The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
A ROMANCE OF XMAS.

when Christmas comes their minds re-
vert to the loved ones Of their childhood
tender memories Of a mother, a sis
ter, perhaps sweetheart, are revived,
and longing soizes 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
rumorcd Wall street combine to effect
corner" in wheat.
Whenever Christmas approached, he
began to realize his loneliness, and no
regarded with envy the people burrying
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 season by the presents
of stranger, and Richard Jennings
Christmascs 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
member Of tho st. Louis Merchants
Exchange, and was rated at $1,000
He had no tasto for society, and although
he belonged to several of the best clubs
in th.r charming old town, he could not
be called clubman. His tastes his
cravings. were domestic, but they re-
manned unsatisflcd. Little was known
Of his previous history. He was not com
municatiye, 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
tonished his housekeeper by telling her
was going home for Christmas. She
had been in his service for moro than
. five years and believed that all his rela.
tives werc dead, as she had never heard
him speak OF. them.
Here's something for you for Christ
mas, )" he said. handing her SO bill,
land l hope you II 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 il. For
IL 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 il away in Kansas
City faster than he had gathered it.
As the train sped eastward over the
level lands Of Illinois and Indiana,
through tho 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
his wild life had separated him forever
from one he could never forget.
As the train approached Philadelphia
and he looked ont of the window at the
numerous domes and spires and cupolas,
he reflected how time, which had
wrought such difference IN tho appear.
ance of tho city, must have changed the
sweet girl Of lS, from whom his own
misdeeds had sunderod him.
They had been sweethcarts from child
hood. But old Ezra Kent, her father,
was stern man, and when stories got
abroad about the dissipated set of which
Richard soon became the leader, and
when one day he came home from his
counting house and found Richard
dick" evory body called him then-in-
toxicated he said it was the last time
Eleanor should receive him. She was
dutiful girl. 1t wounded her life, but
she obeyed. The Kents came of stern
stuff, and beneath Eleanors gentle
womanliness lay heroic strength.
After that Richard jennings intoxi-
Gated habits became public scandal,
and when his sister married Will Nc
Cray, promising young lawyer (Elea-
nor was maid of honor), he disappeared
from home
Now he was returning, a very differ
ent man and regretful that he had staid
array so long. IL was such short jour
ney from the Mississippi TO the Schuyl-
kill he wondered that he had not before
summoned enough courage to return.
Seventeen years.
For the twentieth timc he drew forth
letter and read it with the same alb
sorbed interest as if for the first time:
DEAR DIcH-will mot Mr.. Coles last week.
He had Just come from ~. Louis and said he
met you there. You naughty boy Why have
you never written or come home To see usY We
want you TO spend Christmas with us All the
children are crazy 10 see You. There are five
now. Tho baby. beautiful girl, IL 10 months
old and has two teeth. Tho children often talk
about Uncle Dick. Eleanor has told them 80
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 I'm
the old house. They are very poor. Eleanor
teaches music and sings nj St Brides Mrs.
Ken, looks very old, but she sows beautifully
and makes the prctticst things for the basy.
Do come and spend Christmas with us. The
children are dying To see YOU and 80 am and
VIII. Ever your loving sister.