The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-12-21

COMPREHENSIVE IMPULSE, Sht stopper ANA
asked, coldly enough. to he sure, if Elsie
intended to return to school when the hol-
idayS were over.
Elsie raised her eyes to Miss Gwynnc's
face. and the elder woman saw thai they
were bright with unshel tears.
My mother is ILL.,, said the girl, with Il
pitiful break in her voice. And the doc
tor thinks she can never get well. On,
Miss Gwynne-and there are only we two
alone together in the world
I've two, echoed Miss Gwynne
''Only we two
MY father died when | was baby
and now-mamma-" her lips quivered,
and she turned her face away.
Il am sorry, child" Miss Gwynne said
slowly Her voice sounded very cold and
hard.
That was all No other word, no pres
sure of the hand, nor look of sympathy.
and yet as the grim woman hurried on, the
Christmas angel was whispering to her of
pity and forgiveness, of love and tender
ness, and was struggling to break the icy
fetters with which her heart was bound.
One dead, and the other dving-but
what was that to her:
She had loved them both SO dearly, once
and they had spoiled her life
But the child had never wrongcd her
She could pity her, at least.
The streets were alive with people hur-
rying on to the Christmas brightness of
their homes. Miss Gwynne had no need to
hurry-no Christmas joy, no loving hearts
awaited her home coming. With Il sud-
den feeling of desolation she turned aside
and paused, to wipe away the unusual mist
that came before her eyes. The little
Christmas angel was whispering to her of
happy Christmas days, now long ago
She had paused before a florists window,
hung with garlands and bright with holly
berries and mistletoe-but she only saw a
jar of red, red roses-such roses as she
and the friend who had proved so false
had loved to wear in their happy girlhood;
and near them, a tiny bunch of blue for
get -me-nots. How much that was sweet
and holy she had rgotten-uAtil now
treasuring only the bittcrest memories in
their stead
One dead, and the other dying-and Ell
sic, whose quivering lips had said, Only
we twO-alone together in the wordr'
\ feeling of infinite pity for the girl
came over her. A hot tear fell upon her
hand-and the little Christmas angel sang
Il song of JOY and praise.
Miss Gwynee walked slowly on. Sudden
lv she tnrned. and fastening into the flor
lists she bought the red roses and forget
me-nots, and left them, without Il word, at
the sick woman's door.
Then she went on to her lonely lodging
and sat there waiting, waiting almost
breathlessly-she hardly knew for what.
After while there came light tap at
the door. Come in" Miss Gwynne said,
mechanically, while her heart was throb-
bing with unnatural violence As she
looked. Elsie Dean timidly entered the
room.
Miss Gwynne arose. Her hard face
worked nervouSly in spite of her efforts
for self control
'.Oh, Miss Gwynne, were the roses and
forget -me-nots from YOU: | had told
mamma that | met you, and when they
came she cried over them and said they
brought her the sweetest message of for
giveness, and that you were once her
friend do not underStand-bu she sent
me to beg you to come to her, at once.
The little Christmas angel kept close to
Miss Gwynnes heart as she entered the
sick room and bent above the wasted form
of her early friend. And thus, after the
bitterness and separation of many years,
the two were brought together, face to
face, at last.
My child, my poor ElSie,-I am leav-
ing gher-alone-alone in the world. Oh
Kate, the flowers,-can you forgive" the
sick woman murmured brokenly.
Miss Gwynne sank down upon her knees.
Her ewes. which little time before had
been so hard and cold, were bright with
tears, and her voice was very tender as
she said: AS freely as hope to be for
given Elizabeth, entrust your child to me,
and will love her as though she were my
own
Then the little Christmas angel knew
that her work was done, and went wing
ing Heavenward with the happy song upon
her lips: Peace on earth, goodwill to-
wards men.