The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-21
wrong. But what could it

| be?
Good afternoon" said Godfrey,
who was painting little, as if out of
breath. May 1 put my parcel down
for a minute? It's heavier than 1
thought it was, and I'm out of breath.
But l shall be all right directly"
''Sit down and rest" said Sir Roger,
good-humoredly; Il am glad to see you
again. You have not got lost this
time, 1 hope?"
"Oh, no; thank you. I knew my
way quite WELL"
You have walked?"
Sir Rogers voice took on a note of
| surprise; his home was full three miles
| from that of Mr.. Tempest.
| ooh, yes; 1 walked. I can walk very
we'll; 1 have walked ten miles," said
| Godfrey, proudly. 1T was only that
this was heavy"
He indicated this" with a move
ment of his head. Sir Roger regarded
the parcel with some curiosity.
What is it?" he asked.
'Tll show you," said Geoff, still
| rather breathlessly. He rose and went
to the solid oak table on which the
| parcel still reposed. 1t took him only
| a minute or two to take off the string
| and the brown paper covering, and
| then, to Sir Rogers infinite surprise,
there stood revealed the beautiful sill
yer goblet around which so many as
| sociations clustered-the silver goblet
which Godfrey always called his
Christmas Cup.
"Why have you brought this goblet
to me?". said Sir Roger, after "a mo-
ment's silence, in a strangely altered
tone. His brow knitted itself as he
looked at the beautifully chased cup
and Godfrey wondered whether he
were sorry to see it again.
Don't you like it?" he asked, in an
anxious and disappointed tone. II
thought you were so fond of it and
wanted it so much"
WHO told you that?" asid Sir Roger,
looking at the boy.
Burton told me; Burton, the but
ler," said Godfrey He told me you
wanted the cup years ago"
1T was years ago, my dear little
boy" said Sir Roger, very gently;
land 1, for one, am not angry now"
Aren't you? Oh, 1 am so glad
But you would like the Christmas
Cup, would you not for your very
OWN"
why do you call it the Christmas
Cup"
Because they always bring it out
for me on Christmas Eve" said Geof-,
frey, eagerly, land Burton says it used
to be called a loving-cup, and that
must be the same thing as Christmas
Cup, because at Christmas every one
loves everybody else, don't they?"
II wish they did! 1 wish they did"
said Sir. Roger, with a sigh. But 1
do not understand why you have
brought me the cup to-day. Did Mr..
Tempest-did your grandfather'-with
hac tot sNon 90 ,-4x
"Oh, no." said Godfrey, with sur
prise, II brought it myself
But it was not yours to bring?"
Yes, indeed, it was! Grandfather
gave it to me for my very own. You
don't think" said Godfrey, reddening
and standing very erect, that 1 would
take what didn't belong to me?"
No, my boy, no. 1 only wanted to
understand why you brought it to
me-
II want you to buy it, please"
ITO buy it?"
Eyes, please. I don't want you to
give me a great deal for it, but l
thought perhaps you would give me
two pounds"
MY dear little lad, it is worth if
ty."
us it? But I did not mean to ask
you for so much" said Godfrey. with
lip that began to tremble as he
spoke. 81 wanted two pounds-or five
poundS-just for something special.
and l thought you would like to have
the cup as you cared for 1t so much.
It's my very own, grandfather gave it
to me, and 1 may do just as I like
with it,"
Does he care so little for the thing
which cost us both so dear?" said Sir
Roger, bitterly. Then he made a hasty
movement of his hand, as if to put
some singing thought away from
him, and spoke in a different tone. II
should like the cup very much. NV
dear, for it once belonged to my fam
lily, and there are memories which
make me value it, but before 1 say
VIII take 1t from you / should like to
know, if you do not mind telling ne
what reason you have for wanting to
sell it, ~
Il don't think I mind telling you"
Godfrey said, drawing a step nearer
but 1 wouldn't tell every one think:
1t would not be quite right, because
don't think she would like it,
"She?"
Mrs. Allen that lives at Janieson,s
house and teaches me music"
A sudden flash of new comnrehAn-
sion seemed to pass over Sir Rogers
face: but he only said:
'Wellv'
She is very poor" said Geonfrev
earnestly, land her little girl is III
so Ill that Jameson thinks she won,t
live very long. And wanted to male
a nice Christmas for her, so that She
should know that somebody loved her
at Christmas time; because YOU see
L nave everything l want, and she has
nothing at ALL"
So you thought of selling the silver
cup In order to get money enough for
CHRISTMAS gifts for this little girl ana
her mother?" anu
Yes, that was just it." Geoffrev
looked up at Sir Roger with hopefui
eager eyes. ui'
His face made Sir Roger smile fo-
moment. Then his eyes grew grave
ana tender, and he laid his hand ten
derly upon the boys bright head
God bless you, my boy" he satd
and make you a blessing TO other
that you love"
Godfrey did not understand .na
meaning OF this benediction. but be
hked the gentieneEs OF Sir Roger's
voice. He remembered that Sir Ross-
mad not yet said that he would buv ~.
cup however, and 4 was with erss,
relief that be heard him sneak sestn
VIII give you ten pounds he
said, and you can leave your chrts,
mas Cap with me. WIN that be
Geonrey positively Easpod with A.
hsht' y shall b. able 10 get io,,ei,,
thinEE,' be- said. ever 30 nsny 49,,
thhn expected on. thank va, 49,,
s.ass' nr Roger. how very KIND yoa