The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-26
TIT FOR TAT
A Christmas Story.

A Christmas Story.
I make no mystery about it that this
is a tale of Christmas reconciliation. ]
know the circumstances, because 1
helped to make them.
Living on the border line between two
states, Strong could hardly be expected
to resist the temptation to run off with
Elise Bertshaw, cross the line and marry
her. Nobody knew why her father OBJ
Jected to the match; probably Mr.. Bert
shaw did not know himself; anyhow, the
reasons he gave were simply futile.
First. he said Elise was too young, and
that was nonsense, for the girl was oyer
70; at least, she was by the time she
and Strong made that bleak autumn aft
erno0n trip across the river into the next
state.
Then he said that Strong was an I'M
stable young fellow who didn't know
his own mind; and that, as I was bold
enough to remark to Mr.. BertshaW, was
quite inconsistent with the fact that
Strong had persisted in his wooing Of
Elise for over two years. When | said
that the unreasonable and obdurate
parent pulled his gray mustache and
dehantly asked me if 1 thought Mr..
Strong could afford to support a wife,
and L answered that the only trouble
about Mr.. Strong was that he had more
money to spend than was good for him
as bachelor.
That ended my interview with Elise's
papa. He got out of temper with me
because his own reasons were worth
nothing, and | as good as told him so,
and he said | was "a special pleader"--
a term which l supposed he, being a
lawyer, knew the meaning of-and that
]! was an lmpudent young man for COM
ing to him with a brief for Strong in
my pocket"
L would not for worlds have advised
either Strong or Elise Bertshaw to skip
across the river and make a runaway
match of it. | hate runaway matches, if
only because [ think them vulgar. BY
plainly expressing this opinion to Strong
after he had made up MS mind without
my knowledge to commit the runaway, I
incurred his resentment
so 1t was that Strong went off down
the river to his ladyloye. went across the
river with her in the evening. married
her and brought her to our city without
here that old Bertshaw refused to believe
this.
very soon found someone who had
assisted them. though. That was Polly
Harklns. L would never have suspected
Polly if she had not told me of it her
self. Here is a letter 1 GOT from her a
week, after the distressing event:
Please come over by an afternoon
train tomorrow and drop in on me at s.
L want to talk to you.'
Without the least idea what she
wanted of me, went, and the first thing
she asked me was:
How are the dear young things?"
If you mean Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard
Strong" [ said, Il have not seen them
since they were made one. They refuse
to INCLUDE me among their friends
TN see to chat" said Polly. "You
didn't act right, but, if you'll help me a
little now I'll get Leonard to forgive
and Elise
II don't SUPPOSE you approve of such
proceedings" [ said. 'You wouldn't do
such thing yourself, would you?'
my friend, as you did. that it was vulgar.
after knew he was going to do it. And
if you care to know, l suggested it,
L was very much taken aback by this
frank confession. Polly Harkins, [ be-
lieve, was younger than Elise, but she
was supposed by everybody to be a girl
ton, and old Bertshaw, in particular,
strongly favored her as an associate and
friend of his daughter, who, he said,
being a motherless girl, needed the COM
panlonsnlp of "a mature mind''-that
was Polly.
Bpt in spite of my feeling of amaze
ment [ said nothing, made no comment
on Polly's statement.
| must have looked my feelings, for
Polly said. "Why" just as if 1 had
spoken: Then she. went On. 81 hope you
don't think me vulgar. I didn't go with
them myself. Oh, no! Now, in the first
place, you have to promise not to tell
soul that I had anything to do with the
affair until | give you leave. [ have
quite special reasons for demanding
that. You promise?"
ooh, yes. / promise that. And what
in the second place."
"Why," she said, haven't you the
bring about reconciliation?
cts all very sad,'' l said. "That poor
old fellow is left all by himself in that
big house. | suppose he'll shut it UP now
and live in a fiat or something Of the
kind"
''He'n do no such thing Polly said
with much determination
"Ohr' [ remarked, rather wondering
how she could know what he would do.
"At least" she added, looking up at
the ceiling, II don't think he will. It's
his own fault. He was so absurdly OBJ
stinate."
Couldn't you have persuaded him?''
81? Nobody can persuade him. If
had tried, he would have lost his good
opinion of my wisdom"
when | tried he all but kicked me
out of the house. Now his son-in-law
won't speak. to me-
eyes, it is too bad" Polly unused.
"And he-Mr. Bertshaw-thinks you
helped them. [ want you to go and talk
to him. There must be reconciliation
mean to have a reconciliation not later
than Christmas"
eff you will stop to consider said,
.'since he-Mr. Bertshaw-has put me in
his bad books for once taking sides with
Mr.. Strong, and is now, as you tell me,
convinced that | helped Mr.. Strong to
KUN away with his daughter, we cannot