The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-12-21

conversation came family from below
The violins struck up a lively air
and -
Rsttle-te-tat-te, ratsie-te tat-te, rat
te-tsttle-te rattle-te-tat.
The lawyer looked quickly toward
the closet, the door Of which be had
left open He rubbed his eyes and look
ed again. Yes, there could be no mis-
take about it, there were Uncle Toms
boots stepping about on the closet floor,
rattling Off the time with heel and toe,
sliding across and back, right boot arst,
left boot first, up with the right, up
with the left, end, as the music grew
louder. up with both, crack crack
TIE heels came together twice in the
air, landing on the floor in exact time
with the music, and finishing up with
lively rattle tat-te-rattle-tattle, rat
tat-tat. Then they came briskly over
toward the astonished lawyer exactly
as though they had feet and legs in
them Over to the fire they walked,
turned heels toward it aud stood there
wide apart
InvoIuntarily, Lawyer Flint glanced
up as If expecting to see the ruddy,
jovial face aud porlly form of his Un-
ele Tom. There were the boots just as
the old man would have placed them,
hut Uncle Tom was not there.
"Bless my soul ~ exclaimed the law
yer, "but this is mighty curious"
The toe of the right boot began tap
ping the carpet gently, then they NOV
ed over to the window, stood still a
moment and then walked oUt into the
hallway.
Cad ~ said Lawyer Flint excitedly,
81 believe they are going out. 1 must
see the end of this thing"
He threw off his dressing gown, hur-
ried into his shoes, overcoat and hat,
and followed the boots out of the street
door, which had opened at their ap-
proaeh. Down the steps they triPped
gayly and turned toward the brilliant
ly lighted avenue. The still, starlii
night was bitterly cold, aud Lawyer
Flint shivered as he buttoned his heavy
coat close up around his neck. Up the
street he hastened, following the empty
boots, which slipped sideways a. every
other step and jammed their heels in
to the trodden snow, but made their
way rapidly, nevertheless.
Around the corner, into the avenue,
in and out among the throngs Of Christ
mas eve pedestrians, dodging here and
there, stepping on toes, stopping in
front of show windows, kicking them
selves together and stamping nn the
ground-thus went the old boots, and
after them followed the excited law
yer.
They turned into 2 big store. Nov, -
thought Lawyer Flint. as he entered
the door, "some one viii be sure to see
them, - bat strange to say, the boots
were entirely unnotieed by the buzzing,
Laughing, hsppy people vino thronged
the store.
The lawyer leaned against the toy
counter and watched the boots as they
shufh d around on the floor.
Something for the little ones?'
The question was asked by a pretty
salesgidl, and it was addressed to Har-
ders Flint. He started, and for the
first time realized that he was in a rath-
er peculiar position. Why was he
standing around there, the people
would ask, if he did not wish TO buy ?
How long would he be obliged to re-
main? He couldn't tell. Should he
say that he was waiting for those old
boots? No, no; he didn't wish On any
account TO call attention to the ridicu-
Ious performance they were going
through.
"Yes." he said, eoloring, ''some
thing for the little ones" and then be
went about selecting tin horns, and
silver bells, aud woody dogs and wood
en- monkeys, and trumpets, and check
ers, and dominoes, growing white and
red by turns at he thought Of the fear.
ful extravaganza, and, glancing fur.
lively, with increasing impatienee and
anger, at the boots, which seemed
livelier than ever as bis purchases in
creased.
Seven dollars and forty cents
please said the salesgirl-
Toto tue silver bail went a good ten
dollar bill click, click, il shot upward
and slid across the cashiers desk
while the lawyer groaned and waited
for his change.
Rattle-te- tat-te, rattle-te-tat-te, rattle
te-te-tat-te, rat-ra-tat, went the old
boots close by his side. Several people
looked at him with smiles OF amuse
ment. Happy time, isn't it ?" said &
jolly little fat man, gIaDcing at the
lawyers big bandle. II feel like dano
ing myself
.'Change, sir; thank you. Merry
! Christmasr'
The exasperated lawyer grasped bis
bundle and hurried after the boots,
which now seemed anxious TO get away
from the store. When he struck IA,
cold air and again drew his coat around
him he seemed somehow to feel les:
annoyance. The excitement Of tbs
chase had warmed his blood. 1t was
curious feeling that began now to stea
over him, the like OF which he had new
er experienced before, or at least no
for many years, he said to himself, a
he stopped before candy store and
followed the boots inside.
aCandy for Christmas ?' he smiIeC
alm ,s; to think that he, HsrdeFs Flint
should hear such q question addressed
to himself, and more astounding ye
was the fact that be did want to bu,
some candy for Christmas, ana that h
really stood there poeketbOok in hand
waiting for it.
RaItle-te-tz te-tat-te-lat
A smile broke over the saIesgirl's FAC
as she handed him the package OF cand.
and away went the lawyer, after th
boots, which seemed determined to Civ
him lively chase before the evening
was over. Again be was in the bit'nI
air hut the warm blood cDursed thrcn.i