Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-15

from room TO room, gazing WLlu ldpI uO-
light at every beautiful object.
Mr.. Roberts knew that she was in the
house but he said nothing. He was
conscious sometimes that the child
stopped near him and stood with her
hands behind her. regarding him with
grave scrutiny, but he did not drive her
away as he might have been expected 10
do few weeks before.
He was in his study one morning
when he heard Mre. Murray come into
the adjoining room. The door was aJar'
and softly as she spoke, her words came
to him distinctly.
That was a present from my son
last Christmas" she said. Dear boy!
He never fails to send me something
every Christmas and every birthday.
Then came a small voice, full OF visit
full meaning.
Mrs. Murray" it said, do you like
Christmas"
why, Marjorie" was the shocked
reply. why, of course l 10! Every
body likes Christmas
Il don't said the small voice-such a
desolate little voice it seemed. i mad
rather leave Christmas out of the year
"Marjoriew No words could express
the horror and amazement in MIS-
Murray's tone.
Il wouldw The small voice had
grown thinner and higher in its pain
full intensity. Whats the use OF a
Christmas that never gets to some peo0
pie at all? There was little lame Peter
Franks. who lived in the room opposite
to ours. and. oh, he wanted a Christ
mas so much, Mrs. Murray! he used
to hang his stockings up every year.
every single year, and he always
thought there'd be something in 1t next
morning, but there never was anything
not a single thing and now poor Pc
ter's dead, and he never had a Christ
mas in all his life
My dear! My dear"
The old gentleman in the study heard
the exclamation, and he knew that the
voice that uttered it was full of tears.
He rose hastily and slipped out of the
study and then ordered his carriage and
went driving.
The day following was Christmas eve.
Carriers from town were busy all day
bringing in the presents that he had
bought for the servants, and there was
great happiness in the servants hall,
with much confusion and many awk-
ward attempts to thank the master,
who waved off every such attempt with
an air of lofty patronage Outside OF
this family of servants he had never
given any one a present in all his life.
He had never contributed to charities,
public or private. He had never help
ed the poor-indeed, he had never lis
tened to their appeals.
He had important business in another
city which would keep him away ali
through Christmas week. he explained
to Mrs. Murray. and he must leave that
evening In the Afternoon he muffied
himself in great-coat and furs and drove
away, and as soon as the carriage was
half way down the hill the servants re-
Taxed from their usual stiff propriety
and began to enjoy themselves in their
own way.
A telegram was handed to Mr. Rob-
erts at the station as he was about to
buy his ticket What little things
sometimes change the whole course of
a life. The information thus received
made the trip unnecessary, and after
lettering about the city for a while he
returned home on foot and entered his
house quietly by a side door.
Sounds of boisterous merriment came
from the servants quarters. and the
owner Of the house frOwned ominously.
So this was the way they took adyant-
age OF his absence?
He made his way TO his study, I'M
seen by any one, and shut himself ina
lonely, selfish, desolate old man. Even
annoyed him, and he withdrew behind a
screen and threw himself into an easy
chair. He heard Mrs. Murray come in
after a while, but she only moved about
softly and decorously, setting things in
order and he did not speak. She was
just passing into the sitting room when
she gave little cry of alarm, followed
by the exclamation:
Mercy me, child How you fright
ened me-
Mrs. Murray" said a thin little voice
"a voice that Mr. Roberts had heard
before-'I'ye come up here to stay all
night
The listener behind the screen heard
Mrs Murray fall into chair and again
she cried: Mercy met
Il just had to Gomez the eager voice
went on Mothers very, very sick
and she needs things, Mrs Murray
and maybe Santa Claus might bring
'em if he knew-and how is he to know
when he never comes there? But
knew if I went to some fine house he'd
come and find me, and so ] came here.
Poor child! Poor childr
Mrs. Murray had gathered the little
waif to her bosom and was rocking her
softly to and fro. The old gentleman
behind the screen could see that by
the shadow on the floor He could see,
too, that the housekeeper was furtively
wiping her eyes.
Presently she rallied and said cheer
lily:
I'll tell you what We'll do, Marjorie.
I'll go right down and see your mother,
and you shall 90 with me, and, who
knows, maybe Santa Claus will come
there after all"
ooh. no. he won't" replied the child
with sorrowful conviction. You don't
know that place. Santa Claus has
never heard of it, He goes to rich peO>
pies houses, and so I've come here, and
l must see him tO-night-Oh ! must,
Mrs. Murray! I don't care for any 9TH
er Christmas after this, but I must see
him tonight, on mothers account, you
know"
There was a dismayed silence on
Mrs. Murray's part, but presently she
said:
Well. come along into MI Roberts
study-thank goodness he's away from
home-and sit there before the fire un-
I'll [ cnrnn hack I'll tal-n Inhn and 90