The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-12-20

olg0atl0n, ne stumbled down the
marble steps that led into the street,
and would have fallen heavily had
not a great tall gentleman caught
him In bis arms.
why, hello, little man." a cherry
voice exclaimed, 'are you running
after Santa Claus that you are in
such break.neck hurry?" A
But Sam looked up at him with
eyes brimful Of tears and when he at
tempted to answer. be fell to sobbing
bitterly.
1t was sometime before he c0u Id
tell the gentleman who he was, and
where he lived, and that his mother
would be worried IL be did not hurry
home.
''Sam Prentiss is your name, my
boy, Sam Prentiss? And Is Miss
Gertrude your aunt?" the gentleman
questioned eagerly,
"Yes, she is my aunt" there was
nothing but anger In the child's voice
now, "but wish she wasn't, because
1t will always make me wicked to
think of her."
How could anyone demonstrate
with such Il shivering little chap;
Sam was taken up in pair OF strong
arms and placed 10 the gentleman's
carriage that waited near the side
walk, and though the child did not
notice 1t, there was great eagerness
10 the voice still, that bade the driver
60 straight to the little cottage just
two blocks down the street.
Now" said the gentleman seating
himself beside the little fellow, "that
horrid wind shan't haye another cut
at you this night, II l can help it,
But Sam was too comfortable and
too busily engaged In feeling the sof,
rugs that had been so tenderly wrap
ped about him to make reply, and his
companion Immediately fell to
musiug.
$50 this was Beryl's child; more
like his father than his mother, but
her child after ALL" and he drew
nearer the boy as II even that gave
him some satisfaction. Gertrude
had often told him that Beryl was
happy and comfortable and that she
had declined renewing his acquain.
tance; would she consider his ap.
pearance tonight an intrusion?
When the carriage stopped lie front
Of Sans house, the little fellow
awoke as II from some pleasant dream
and the look Of complacence merged
into one OF sadness.
"Do you think your mother would
see me Sam" the gentleman asked,
with a wistful look In the kind, dark
eyes that was unnoticed BY the child.
"Mother is not happy today, be.
cause little sister Is SICK" instinct
told the child that he must not ask
the stranger into that cold desolate
room. "but II you'll come on some
warm, sunny day, III be real glad to
see you, sir" And the child looked
up with grateful affection into the
earnest face looking down Into his.
"But tell your mother It is doctor
and friend, Sam, who has come to
make your little sister we'll"
Beryl had been anxious about heI
boy, and hearing the sound Of wheels
SO near her own gate, she hastened tt
open the door, fearing some accident
had happened to the child. HeI
heart throbbed strangely at the sigh
that met her gaze. Christmas hal
softened Gertrude's heart, else VIII
had she sent Sam home IN that gran
carriage. And surely, yes, surely tina
was her sisters friend. Gertrude wa
not ashamed Of them after all.
In an instant Sam was at his mott
er's side and the doctor was not Ion
10 following him. There was som'
, thing familiar In the handsome bear(
ed face, and In the great, dark eye
that seem 70 fasten their gaze upo
: her so intently. But these were onl
!. passing thoughts. She must ask th
i gentleman 10 and thank him for hi
. kindness. She shuddered at tn
thought Of the bleakness ir that dia
| NAL sick.room; but surely he woul'
|. not accept her invitations; was he no
. Gertrudes friend, and was not he
lsister awaiting his return even now
J. But the doctor needed 10 secon'
: bidding to step from the quiet twi
light without and enter the dIml.
!. .IlIehted room within. Bsryl could se
Ihim distinctly in the lamplight, ami
. feeling that there MAS much earnest
. ness In his look, she unwittlngl,
. raised her eyes and studisd hIs fac
more closely; yes, che recognised hin
, now; she had known the doctor we'll