The Van Buren press., 1900-12-29

The professor yielded and, after q
Christmas day spent rather dismally
alone in his rooms, at seven in the
evening he found himself one of par
| ty of 12 at the Desmonds' hospitable
table.
lie had known the family well ever
since Toms first year in college, when
warm friendship had sprung up be-
tween the older and the younger man.
That he was older than Tom-and
Aimee-had been q source Of regret to
him-since last night! In actual point
Of years he was not old at all, and yet
from these young peoples standpoint
he knew he already belonged to the
rank of "grave and reverend seniors"
And when he found himself at the
dinner table beside Aimee-who looked
radiant spirit Of Christmas" with
sprig Of holly in her nut-brown hair
he thought her more lovely and
merry and girlish-looking than ever,
and he felt himself unusually old and
dull.
But he did not dream that her bright
eyes had detected the shade OF un-
reasonable sadness which suddenly
came over her guest, or that she had
set herself the task OF dspelling IL.
It was a genial Christmas party, com
posed OF Mr.. and Mrs, Desmond, their
married daughter, her husband and
their three half-grown children, Tom
and two Of his homeless" young bach
elor friends, Aimee and Prof. Vaughn.
And II proved delightful dinner,
where everyone had some good-natured
joke or story to tell at his neighbors
expense, And when, during its course,
Aimee's eyes caught sight OF dime
dangling from split ring on the pro-
fessor's watch chain, she was decided
ly amused. And at the same time she
wondered why, though his lips were
laughing, his eyes seemed sad.
After dinner they all adjourned to
the library, where coffee was served
and was followed by Almee's little
surprise"
She had disappeared for moment,
and returned to the room bearing a
miniature Christmas tree on silver
salver, n seemed Qblaze with tiny
candles, and little parchment scrolls
were tied TO the branches with bright
rlbbots Of every hue,
There was scroll for each OF the
party, containing bright bit OF nom
sense In rhyme, to describe or sug-
gest the contents Of the accompany.
ing package. And these were each
read aloud, and the packages opened
amid the laughter and merry com
mcnts Of the entire party.
And so at last II came the profess
sor's turn,
o learned man. though YOU are wise,
You Oft need help-as one sans eyes"
he read.
" Professor you need mine, ] know
Take me, I'm youra-wlth YOU I'd Rol
But should you leave me now, too late
You'll feel rcgret-0s sure as fate!
My riddle you cant ro0d2 Then look
you'll nnd the answer In this bookr'
A ripple of laughter sounded through
the room,
"What can II be? II suggests better
half" suid one,
"a wIfcl"
"a housewife, truly!" exclaimed Mrs.
Desmond, os the professor owkwordly
opened his little package, "Well
thought Of Aimecl A useful little
article for any bochelorl"
So the evening passed merrlly, and
the last thing the professors eyes rest
ed upon, ms he badc the family good
night, was Almee's lovely, laughing
face,
And the last thing the professors 5
bewildered eyes rested upon, In his own
room long after midnight was lit
Tie photograph which he had found In
a pocket Of the housewfe--a picture
OF AImees lovely face!
The professor wns sorely puzzled.
Had Aimee given him her likeness
unasked--or had the photograph
slipped In by accident? What did tho
doggcrel say7
20 learnt 4 man, though you are wise.
' You Oft need help-as one sans eyes"