Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-24

| 1 frozen ruts of Cole county. The waited at every post-box and gave a Merry Christmas in exchange for her bundle of mail. Old Ben Todd, whose three-score years exempted him from active service on the farm, | stood by the little bird-house which | served as post-box at the corner of his field and, presenting her with an ear of red popcorn, wished her Merry Christmas and Happy-New Year, with a smile on his old face, as brown and wrinkled as the apples that had lain on the ground since harvest. But he, like the children, was cheerful, ex- mood of bitter disappointment. More to her taste was the greeting of the Widow Brown, forlorn-1ooking dame, whose sleek hair, pulled yio- lently back from her face, seemed, more than the cold, responsible for her purple nose. As she took the mail from Matilda's hand she re- marked with rueful shake of her head: "A green Christmas makes fat graveyard And the girl sighed in answer and drove on with anything but holiday air. For there was package in her bag, which, light and small, made her heart heavy as lead. It was addressed to a certain Miss Fay Barney, and the hand was as familiar as it was dear. Had she not often admired the heavy shading, and practiced with loving emulation the curves in the capital letters? A long and tender missive was hers every week in this same handwrit- ing, and yet-Christmas day was here, the mail all collected and no remembrance.
 Instead, there was a ring in this package, q diamond ring, so the open receipt read, addressed to her dear est friend, and, such was the clumsy playfulness of fate, she must be the one to deliver it.
 Suddenly voice startled her. Merry Christmas" it said, and a strange head divided the curtains at the side of the wagon.
 At the same instant the wheels came to full stop, and Matilda's eyes, from which astonishment and fright had dried the tears, saw anoth- CT stranger at the horses head. Both were seedy and shabby, and both wore slouch hats drawn closely over their eyes.
 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." continued the first speaker. holiday? No-no, that won't go; sL T T. I I ~x--1~ . Matilda's face. For she was unac- customed to the use of hers, and had bungled in an attempt to slip it from its place. Pale, but determined, and with all her wits now fully about her, Matilda stared silently into the cleaning barrel. The man at the horses head chuckled in open adnira- ton, then warned his companion: Hurry up; somebody might come" The other, still pointing his weapon at the little mail-carrier, urged: 'sStep lively, miss; some O them things in that there sack Fl come in real handy. Christmas comes but once a year, you know"
 Like lightning Matilda's brain sought about for some expedient. To gain time she demanded: Do you know the penalty for"
 "Yep, get a move," was the laconic interruption, made still more effective by a threatening click of the trigger.
 All this time Matilda had kept the ring tightly clasped in her hand. By great good fortune she was near the end of her route. There were only few packages left, and this ring was, she felt sure, by far the most valuable. If she could only keep this from the men; and like a flash came an ugly thoughts temptation before which she trembled and was afraid. Why should she keep it from them? Why risk her life to save it? Have not they as much right to it as that other? But horror at the tempter's voice gave her new courage, and, as if addressing conscience rather than the thief, she spoke with sudden vigor:
 ''You are wicked; you are outraging this holy day" Then as the mans careless shrug recalled her to his more practical view:
 'There is nothing of value in the sack,' she said. "A few cheap presents to the children in the country; are you fools to risk life and freedom for this trash? See.'
 As she bent forward, the right hand. which held the ring, dropped to her side, and the folds of her dress dulled the sound of the falling box. On the floor it lay, unobserved by the intrud- CT, who now bent over the disclosed treasures. There were no registered letters, and the array of parcels was scant, tied, for the most part, with un- practiced fingers, and evidently of lit- tie value. Cupidity died out of the mans eyes as he saw the meager as- sortment, and he gave 8 dissa tisfed grunt.
 .'No good, participated spoons and celluloid work boxes; can see it from the outside.'
 'Well, take lem anyway" advised the other from his position as sentry.
 But the leader was more cautious. First possessing himself of Matilda's revolver, he left her, pale, trembling. but outwardly calm, while he joined his companion. His words were plain to her strained ears: "What'sthe use? The swag is no good--it would only be in the way"
 There was no answer while, for 6 moment, both men stood listening.
 Sure; it's wheels, pard-let's ske-