The Somerset reporter., 1895-12-12

heen III llf great fbDIii= WHcfe UBfIIlQ luH
ever strayed before. Not that -he#a- bois#
ferrous or laughing. or clild5ae in anr
way. She would ait ia Mr. Murray room
for hours, with her hand, folded on ler
lap, watching the lady at hef "9rk and
sometimes tathin2 softly, or -ac would
follow her from room to realu, gaIIaV
with rapt delight n every beautiful object
Mr.. Robert. knew that -he VIZ IN the
house, but he ~aid nothing H. wa con
scious sometimes that the child stopprd
near him and stood with her hands behind
her, regurding him with grave SCRUTINY.
but he did not drive her away, rs be might
have been expected to do "a few weeks be
fore
He was in his study one morning when
he heard Mrs. Murray come into the nd
joining room. The door was ajar and.
softly as She spoke her words can't 10 bin
distinctly
"That was IA present from my son last
Christmas she said. Dear boy lie
never fails 10 send me something every
Christmas and every birthday.
Then came small voice, full Of wistfuI
meaning:
Mrs. Murray, 1t said, do you Like
ChristmasY'
why, Marjoriel" was the shocked re-
ply "Why, Of course, | do Eyerybody
likes Christmasn'
4 don't, said the small vaice-such a
desolate little voice 1t seemed Il had
rather leave Christmas out of the year
Marjorie No words could express
the horror and amazenent ia Mrs Muir.
rays tone.
Il wouldW The small voice had grown
thinner and higher in It's painful intensity
W hat : the use of IA Christmas that never
gets to some people at all? There was lit
tie lame Peter Franks, who lived in the
room opposite to ours and, oh, he wanted
Christmas so much Mrs Murray He
used to hang his stocking up every year
every single year, and he always thought
there d be something in it next morning,
but there never was anything-not sin
gle thing-and now poor Peters dead,
and he never had Christmas 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 fun OF tears. lie
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 awkward at
tempts to thank the master. who waved
off every such attempt with an air of lofty
patronage Outside of this family Of scry-
ants he had never given any one present
in all lis life. He had never contributed
to charities, public or private He had
never helped the puor-indced he had never
listened to their appeals
He had important business in another
city which would keep him away all
through Christmas week, he explained to
Mrs Murray and he must leave that even
ing. In the afternoon he muf1lcd himself
In greatcoat and furs and drove away. and
as soon rs tho carriage was half way down
the hill the servants relaxed from theii
usual stiff propriety and began to enjoy
themselves in their Own way.
A telegram WAS handed To Mr. Roberts
ut the station as he was about to buy hi.
ticket. What little things sometimes
change the whole course Of "A life! The in
formation thus received made the trip I'M
necessary and after lettering about the
city for awhile he returned home on foot
and entered his house quietly by side
door
Sounds of boisterous merrinent calnt
from the servants quarters and the own
er of the house frowned ominously II
this WAS the way they took advantage OF
his absenceS
He made his way to his study, unseen
by any one, and shut himself ina lonely
selfish dcSolatc old man Even the fire
which still burned in tho CRATE annoyed
him, and he withdrew behind screen
and threw himself into an easy chair He
heard Mrs. Murray come in after awhile
but she only moved about softly and de
corously, setting things in order, and ht
did not speak. She WAS just passing int
the sitting room when she gave a little cry
of alarm, followed by the exclamation
Mercy me, child How you frightened
mel"
Mrs. Murray said thin little voice
"a voice that Mr.. Roberts had heard he
fore-"Ive come up here to stay all
night!
The listener behind the screen heard
Mrs Murray fall into a chair and again
she cried, Mercy mel"
went ON. "Mother's very, very sick-and
she needs things Mrs Murray-and may
be Santa Claus might bring EN- if he knew
and how IS he to know when he never
comes there But knew if went to
some fine house he'd come and find me,
and so | came here"
Pour child Poor child"
Mrs Murray had gathered the Httle
softly to and fro The old gentleman be.
hind the screen could see that by the shad
ow on the floor He could see, too, that
the housckeepcr was furtively wipng her
eyes
Presently she rallied and said chcerilv:
III tel you what Wen do Marjorie.
III go right down and see your mother,
and you shall 20 with me, and who
knows, maybe Santa Claus will come
there after all. ~
oh, no he wou'ti' replied the child
with sorrowful conviction. You don t
know that place Santa Claus has never
heard Of il He goes to rich people :
houses, and so I've come here. and / must
see him toniRht-oh, must, Mrs Murray
l don care for any other Christmas after
this, but | must see him tonight. On moth
er's account, you know
There was n dismayed silence on Mrs.
Murray part, but presently she said
well come along into Mr.. Roberts
study-thank goodness he's away from
homo-and sit here before the fire till |
come back. I'll take John and 20 down
and See your mother.
In another minute the sound of her re
treating footsteps had died away. aud tie