The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-12

ttude and punctuality. ] have known him
to fly into passion because his haberdash-
er, by some oversight, failed to present q
bill against him for three dollars and sew
enteen cents until more than a month had
elapsed after the purchase was made. The
discovery that the preceding month had
closed with debt standing against him in
the books of that haberdasher seemed to
shock Shelters feelings and in some way
to wound his pride.
1t was by mere accident that 1 happened
to be present when Shelter received this
shock, and not for worlds would l venture.
to allude to it in Shelters hearing. only
mention 1t here because it illustrates the
mans punctilious honesty-an honesty
which, 1 am sure, would not allow him to
sleep IL he were conscious of having wrong
ed anyone to the extent of five cents. Even
this mention of the incident would have
been suppressed If my friends name really
were Shelter.
And yet, strangely enough, he did not
seem to attract people.
A few days before Christmas he spoke
sightingly of the great festival, calling it,
in fact, IAN annual bore" and laying great
stress on the Inconvenience it occasioned
by interrupting the regular course of bust
=
ness.
'Sholter," 1 said, knowing you to be
singiy blessed, l need not ask if you are a
father. But 1 will ask you are you an un-
cle?'
No, 1 am not" he snapped out.
Then l understood
When l again saw him In the last week
Oh the year Shelter carried new umbrella
What was more notable, he wore new
SILK muff1er, though he never was in the
haDit of wearing a muller, even in the very
coolest weather. The umbrella was hand
some and silver mounted, the muller hand
some and silken. Moreover Shelter wore
an unusual CHEEKY, IL somewhat conscious,
smile
1T looks to me-" l said jocularly, "as If
you hadn't made such a bad business of
your Christmas, after ALL
NO" he said. You see my friends re-
membered me-"
WELL daresay you remembered them,"
l remarked, disposed to make myself pleas
ant.
mo, assure you didn't" Shelter made
haste to answer Then, if suddenly in
spired, he added, Say, 1 wish you would
come up to my rooms and see all the nice
things L got.'
Long as we had known each other, l had
never before been invited by Shelter to visit
his rooms 1t was startling to be summoned
| thus on sudden to see what Santa Claus
had brought him-him to whom Santa Claus
| as furniSher who neglects monthly
| statements-might have been supposed an
abomination. My curiosity was piqued.
Shelters sitting room is a neatly and
| properly furnished apartment However,
when entered it | remarked a superfuity
of hair brushes, for sitting room. There
| were four new hair brushes-two pairs
| one pair with silver mountings; another
| plain, but handsome and substantial There
| was also a fine handkerchief case, with
bows and trimmings that betokened a fem
| mime origin. leather case that lay open
| on the sideboard displayed set of tasteful
| shirt studs and sleeve links In bloodstone.
"All this must be very gratifying to you,
Sholter," I said. DO you know, l have
always supposed you to be a self-centered,
| inexpensive sort of man"
Here Shelter looked up at me quickly,
and, as l thought, with an expression of
challenge. But he said nothing, and went
on in an apologize and explanatory tone:
| what 1 mean is, you are not the sort OF
| man to whom-to whom-that is"
| ITO whom anyone would feel kindly
| enough to send present at Christmas. Yes,
you did. Well, just listen to this-came
with that handkerchief by mall See? BY
mail!' And he read aloud:
| MY Dear Mr.. Sholter | wish not only
to wish you the compliments of this blessed
season, but to express to you as well as 1
can by this little gift that there is at least
one friend who appreciates you"
"H'mi From a young lady" I said.
"Well, not exactly young lady" Shelter
replied rather oracularly, l thought, as he
fastened to fold up the letter and put it
back in his pocket. "Now take this one
with that umbrella: Wishing a merry
Christmas and a happy New Year to a
really good fellow whom the world at large
| does not respect That's nice, isn't it?'
Does ones heart good to hear it, said
at seems to me that you are discovered,
| Shelter"
How do you mean?" he asked suspi-
ciously.
| "How do I mean? Why, all these Ia
dies"
"They are not ladies'" he Interrupted
Gust listen to this This one was folded up
| inside the box with those studs. Came by
| mail registered: L cannot let Christmas
| pass without sending you little token to
testify my appreciation of your many ster-
| ling qualities of both head and heart. 9th
| ers may fail to see this but do not Be
| lieve me, in deep and cordial regard yours,
| etcetera What do you think of that?"
/ What makes him emphasize your-your
unappreciatednessg I asked cautiously.
my what? He doesn't emphasize it. Not
bit OF it"
ut struck me-" said, "that all of these
gentlemen seemed to take q defiant atti-
1 tude-"
! again interrupted me. -
| "Whatever they may be- l said, they
| seem to be unanimous"
| 'What do you mean by that?' he asked,
| turning very red In the face.
4 Nothing that you need take any offense
i at" said. "Only, IL you don't mind my
| remarking it, haven't you yourself been
| struck by the uniformity of sentiment, so
to speak, in all these Christmas compli-
| ments? Really, Shelter, don't think that
| your personal worth is so very much of a
| secret as these OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
| baliave. really I don't
"You don't?" he asked, with a pathetic
/ turn In his voice.
/ mo, don't. Who the dickens are they
this inner brotherhood who think your
virtues have been revealed to them alone?"
Shelter seemed to hesitate before an
swering.
First" he said, when he had made up
| his mind to answer at all, IT want you to
tell me something-honestly, now Don't
| people generally take me for a hard, I'M
| sympathetic fellow?"
people generally do not" I answered
promptly. Like all steady, strict business
| mon Won are regarded by the crowd whom