her embar
rassment, 'and I get blue up there. p"
yThis time she laughed easily, and he
began to feel awkward.
1 81 presume, she said, "that you
have began to receive the compliments
of Santa Claus, and are laden with
pretty things from your friends?"
| "No," he responded quite sadly.
81 get no Christmas presents My
mother remembers me, and beyond
that there is forgetfulness.
"Oh," she laughed, 'you mustn't
be so sad about it. I'll give you some
thing to put in your stocking"
She rose to get a package from the
mantel.
"Mrs. Smith," he said quietly,
"there is one Christmas present you
might give me to make me happy"
"And what is that?" she laughed
good-naturedly.
'Little Mary" he said, and waited,
abashed at himself.
'I don't understand" she faltered,
for there was seriousness in his tone,
which she knew was not jest.
Give her to me. I will take her and
educate her, give her every advantage
money can procure, and when I die,
she shall have all possess.
For an instant Mrs. Smith felt as if
every drop of blood in her veins had
rushed to her head, and she reeled and
almost fell into her chair.
Mr.. Billups saw the effect of his
words and was disposed to run away,
but he had mission to perform and
he stood his ground.
"Well," he said, when he had
waited miunte or more for an
answer which did not come, "'does
silence give consent?"
Mrs. Smith recovered slowly.
"Mr. Billups," she replied. "you
have asked more than I can give.
appreciate your kindness and I know
how much more you can give her that
money will bring than l can ever hope
to do, but for that she must lose n
mothers love and care, and that is
more than all the money. 1t is i'm
possible, and you must not ask it.
Mrs. Smith began to sob and Mr..
Billups felt extremely awkard.
''But think, my dear madam" he
urged; "think if it isn't possible to
make some arrangement by which I
can do these things for her?"
"Don't ask me-" she exclaimed al
most Historically. "Don't ask me.
There isn't any and there can't be,
and wouldn't let there be if there
be if there was"
She was carrying on like a woman
now, but Mr.. Billups didn't know any
thing about a woman's ways.
"But 1 think there is, or might be,
he insisted.
Mrs. Smiths temper changed and
she rose to her feet, and looked down
on Mr.. Billups.
Mr.. Billups all ut once remembered
how his mother used to look when she
had brought him up for some youth
full misdemeanor, and he shrank down
into his chair.
Don't" he pleaded, holding up
his hands to her, "don't."
1t was like boy, and Mrs Smiths
mother nature got the better of her.
She sat down.