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

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The newspaper fell to the floor IN
needed, and the crusty old gentleman
and the little girl looked at one an
other. After awhile the old gentleman
went tc the balcony and looked down
to the roofs of the crowded houses in
the narrow streets below and then away
to the far horizon. This beautiful
home Of his crowned the summit of the
purple hill and was uplifted so far
above the noise and dust and Wretched-
ness Of the city that lay below. Truly,
it was a pleasant thing to live on hill.
He had never thought of it before, but
all at once he fancied himself down
among those miserable tenements,
looking up at this beautiful home and
thinking hownear to heaven it reached.
There was a hurried tap at the door,
and Mrs. Murray presented herself.
Her comfortable figure was attired still
in the neat dress she had worn on the
street. Her round face was wreathed
with smiles, but she was obviously
quaking with fear.
sid you leave word that you wanted
to see me, sir?" she asked, and then
waited for the blow to fall.
"Mrs. Murray" said the old gentle
man, in his stifest and most formal
manner, IAN I to understand that you
have employed a woman to come here
once a week and dust the bric-a-brac?"
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Holmes her name is,
and she's very careful, sir. couldn't
do better myself.
She glanced up anxiously at the
wooden cOuntenance before her. What
terrible thing was he going to say next?
'Mrs. Murray, the woman has sent
this child to say that she is too ill to
come. That will do. You will excuse
her until she RECEIVERS"
Mrs, Murray went back to her own
room and fell into a chair. If it had
been consistent with the dignity of Mr..
Roberts housekeeper to stagger, she
certainly would have staggered. She
kept repeating to herself: ibid you
ever" and 81 can't believe it." She
said afterward that you could have
knocked her down with straw, though
that was fgurative, of course.
This was the beginning of Marjorie's
visits to the great house on the hill.
Her mother did not come again, but
every day the big sunbonnet went toll
ing up, and then the CLINT of the golden
hair would be seen in the great rooms
where no child had ever strayed before
Not that she was boisterous, or laugh
ing, or childlike in any way. She would
sit in Mrs. MurFay's room for hours,
with her hands folded on her lap,
watching the lady at her work, and
sometimes talking softly, OF she would
follow her from room to room, gazing
with rapt delight at every beautiful OBJ
ject.
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 expect
ed to do few weeks before.
He was in the study one morning
when he heard Mrs. 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 re-
ply. "Why, of course, I dol Everybody
likes Christmas"
II DON'T" said the small vOice-such
a desOlate little voice it seemed. II had
rather leave Christmas out Of the year"
''Marjoriem No words could express
the horror and amazement in Mrs.
Murray's voice.
Il would" The small voice had
grown thinner and higher in its pain
full intensity. "What's the use of
Christmas that never comes to some
people at all? There was little lame
Peter Franks, who lived in the room
opposite to ours, and, oh, he wanted a
Christmas so much, Mrs. Murray He
used to hang his stocking up every
year, every single year, and he always
thought they'd be something in it next
morning, but there never was anything
not a single thiDg-and now poor
Peters dead, and be never had a
Christmas in all his life!"
my dearl Ny dearlD
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 the study and then ordered MS