Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-12-23
A UNIQUE CHRISTMAS c1pT


l'99 Inc snow was falling thicklv and
seemed to show no signs of abatira
Along the slippery streets men wo,,,a s.
e Gnu IhiIoren were hurrying with arms
lull OF packages, or making mvsterions
~ o'i'SeS within the brightly lighted
stores Everything seemed 70 forota,r
the coming of Christmas, and eyervwbera
was preparation for the glad holiday CO..,
son.
In the handsome drawing room ofbis
l''her sat Byron Worthington, the only
son OF wealthy banker, and heir 70 ,
large fortune He was apparently very
comfortably placed in large arm chair
before the glowing fire, yet he seemed TO
be Ill very detected state of mind e
ne were to give expression to his thoughts
they would run something in this wise
Here am l, young man on the eve
OF my 27th birthday, with the most flat.
tering prospects in life, yet with no hone
OF entering that blessed state called mat
rlinony. But why? Is it because I can
md no one who realizes my ideal of true
"omanllness' No; it is simply because I
cannot decide between three lovely maid
ems either one Of whom seems to meet
the requirements of my particular fancy.
First, there is Madge, with her golden
mar and azure eyes What a queen she
Is. When l am sitting by her side I can
scarcely refrain from telling her of nv
ardent love for her, when, like a flash
there comes vision of two other faces.
and am all at sea again. Perhaps Doris
Is not as beautiful as the others, but her
lovely character surely over-balances any
facial defects. Lastly, there is Sadie. A
hundred times l have decided she was the
one to grace my home and make life
pleasant, but as many times have been
restrained by this unfortunate spirit of
doubt. Now what am l to do? All three
are to leave after the holidays for the
Academy, and l must settle this vexed
question before that time. All, I have
plan at last! l will let Fate decide it for
me-"
Silently for time he meditated the
new scheme, then rising and hastily
donning heavy overcoat goes out into
the storm, and wends his way to large
brown stone mansion OH the hill This
is the home of Sadie, and her two friends
Madge and Doris, are spending the hol-
iday vacation with her. They greet Mr..
Worthington heartily, and the happy ev-
ening passes all too quickly. When about
to leave, as the "good-nights' were being
spoken, Bryon remarked as though a new
idea occurred to him, "By the way,
girls, this is Christmas eve, isn't it?
suppose you will hang up your stockings
for Santa Claus to fill. If you will leave
a large sack hanging on the porch | will
put my present there. Let the earliest
riser OH Christmas morning claim it.
Once more, goodnight, and Merry
Christmas
Very soon Madge and Doris were en-
ioying sweet sleep, and pleasant dreams
of home, but not 50 with Sadie. She
could in no way induce sleep, but lay
restless and wakeful, thinking OF one, as
she had 50 many nights i'll the past.
"What could he have meant?' she asked
herself again and again as the hours
dragged slowly by. At length daylight
began to creep into her room, and she
could endure the suspense no longer, for
she had resolved during this long vigil to
he the one to claim the Christmas gift,
whatever it might be. Hastily rising and
donning heavy morning wrapper, She
glided noiselessly along the hall that she
might not awaken her sleeping friends.
Softly opening the door, she stepped out
upon the frosty porch, and stood amazed
as the well-hlled grain sack met her eye
What could such a bulky present be-
,,Perhaps a Newfoundland dog; the dear
how knows how I love dogs, y she SAID
half aloud, slowly gathering courage to
peep into the sack, when to her conster-
nation there. rose the handsome inquire oil
Rvron Worthington. In an instant lie
was upon his feet, saying pleadingly;
.Will You accept the gift'' But she
could only say ooh, Byron" We will
leave this scene to the readers magma
+;or X y y K
The glad Christmas day saw the party
&c friends once more in Sadie's parlor
hrt instead of the laughter and jests OF
the evening previous, there was SWEEP
seriousness on every face, while Madge
and Doris congratulated earnestly the
two whose destiny Fate had decided
II was planned that the next Christmas