Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-12-27

The professor yielded, and, after a
Christmas day spent rather dismally
alone in his rooms, at seven in the
evening he found himself one of a par
ty of .12 at the Desmonds' hospitable
table.
He had known the family well ever
since Toms first yea in college, when
a warm friendship had sprung up be-
tween the older and the younger man.
That he was older than Tom-and
Aimee-had been a 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
a radiant spirit of Christmas" with
a 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 I'M
reasonable sadness which suddenly
came over her guest, or that she had
set herself the task of dispelling it.
1t vas a genial Christmas party, COM
posed of Mr.. and Mrs. Desmond, their
married daughter, her husband and
their three halfgrown children, Tom
and two of his homeless" young bach
elor friends, Aimee and Prof. Vaughn.
And it proved a delightful dinner,
where everyone had some good-natured
S41ro - 80 - XaIl - IL -Ns-LL@-s
expense. And when, during it's course,
Aimee's eyes caught sight of a dime
dangling from a split ring on the pro-
fessor's watch chain, she was decided
" 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 Aimee's little
She had disappeared for a moment,
and returned to the room bearing r
Christmas tree on a silver
salver. 1t seemed ablaze with tiny
and little parchment scrolls
were tied to the branches with bright
of every hue.
1hC1C was a SSAOAA " CdS1 VI Liz |
party, containing a 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
ments of the entire party.
And so at last it came the profess
sor's turn
1" o learned man. though you are wise.
You oft need help-as one ans eyes"
he read.
az Professor. you need mine, I know
Take me, I'm yours-with you I'd go!
But should you leave me now, too late
You'll feel regret-as sure as fatei
My riddle you can't read? Then look
You'll find the answer In this book!"
A ripple of laughter sounded through
the room.
what can it be? It suggests a better
said one.
"a wifeI"
"a housewife, trulyi" exclaimed Mrs.
as the professor awkwardly
his little package. well
of, Aimeel A useful little
article for any bachelori"
So the evening passed merrily, and
the last thing the professors eyes rest
ID upon, as he babe the family good
was Aimee's lovely, laughing
face.
And the last thing the professors
eyes rested upon, in his own
room long after midnight, was a lit
lie photograph which he had found in
. pocket of the HOUSEWIFE picture
Aimee's lovely facet
The professor was sorely puzzled.
Had Aimee given him her likeness
lnasked-or had the photograph
in by accident? What did the
ioggerel say?
i. o learned man. though you are wise.
You oft need heln-ak one sans eyes"