Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1895-12-20
A ROMANCE OF XMAS.

matter how far away from home they
may go or how long they may stay away
when Christmas comes their minds re
vert to the loved ones of their childhood
tender memories of mother, a sis
ter, perhaps a sweetheart, are revived
and longing seizes them TO be back
again amid the old familiar scenes.
With each recurrence Of the glad sea.
son which heralds peace on earth to men
of good will, this longing crept in to
| Richard Jennings heart, sitting all in.
terest in the fluctuations Of wool on
Change, and making positively dis.
tasteful to 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 hurrying
along the street carrying bundles Of toys
and candles and costlier presents to
their homes.
Home That sacred place is not TO be
violated at such a season by the presents
| Of a stranger, and Richard Jennings
| Christmases were spent alone. He was
always glad when they were over, and
he could again become absorbed in bust
| ness cares.
For the past ten years he had been a
member of the st. Louis Merchants
Exchange, and was rated at 100000.
He had no taste for society, and although
he belonged TO several of the best clubs
in that charming old town, he could not
be called clubman. His tastes, his
cravings, were domestic, but they re-
manned unsatisfied. Little was known
Of his previous history. He was not COM
municative, and his business acquaint-
ances were not inquisitive.
One evening, just four days before
Christmas, Mr.. Jennings returned to his
handsomely furnished residence and as
tOnisbed his housekeeper by telling her
was "going home for Christmas " She
had been in his service for more than
five years and believed that all his rela.
tives were dead, as she had never heard
him speak of them.
Here's something for Won for Christ
mas" he said, handing her $40 bill
land hope you'll enjoy yourself. I'm
going east. "
Sarah, in her rich, honest brogue
thanked him.
There was a new light in his face.
Sarah, who was shrewd, noticed it. For
II years this man had been away from
home, and during his absence his par
ents had died, while he was riding
wild ponies in Texas or digging gold in
Colorado or gambling it away in 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 Ohio,
and then amid the wooded hills and !
streams of his own native Pennsylvania |
-fairer than them all-his mind trav- !
eled backward from the present Richard |
Jennings, successful broker and respect.
able member of the ST. Louis Mer- |
chants Exchange, to the dissipated |
days Of his fresh young manhood, when I!
his wild life had separated him forever
from one he could never forget.
As the train approached Philadelphia |
and he looked out of the window at the |
numerous domes and spires and cupOlas, |
he reflected how time, which had |
wrought such a difference III the appear.
lnce of the city, must have changed the |
sweet girl of Is, from whom his own
misdeeds had sundered him.
They had been sweethearts from child |
hood. But old Ezra Kent, her father, /
was a stern man, and when stories got |
abroad about the dissipated set of which |
Richard soon became the leader, and |
when one day ne came home from his |
house and found Richard
Dick" every body called him then-in-
Eleanor should receive him. 'She was %
lutiful girl. 1t wounded her life, but |
she obeyed. The Kents came of stern I
stuff, and beneath Eleanor's gentle
lay heroic strength.
After that Richard Jennings intoxi-
Gated habits became public scandal,
and when his sister married Will Nc
Cray, a promising young lawyer (Elea-
nor was maid of honor, he disappeared
from home.
Now he was returning, very differ
ent man and regretful that no had staid
away so long. 1t was such a short jour
ney from the Mississippi to the Schuyl-
kill he wondered that he had not before
enough courage to return.
Seventeen years.
For the twentieth time he drew forth
a 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 st. Louis and said he
met you there. You naughty boyl Why have
you never written or come home 70 see usY We
want you TO spend Christmas with US. All the
children are crazy to see you. There are five
now. The baby, beautiful girl, is 10 months
Did and has two teeth The children often talk
about Uncle Dick. Eleanor has told them so
many Tom Brown at Rugby sort of stories
about you when you were at the university.
Mr.. Kent failed four years ago and died last
March. Eleanor and her mother still live in
the old house. They are very poor. Eleanor
teaches music and sings at st, Brides. Mrs.
Kent looks very old, but she sews beautifully
and makes the prettiest things for the baby.
Do come and spend Christmas with us. The
children are dying TO see you and so am / and
Will. Ever your loving sister,