The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-12-23


at the enhancing thought and rushed to
the front door. They heard scream of
terror, and May darted back, gasping and
white, to hide her face in her fathers lap
Santa Claus indeed had come to tho
child's invocation. Framed in the door
way and seeming almost to fill it stood %
great, fur clad figure, looking like q gi-
gantic bear on its hind legs. A fur he'll
met covered the whole face, with goggles
in the eyelet holes, and on the furry arm
hung big basket with bulging contents
Amid the breathless silence and wonder
the uncouth figure stalkcd TO the Christ
mas tree and crowded its empty boughs
with such largess of parcels as to bend
them low. AS the pantomime went on
Mr. Martin nodded TO his wife and Kate
and then toward their guest rs If to say,
This little comedy is the pleasant sur
prise Of a rich mans wooing" But Swim
tons eyes were bent on Santa Claus with
q queer look of dread and expectancy,
could they have gaugcd his thought
Not a word was uttered till the fur clad
image had closed his task when hoarso,
.rumbling voice, as if it had been made
raucous by shouting against polar blasts,
issued from under the fur hood, calling
them by name and summoning them to
receive their gifts. The childrcn's turn
came first. The trembling youngsters
were loaded with such gorgeous and Won
derful toys as they had never dreamed
could exist. VIII Martin got box con-
tanning a sealsliin cap and gloves. The
wonderful fur cloak which Santa Claus
threw around Mrs. Martin was fit for tho
shoulders of queen, as she stood there
quivcring with curiosity and IL dumb pre-
sage that feared to name itself and stan-
mering thanks that choked in the throat.
In the farmers hands was placed a large
sealed envelope, and he blinked and pecred
as If he would unravel some clew to the
impassive mystery which faced him. He
itched to tear open the envelope, but wait
ed.
Kate Lockwood's name was called, and
her trembling limbs could scarcely carry
her forward. A little box was snapped
open and q superb diamond ring blazed
like star She grew dizzy, for binding
flash of intelligence came even before that
furry mask was torn off with Il swift gcs-
ture and the bronzed face of Paul, twitch-
ing with emotions of joy and tenderness,
appeared to them. How the old mother
cried and hugged him till her arms were
weary; how the men folk wrung his hand
and overwhelmed him with broken, eager
questioning, and how the children made
shy acquaintance with the unknown uncle
Santa Claus need not be recounted
And has my Kate no greeting?" Paul
said. She came forward with checks of
flame from where she had stood aloof, be-
wildered with q rush of feelings He
gazed at her shining eyes, and her heart
leaped at the lovers deep look. Then he
happened to notice the twisted vine Of leaf
and berry that swayed over her head, the
time honored symbol of thousand sweet
mysteries
Under the mistletoo, too" he laughed
He was the same old teasing Paul. "That
is as it should be-" And he took his privi-
lego then and there, drawing her sweet
face to his and kissing her on the lips bo-
fore them all
Look, he whispered, "at the inner
circle of the ring, " and there Kate saw en-
gravcd From Paul to the woman he
loves, and that was Paul proposal, an
swered to his satisfaction by one flashing
glance, veiled us quickly by the modest
eyelashes.
1--WE been ringing and hammering at
the outer door for five niDsye,s, and no ono
came so walked in" said new voice
40 'DiuliC i'hibcI tilcIGu L suppose
you've got everything fixed to your wishes
now, and that tho lnistletoe brought good
luck"
"You old fox, you knew all about it."
burst forth the farmer, and with sudden
thought he opened the envelope and saw it
was mortgage satisfaction" paper. $50
1T was Paul and you that put up this
Christmas joke"
"Ycs, dad, " said Paul without bit of
remorse II think We did it in pretty
good style too, l started from South
Africa at the same time posted that let
ter as n blind and landed more than a fort
night since. The rest was easily fixed,
and determined to shake you all up with
big surprise. And have proved such O
successful Santa Claus that certain young
woman has concluded to let me play
Santa Claus to her for life"
where's Mr.. Swintony" said the farm
er, with keen recollection of inciylity,
for in the agitation Of the scene all had
forgotten him, Love Is sometimes very
selfish Their guest of the early evening
had unobtrusively slipped away. He knew
he was one too many