Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-24
1T always is around you."
Around me?"

1T always is around YOU"
Around me?"
Yes. around you He smiled at
the chance, and attempted to avail
himself of it. But a jumping lack
iabbed her on the cheek, and some
thing sounded like a paste-board doll
house collapsing.
There goes our home" he said.
picking the broken structure from the
side of the pack.
Our home"'-she hung upon the
words. 1t was not too dark for him
to See the .dinrhles.
He pulled the protruding Jumping
Jack out of the bundle of toys, and
iald II on the step and she smiled
Ihat was more encouragement than he
cou!d resist. He put his arm around
her. needless of the clapping of the
clown bells. ''Genevievc."-and his
voice lost its merry ring and dropped
to a low tenderness
She said nothing. He saw that she
MAS turned from him. but not in pro-
test. He drew her close to MIN. Cen
evleve! he saiG again. pleading Snc
turned to him. and he caught the pei..
funne of her hair.
can't say the pretty things now "
he pleaded helplessly. But YOU
must have known that have only
waited a moment, n little moment to
tell you-some chance away from the
crowd"
His talk was only u whisper-wolds
low and hurried. He slipped the prea;
smotherins beard and cap attached 10
1t from his face and head There's
only minute-theyll break in: but
cant you guess the words that I would
say. l want you, sweet, to be my
to he Mrs. Kris. Kringle. Not one
Christmas. hut all the snowy days aud
all the summer time"
'Oh, Tom
Tell me. Gcnerieve. Say it,"
Only tonight I wondered if ] was 10 |
love alone-to be broken hearted" she !
said. Happy Mrs. Kris Kringlc 10 |
be- and she nestled closer to him as |
he bowed his head
y quiet footstep sounded in the hall |
way below. Crane took in the situa-
tion-partially. Here, It's not fair |
holding up Kris Kringle." he called up. :
Look at this. will YOU" he called
pack INTO the room below. The crowd |
of workers rushed 20 the lower hall.
And as he has his togs OFF," said |
Murray. rs he spied the efforts to get (
the beard and cap back on.
well haze 10 court martial him !
later on, said Crane. for getting held |
up while on duty"
i was fixing his pack" said Cen |
evieve.
The group in the hall laughed, !
We'll. come down, anyway Every
things all ready said Tillie. Gen |
eNieve. you can stay up there. ana |
we'll give You the signal when to !
vaken TIE children"
a few moments later Kris kringic
was busy unloading his pack. and the |
Young folks were arranging the TOYS;
on the tree II wonder where thai !
dollhouse is?" pondered Grace. IT
thought that was one Of the pretticst
things in the lot"
Kris krngle was Very busy and ap- !,
parently did not hear the query
Then the little tots came down |
stairs. rubbing their eyes, but with |
every sense alive to the wonder Of |
the night. The candles glowed and !
spluttered. The pretty toys CLEANED /
from the green bouChs. and glorious |
old Kris KrinGlc. bcncfcent and mys- |
terious. shook his round body in gl.c |
and vanished up a false chimney. while |
the children shouted joyfully III Nit
Messing his long gheralded coming arI |
going by the chimney route.
1t was at breakfast the next morn /
ing that the engagement was an
nounccd.. Tom WAS brave about it.
Let mo tell you that Kris Kringle was /
not without his own gift last night"
he said mysterously. and rising from
his chair he stood by Genevi"ye.
We didn't have much time. so long
explanations are not in order this
morning, either. But this modern Kris
kringle found the stairway a much |
finer route than the chimney last
night. He stopped and kissed Tho
confused girl.
The girls can do that. too he
said. I'm sorry for the fellows.
There WAS 4 rush at the happy young
people.
And to think l drew a blank last |
night moancd Murray.-The National !
Ma gazine,