Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
ANUNWRITTEN STORY
WHY DICK BoLToN DID NOT FILL A
CHRISTMAS ASSIGNMENT.
WANTED TILLIR TO HAVE HOLIDAY.
Asked his Aunt 60 Invite Her 60
spend the Holiday in the Country,
where He wished Her Future
Home 60 he Made.


H. and have IL in by Friday night"
The city editor was assigning special
work to the stan, and had left Dick Boil
ton 'tnl the last, which led that young
man to believe that nc was TO be let OF
without anything. When this rather
carte blanche order came, therefore. II
left him all OF heap. He did not mind
so much the assignments that particular
,ze his work, but those that gave It no
metes and bounds he always found It
hard 20 execute
Had Dick been a novelist. he would
have found it easy to hang chimes of
bells and wreaths OF holly and mistletoe
on a thread OF plot. and thus discharge
the duty assigned him, but he was only
a plain reporter--a "low-down reporter
he called hlmselt-with a well-developed
poetry, or romance.
So he walked home In rather a more
thoughtful state than usual, for he did
not habituany think Of the same thing
long at a time--he always said ne couldn't
and be reporter.
SUGGESTIONS CAME TO HIM.
But his assignment did not keep him
from sleeping like . log. and he thought
no more Of Il 'til eating his Sunday
dinner the following day. Everybody
was discussing Christmas and plans for
spending the holiday. Dick became in
tcrested, for the memory of his assign
ment returned. and he thought he might
obtain a helpful hint.
You bet III have an all right Christ
mas" said Thomas. one of the tribe of
"medlcos" that gave a distinguishing
Characteristic 10 the household of board
eYs. Coin up TO Appomattox Wednes-
day, and spend eight solid days shootin'
rabbits and dancin' and drinkin' egg
nogg."
"An' eating the fruit for which your
native county is so justly famous" said
Haley. who was adjudged the wit Of the
table-he had no competition. II allude
10 the delectable persimmon."
Il got fifty from the old man yester-
day 10 blow IN Washington" said Staun-
ton. Guess I'll have to blow her"
And thus it went on, each proclaiming
well-arranged plans for enjoying the
holiday season after his own bent. Dick
had been made to confess that he was
going TO spend it in working, when
Thomas suddenly turned TO Miss Carter,
the little typewriter, the only female
bosrder.
what are you going to do, Miss
Tnlie?"
do as Mr.. Bolton will do" she said,
with rather exaggerated brightness
work"
Perhaps a acknowledging made 1t easy
for Dick TO divine that the prospect was
not as pleasant as her words would in
dicate. and he was not surprised when
he caught her eye minute later, and
saw the tears standing in them. Then
Dick didn't want any more dinner. He
also forgot all about his Christmas
story.
NOW HE COULD THINK.
He spent the afternoon smoking in his
room, and violating his fixed rule not TO
think Of the same subject long at time.
Tillie Carter was the sole subject of
his thoughts. IT was not the first time
she had been given a thought by scatter
brain Dick. He remembered many nice
little chats they had had together-gene-
rally on Sundays, when she had gone
down TO try to coax n tune out Of the
tuberculous old piano in the parlor, and
he followed TO hear her-the music and
her conversation that generally took its
place when he entered
He remembered how these little tete-a-
tetes had almost invariably been broken
I'D by the entrance of Mr.. G.. Van Dale
Browne, lawyer. whom Tillie bad first
met in her employers office, and who
began calling upon her soon afterwards,
and had continued 10 do so with great
regularity. Dick wondered now that he
had never given serious thought to the
pangs OF jealousy OF which he was con-
scious as he left the room on these oc-
casions, with Tillie and her caller pre-
pared for the chat he had expected to
enjoy himself He recalled savagely the
expression Of pleasure which her face had
always worn when he left her.
Poor little thing! 1t was shame she
wasn't to have a Christmas holiday. He
aid not know much about her. He knew
she came from the country, that her
PARENTS were dead. that she had no
brothers and sisters. that she was work
tn as hard as she could to make her
living. Hang il ALL This had seemed a
great deal 70 know when she had first
told him, but now he felt the most i'm
portant knowledge that could come to
him would be a true understanding of
the state of Titles heart towards Mr..
c. Van Dale Browne
There. He heard the old plano begin
10 wheeze. It wasn't long till he was
on his way down stairs. The music had
ceased when he entered. A decidedly
crumpled-up figure was on the stool,
her head bowed on the keys.
Dick stopped. He thought he would
go back. He had no doubt she was cry
ing. and he would rather fight a Jackson
Ward tough any time than face a woman
In tears.
DIDN'T FEEL LIKE PLAYING.
Tillie lifted her head, and rose from the
stool. II was too late TO run now, and
Dick advanced manfully.
why did you stop playfng?" he said,
as he went towards the piano. He tried
TO speak in a matter-of-fact tone, but he
felt like he had been caught doing some
thing mighty mean" as he half express
ed Il to himself. He saw the tears in
her eyes.
IL don't feel like playing" she said.
She knew he saw the tears.
you didn't appear III at the dinner
table" said Dick. He was making
valiant effort TO regain his equilibrium,
and felt he was succeeding. But he was
not saying what he wanted TO.
II am not sick" said Title, seating her
self again, and running her hands over
the keys.
Then II must be bad humor," said
Dick, leaning his elbow on the piano, and
looking down into her eyes. II shouldn't
have expected that when you are looking
for Mr.. Browne"
"Why do you think am expecting Mr..
BrowneT she said, demurely, lifting her
eyes 10 his.
"He was here last Sunday" said Dick
lsmely.
"wen?"
And the Sunday before"