The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-12-26
REPAIRED A WRONG,

upon the white haired stranger on the seat
beside him ever since the stage left the
railway station. He wanted square look
Into his eyes before vonturing "feeler,"
hut the big siouched hat prevented that.
Now, in sight of town, on the slope ahead
Il them, the stranger thawed and began
70 question, loosing Calebs tongue vol
nbly.
sand that's the orphanage," he contin-
med, pointing to slightly white building
In the midst of grove of evergreen trees
On the brow Of the slope ahead of them.
"'Joshua Hanson's money started 1t, but
they have hard work to keep It going AL
ways hampered for funds; unlucky from
the first start, IL years ago They had
fire, then they were robbed OF round
sum-
"Robbed? Who would rob orphans"
interrupted the stranger.
"Wcll, nobody expected 1T Of Dick when
no was trusted with the money. He got
Into wild company, and 1t went In some
kind of speculation that was to double it
Served sentence in state prison for 1t.
Too bad suppose he's gone to the dogs
since. Precious few ever get over that dis
grace. Pity. knew Dick from hoy.
He was awful good hearted"
"Yes. Robbery of orphans was fine
proof of goodness" returned the old gen.
tleman, with cutting sarcasm.
swell, he only meant to borrow the
money" said Caleb.
"Poor excuse to cheat the fatherless,
persisted the other with severity.
"There's Milicent Roundaway on her
way to the orphanage," pursued Caleb as
the stage reached the level beyond the
slope. "She's taught the children to sing
like nightingale for Christmas. There's
TO be a tree in the church and a big time. "
The stranger seemed to regard the young
woman in long fur trimmed garment
ahead Of them with interest.
"She's done power for them first and
last, and they worship her." said Caleb.
"Queer she don't get married." he added
reflectively as he touched up the grays, "but
don't know % man in Waverly good
enough for her"
with the last words the grays dashed
round the curve and brought up In fine
style before the Waverly hotel. The loun-
gers watched the stranger climb down from
his perch. Caleb was ahead Of him, tum-
bling his big trunks off with an air Of
"knowing the whole business, II he liked
10 give 1t away" the porter told the others.
The stranger was christened the Mys-
tcry very shortly. He had meals sent to
his rooms ~. H. Afterforth'' on the no.
TEL register was as noncommittal as his
ponderous, strapped trunks. Always with
hat drawn down, he took long, lonely
walks around the town and Its outskirts
Ho might be harmless lunatic, 1t was
ronjectured, until he was seen to 60 In and
out of the orphanage several times, when
1t got round that he was rich, eccentric
relative Of one of the children, who, II he
found all things on the square, was likely
TO give then, handsome Christmas dona-
tion. In fact, Mr.. Melladew, the superin-
tendent, admitted that he had hopesa new
friend had been raised up to them.
The church on the mill above Captain
Roundaway's place was the center of at
traction on Christmas eve. Curious ru-
mors were afloat, although the tree COM
mittee had been personifed caution, that
three ponderous trunks were to turn tell
tales, and that the Mystery was to have
not only finger but both arms and shout
ders, up to his ears, in the festivities The
live oaks and pines right and left of the
church, girdled by Chinese lanterns, kept
mp mysterious holdings and whisperings,
and those in a pos.tion to peep through
the tall windows upon the dazzling sight
within sent drilling bulletins from time
TO time to their less fortunate neighbors.
The air was mild, as if 1t had been
filtered of frost To- the occasion. The path
of light from the church reached clear
down over the snow to Captain Round
away's piazza. He stepped out Of his door
into IT. then his wife; then Milicent
Others ahead, more behind, hurrying, con-
verging from all points, laughing, chat
tering wondering what the evening was
to bring forth, and all passing into the
church until the seats and aisles were full.
C,xo inside they found Themselves in a
Sewer of evergreens, and of all things,
tyo Christmas trees, blazing away In
splendorl One, the usual size, hung with
the usual quota of Waverly's Christmas
presents, was completely overshadowed by
the other, which lowered roofward, very
monarch of the woods, wearing its royal
honors not unconscious, but with the air
of triumphant, tantalizing mystery.
Everybody, from Mr.. Merrivale, the
minister, to deformed Billy Bowline, the
peanut vender, was bowling and smiling
to everybody else. The orphans were In
the front pews in gala dress. There was
much craning of necks and wondering
ever the tall tree and the mysterious father
thereof, for 1t was well understood that
the white bearded stranger was the sole
author and finisher of this transcendent
surprise.
'Mebbe he's the Wandering jew" sug
gested Billy Bowline, leaning forward or
his crutch toward the tree longingly.
Looks more like Rip Van Wrinkle, witt
his white hair" dissented Ned, the bar
ber's boy, who had lately seen Joe Jeffer
SON from the "heaven" Of n city theater
"Poohi Didn't say he was SAINT,
Claus himself the first day?" was the tri
nmphant query Of Ben, the hotel boy.
How these orphans fingers laced an(
interlaced, and how their eyes flashed from
tree to tree until both seemed to kindl
into one blazei How they aroused Mill
cents reassuring smile, with confidence Ii
their own ability to tune their throat
when called upon.
In the MIDST Of all, Miliccnts eyes hat
faraway, reminiscent expression Of sad
ness, as if she were occupying sphere in
side the radiant ones around her. AnC
the Mystery, who was in small room
beyond the platform, with the tree com
mittee, stood looking through the door q