The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-17

course, that he must give them both to
Jean, even though she might think him
extrayagant in spending SO much on them
when he was saving up for their home.
While thinking the matter over it sud-
denly occurred to him that he could make
things look more reasonable if he sent the
brooch as a Christmas present and the
bracelet as birthday gift That would
justify them both. Replacing the jewels
in their boxes with appropriate cards, he
took them to the postofice and mailed
them so that she would get them the
first thing in the morning.
When he went to Jeans home to have
his Christmas dinner with her, he found
her radiantly happy. The gloom that he
was told always oppressed her on Christ
mas was nowhere in evidence. Her greet
ing to him was more affectionate than it
had ever been before, and he felt that, be-
sides wishing him a merry Christmas,
she was doing all in her power to make it
so for him. When they were finally left
alone in the parlor after dinner, she said
she wanted to thank him again for his
Christmas present and birthday gift.
There is only one way for lovers to ex-
press such thanks, and after q furtive
glance toward the doors and windows it
was so expressed. After the customary
pause of happy silence Jean whispered
as she hid her face on his bosom:
II felt sure all along that you would
pass the test all right. You are so noble
and so generous. l loved you so much
that / wanted to tell you all about it, but
if did there would be no test. know
it was silly, but l vowed once that I
would test all my friends this way, as
well as any one who made love to me,
and you know 1t has given me the repu-
tation Of being odd"
But what is the test?' asked Harry in
surprise, at the same time rejoicing that
he had passed it successfully.
Cant you guess? No. no; you could
never guess, for you are too thoughtful
and generous ever to think of doing any
thing else than what you did"
Harry puffed out his chest and felt
good while he waited for her to proceed
"You see, it is just like this: l was
born on Christmas day, and superstitious
people say that is what makes me differ
ent from every one else, but no one has
ever guessed the real reason. All the
other children had birthday as well az
Christmas every year, but l had to be
satisfied with one day for both. Besides,
l usually had to be satisfied with only
one present. When was child, that
used to make me feel cheated, and I
brooded over it till l was morbidly sensi-
tive on the point, but as l grew older it
occurred to me that it gave me,a chance
to find out which of my friends were
really thoughtful and cared for me very
much. They were the ones who remem-
bered my birthday and Christmas, just
as you did, and the ones who beat me
out Of present / just had very little
more to do with. OF course it is not the
presents l think so much about, but the
thoughtfulness, though when was youn-
ger the presents used to count too"
"And so that was what was at the
bottom of all the endings of friendships
that have happened with you every
Christmas%
Eyes"
"And was it because Tom Harland did
not think to give you a Christmas pres
ent and birthday gift that you broke off
the engagement with him?"
Don't let us speak about that crea-
ture"
"But want to speak about him. You
have never explained why you broke off