The Forrest City times., 1899-12-22

~ .
looking out upon
the usually quiet avenue, row thronged
with package-Iaden pedestrians and de-
livery wagons heaped high with good
things for the morrow. The expression
Of her countenance as she regarded the
hurrying throrg was a MKT ure Of pain
and perpiexity. She had considered
her oysn plans for to-morrcw settled
some weeks ago, but something she had
just read had Jared her out Of bar-
mony with them and il seemed too late
10 make rev ones. II was not the arti-
Gle on christmas Giving" that had
done the mischief. but the tine -worr.
quotation with which IL ended:
VIE gtvcs himself with his aims feeds
three
Himself. lis hcnge-irg Eesghbor AID Me-
Sct that the wCros we're new TO her
oh. mol They had been her Christ
mas motto every year since, when a
girl CT Is, she had first read the Vision
Of Sir LarnfaL IL was this that gave
the words such power over her. for OIL
this particular Christmas she had de-
cIded for the first tine IN y wears 10
set aside her rule ard give her aims
without giving herself. She had sent
turkeys and other good things TO nu-
merogs needy families. bestowed lar
GEESE upon sundry orphan asyiuns.
homes and hospitals, and otherwise used
without stint the money q which she
had abundance; but for herseIf-her
house was 10 be closed, her servants
given an entire holiday and she. in tie
solitude CT her own chamber, shut away
from all sight and sound Of merry
making, would indulge the bitterness
of her grief for the husband she haC
loved and lost. Last Christmas had
been her wedding day, and the hus ba nd
to whom she had confided her Christ
mas motto had said, with eyes shining
with JOY and tenderness:
And this year The gift is mine
literally yourself-my priceless Christ
mas gift"
They had enjoyed three months Of
earthly paradise and then-there was
railway accident, and a horrible
bruised mass, upon which she was not
allowed TO look. but from which they
extracted the ring she had given him
and the watch on whose dial was her
own pictgre-this had been brought
home at an hour when she expected her
husband, and all the light of the world
had for her gone suddenly out.
They had wanted her at home this
Christmas, but how could she 20 where
everything would remind her OF that
Joyous wedding day? No, solitude was
best for her, and so her day had been
planned.
But as she sat now in the deepening
twilight with the words of her dis
carded motto eehoing in her mind. this
quaint saying lodged there from some
long past reading awoke TO keep them
company.
She gave quick little gasp and a
hot waye-was il shame. remorse. or
pure amazement swept over her. A
coward? Certainly not. But hero
what was hero? A hero thought only
Of others-to save, TO succcr, to uplift
others. For this he sacrificed comfort
honors. life even, that is, he gave him
self. So il all came back to that after
"%%t 1A+N n EGt NeA our UfT Di2HE
for the morrow, would she be cow
ard? But il was so late to make new
plans. Twilight died slowly away and
the electric lights flashed out over the
busy avenue and still Mrs. Saxton
thought. AT length she turned from
the window, closed her magazine. drew
down the shades and turned on the
light in her coy sitting-room and.
touching bell, summoned the house
maid.
''You win be taking dinner with your
sister-in-law tomorrow, Nellie?'
Yes, Mrs. Saxton." responded Nellie.
with the tone and manner OF a wei bred
lady.
DO you think II would put her out
much-that is. do you think she would
enjoy having me dire with her also?"
The girls face lighted with surprise
and pleasure.