The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-12-20

UuWOUuO
down upon the rug with her thin cheek
on her thin little hand, and the listener
heard a tired sigh.
After a long while the old gentlemen
behind the screen ventured to move
slightly. After little longer he moved
again and so gradually came out Of his
hiding place.
Was that old Mr.. Roberts tiptOeing
across the room to keep from startling
the poor little waif sleeping on his
hearth rug? Was that the sordid old
man whom even his friends had come
to call a mere money machine, that
man whose hands tTembled as he IN
pinned the little note and spread it out
before him?
DEAR SANTA CLAUsE-When you come to-
night pleas look at me. III be down on the rug
You've never seen me before. You incident give
me anything, but please FIJI the stocking with
things for mother shes sick. tied up the toes
so they would't drop out. The doctor says wine
and things and houserent.
MARJORIE HOLMES.
For a long time the old man sat in
the chair before the fire. Something
within him was breaking the cold and
selfish crust that years had helped TO
form. He sat there looking from the
sleeping child to the forlorn little
stocking and from the stocking to the
child. 1t was the first time a stocking
had ever been hung up in his house
the first time.
Suddenly the old gentleman rose.
He lifted the child gently and laid her
on a couch which had always been
sacred to his own use and covered her
with rugs. Then he went softly out
and astonished the unsuspecting ser
wants by appearing among them and
ordering the carriage.
Could this be old Theodore Roberts,
the money machine, the selfish, brusque,
irritable old man, this man who went
from store to store, ordering and buy
ing and spending money as he had
never spent it before? Could this be
the Mr.. Roberts that Mrs. Murray
knew, this man who went into that
sickFoom, followed by a great hamper
filled with swine and things and house |
rentY" Was this the man that all the |
charitable organizations Stunned, this
man who drove about half the night, |
leaving behind him trail of Christmas
rejoicing, mingled with such blessings
as he had never heard before?
OAnd who was it that drove up the
hill at last under the silent stars, with |
a carriage full of bundles and with a
strange, soft-feeling Juggling at bis
heartstrings? He smiled as he went, |
and yet be had to keep wiping his eyes. |
BE was glad it was dark, SO that no one
could see.
And what strange figure was this in /
the study afterWard, this figure that
moved so steaIthily and that was SO
busy stuffing the stocking until it was
ready to burst, and pinning things all
over the outside of it until the bronze
Mercury seemed almost to staggsF
under his burdeng What had come
over the old gentleman whom so many
people envied and whom nobody loved?
Just before day Mrs. Murrsy, coming
softly in, found him sitting by the FIRE,
watching the sleeping child. /
@It'n be a sad time for her" she said.
"HeF mothers gone, and WhsteyeF's to
become Of the little thing / don't
know"
Il don't see Why the child shouldn't
stay here, Mrs. Murray said the old
gentleman, with bis face turned the
other way. at would be some extra
trouble for you, but I dare say you
would not mind it,
aS-sir!" Mrs. Murray managed to az
ticulate.
Then the old gentleman turned
aTound. and she sew what vas shining
on his cheeks.
$40 you see that stocking Mrs MUIR
rsyF" he cried, IN a voice that she had
never heard before. that's the first
stocking that was ever hung up in nay
honse. Il looks homelike. doesn't IT.