The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-12-21

When Harry reached his room. he took
out the tw" jewels and looked at them.
They Were both very pretty and tasteful.
but he felt that they We're more than he
could afford just then.
why" he said to himself. II might
as we'll have added $50 more to the
amount and bought her the engagement
ring"
Having the jewels. he decided, Of
course. that he must give them both to
Jean. even though she might think him
extravagant i'll 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 Il Christmas present and the
bracelet birthday gift. That would
justify them both. Replacing the jewels
in their boxes with appropriate cards, he
took them to the postotlice and mailed
them so that she would get them the
first thing i'll 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 Ii, ,sher0 in evidence. Her greet
ing to him was more affectonate 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 We're finally left
alone in the paror 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 furtive
glance toward the doors and windows it
pause of happy silence Jean whispered
as she hid her face on his bosom:
Il felt sure all along that you would
pass the test all right. You are so noble
and 50 generous. | loved you so much
that l wanted to tell you all about it, but
if | did there would be no test. l know
it was silly, but l vowed once that
would test all my friends this way, as
well any one who made love to me,
and you know it has given me the repu
taton 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: | was
born on Christmas day, and superstitous
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 we'll as
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 a child, that
used to make me feel cheated and l
brooded over it till was lnorbidly 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 We're
really thoughtful and cared kor 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 a present l just had very little
more to do with. OF course it is not the
presents | think so much about, but the
thoughtfulness, though when l 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?"
Yes
not think to give you Christmas pres
ent and birthday gift that you broke off
the engagement with him."
Don't let us speak about that crea-
| ture."
But I want to speak about him. You
have never explained why you broke off