The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-12-22

looking out upon |
tho usually quiet avenue, now thronged |
With package laden pedestrians and de-
livery wagons heaped high with good
things for the morrow. The expression
Of her countenance as she regarded the
hurrving throng was n mixture OF pain
and perplexity. She had considered
her own plans for tomorrow settled
some weeks ago. but something she had
lust read had Jared ler out of har-
nouv with them and it seemed too late
10 make new ones. Ii was not the arti-
c.e on christmas Giving" that had
done the mischief. but the time-worn
quotation with which it ended:
who gives himself with his aims feeds
three.
Himself his hungering neighbor and Me-"
Not that the words were new to her
oh. no. They had been her Christ
mas motto every year since. when
girl OF IS, she had first read the Vision
Xof Sir Launfal 1t was this that gave
4 the words such power over her, for on
this particular Christmas she had de-
cided for the first time in IL years TO
set aside her rule and give her aims
without giving herself. She had seat
turkeys and other good things to nu-
merous needy families. bestowed lar
gesse upon sundry orphan asylums.
homes and hospitals, and otherwise used
without stint the money of which she
had abundance; but for herself-her
house was to be closed. her servants
given an entire holiday and she, in the
solitude Of her own chamber, shut away
from all sight and sound of merry
making. would indulge the bitterness
q her grief for the husband she had
loved and lost. Last Christmas had
been her wedding day, and the husband
10 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 CT
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 picture-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
'hristmas. but how could she 60 where
everything would remind her Of that
JOYOUS wedding day? No. solitude was
oest for her, and SO her day had been
planned.
but as she sat now in the deepening
Wright with the words of her dis
carued motto echoing in her mind, this
quaint saying lodged there from som,
'ohg past reading awoke to keep then
company.
She gave a quick little gasp and .
NY Wave-was il shame, remorse, o.
pure amazerent?-swept over her. 4
coward? Certainly not. But hero
"i'at was hero? A hero thought onl,
n others to save. TO succor. TO uplif
.'hers. For this he sacrificed comfort
NDnors' life even. that is. he gave him
s'i' 80 il all came back 10 that afte
az and IL she carried out her plan
NJ The morrow. would she be a COW
1re But il was so late to make ne,
rar~ Twilight died slowly away an
'n' electric lights flashed out over tn
"'sN avenue and still Mrs. Saxto
'nought. At length she turned fror
su' window. closed her magazine. DIRE,
ro"n the shades and turned on tn
.Tht IN her coy sitting-room ant
"uehing bell. summoned the house
maid.
on will be taking dinner with you
s's'er-in-law tomorrow. Ncllie?"
Yes. Mrs. Saxton." responded Nelli
lady.
DO you think II would put her OF
"uch-that Is, do you think she woul
@n!oy having me dine with her also?"
me girls face lighted with surpri'
md pleasure.