Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-25
ROMANCE OF CHRISTMAS.

r.
when Christmas comes their minds re-
vert to the loved ones Of their child
hOOd-tender memories of a mother, a
sister. perhaps sweetheart, are re-
vived. and a longing seizes them to be
back again amid the old familiar
scenes.
With each recurrence OF the glad
season which heralds peace on earth TO
men of good will. this longing crept
into Richard jennings heart sitting
all interest i'm the fluctuations of wool
on Change, and making positively dis
tasteful 10 him all talk about the pros
poets of next years cotton crop or the
rumored Wall street combine TO effect
a corner" in wheat
Whenever Christmas approached he
began to realize his loneliness, and he
regarded with envy the people hurry
ing along the street carrying bundles
of TOYS and candies and cOstlier pres
ents 20 their homes.
Home, That sacred place is not to
be violated at such season by the
presents of a stranger. and Richard
Jennings's Christmases were spent
alone. He was always glad when they
were over. and he could again become
absorbed I'm business cares.
For the past ten years he had been a
member of the ST. Louis Merchan n
Exchange. and was rated at 100000.
He had no taste for society, and al
though he belonged to several OF the
best clubs in that charming old town,
he could not be called a Clubman. His
tastes. his cravings. were domestic. but
they remained unsatiSfied. Little was
known of his previous history. He was
not communicative. and his business
acouaintances were not inQuisitive.
One evening, just four days before
Christmas. Mr.. Jennings returned TO
his handsomely furnished residence
and astoniShed his hOusekeeper by tell
ing her he was going home for Christ
mas" She had been in his service for
more than five years and believed that
all his relatives were dead. as she had
never heard him speak of them.
Here's something for YOU for
Christmas" he said. handing her a $40
bill. "aud 7 hope youth enjoy yourself
Pm going East"
Sarah. i'm her rich, honest brogue,
thanked him.
There was new light in his face.
Sarah. who was shrewd. noticed it.
For seventeen years this man had been
away from home, and during his alb
sence his parents had died, while he
was riding wild ponies in Texas or dig
ging gold i'm Colorado, or gambling it
away i'm Kansas City faster than he
had gathered IT,
As the train sped eastward over the
level lands of Illinois and Indiana,
through the rich farm lands of ONO,
and then amid the wooded hills and
streams of his own native Pennsylva-
nia-fairer than them all-his mind
travelled backward from the present
Richard Jennings. successful broker
and respectable member of the St
louis Merchants Exchange, to the dis
siDated davs of his fresh young man
hood. when his wild life had separated
him forever from one he could never
forget
AS the train approached Philadel-
mia and he looked out of the window
m the numerous dOmes and spires
and cupolas. ne reflected how time,
which has wrought such difference in
the appearance of the city. must have
changed the sweet girl of Is, I'm
whom his own misdeeds had sundered
him.
childhood. But old Ezra Kent, her
father. was a stern man, and when sto-
ries got abroad about the dissipated
ser of which Richard soon became the
O.
home from his counting house and
found Dick everybody call
ed him then-intOXicated, he said II
was the last time Eleanor should re
ceive him. She was a dutiful girl. II
wounded her life. but she o0eyed. Inc
Ken+s came of stern stuff. and beneath
Fleanor's gentle wOmanliness lay he
role strength.
After that Richard Jennings mtoN.-
Gated habits became public scandal
md when his sister married Will Nc
Crav promising young lawyer (Elean-
o~ was maid OF honor, he disappeared
from home.
Now he was returning q very different
man and regre-ful that he had stayed
away so long. II was such a short jour
new from the Mississippi 10 the Schuyl-
KIN ha wondered that he had not before
summoned enough courage to return.
Seventeen years.
For the twentieth time he drew forth
letter and read it with the same alb
sorbed interest as if for the first time.
Dear Dick-Will met Mr.. Coles last
week. He had just come from s.. Louis
and said ne met YOU there. You naugh-
" boyl Why have you never written or
come home TO see us? We want YOU TO
spend Christmas with US All the chill
dren are crazy 10 $50 You. There are
FIVE now. The baby. a beautiful girl. is
10 months old and has TWO teeth. The
children often talk about Uncle Dick
Eleanor has told them 50 many Tom
Brown az Rugby sort CT stories. about
YOU when you were at the university
Mr.. Kent failed four years ago and died
les. March. Eleanor and her mother
still live in the old house They are
very poor. Eleanor teaches music and
sings al St Brides Mrs. Ken, looks
very old. but she sews beautifully and
makes the pretties, things for the baby.
Do come and spend Christmas with us.
The children are dying 70 see YOU and so
am l and VIII. Ever your loving sister.
MARY McCRAY.
"P. S.-The children's names are