Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-12-26
"MRs. RANDALL
with Christmas Greetings.
yrom II. LINCOLN CHADsEY."

with Christmas Greetings.
yrom II. LINCOLN cHADsEY."
lie wrote the words In fair. distinct
letters on the crcam'tinted ny-ienf.
then sat back In his chair and held the
book OF ut arms length To see the ef-
feet. II was strongly and steadily
written. and his own signature. Win
the concluding flourish that answered
for a base upon which Its welghty re-
spcctnbillty seemed to rest. stood out
boldly, as IL stood on many u paper
where It's presence meant power, ln-
tlucncc, moncy-H. Lincoln Chndscy!
He was not young man when. af-
ter years OF fierce, relentless persist
ency In the pursuit OF wealth. he
found himself recognized and popu-
lar member OF the FIRST society," ana
lie was now In his second generation
of bachclorhood. The beauties who
had ut first smiled upon him and nc-
ecpted his gifts and gallantrlcs had be-
come matrons. more or less sedatc. or
splnstcrs with yocatlons for charity or
art. and their places Were filled by
younger sisters and daughters. who
also smiled upon him and accepted his
bon-bons and holiday gifts ns gra-
ciously and gladly. yet. he was com
PEELED to own. with difference.
Walking home from his Office that
afternoon he found himself detained
for u moment by crowd that had
gathered before brllllnntly-fi filled shop
window. Only u moment, yet long
enough FOR him to hear his own name
spoken by some one Just before him
a young lady who had for the last
month laid claim to his attentions
with more than ordinary constnncy.
She was replying to her companions
question
.'ChadLcyf oh. yes. he's a nice old
thing. Rather queer and clumsy In his
attentions. as ones grandfather might
he. you know. but he's rich. he's rich.
lie can afford to give soTcthing hand
some for Christmas. II he don't re-
member ne shall he sorry I've vast
ed so much sweetness on him the last
month"
That was all. The crowd swcp, on.
the way was clear once more. but II
seemed TO Mr.. Chnds-y that the wind
had suddenly changed: 1t came from
the north. sharp and penetrating. and
he felt his smooth. smiiin; face grow
wrinkicd as II stun; him.
In the quiet OF his elegant rooms he
looked over the costly array OF gifts
that he had provided for friends who.
Tor aught he knew. might all call him
"a nice old thing" aud against whose
very fricndllncss. spontaneous as II
seemed. might bc. written FOR value
TO be received ut Christmas" Certainly
upon the trinkcts before him. through
the conventional holiday greetings. he
could read plainly enough the same
legend. "for valGc received" An cS-
al frlS ..f Al nt.I ss,sl mai
royalty for his place nt dinner party.
A rare bronze Cancelled his debt to a
friend at whose country house he had
spent u week In June. \ costly bon
bonnicrc WIS bu, the return. with hea-
Wy interest. for u pair OF artistlcally-
worked slippers that he didn't want
and couldn't wear.
ac went through the list: Interest.
sclfishncss. vanity were written
against each. Where We're the love
and good w., without which all gifts
are vnluclcssI
The book from whose ny.lcaf his
own name looked boldly back Mt him.
In spite OF the humiliatlng reflections
1t had called up, was exquisite In bind
ing and decoration. II was Lowclrs
vision OF Sir launfnl." and rcmem-
Lcring Mrs. Randall's dainty tastes
anu the alarming rate mt which her
art education was progressing. and re-
mcmbcrlng. also. certain social obliga-
tions to herself and her husband, Mr..
Chadsey had spared no expense In the
establishment OF the volume.
As he closed the book his eye fell
upon two lines, and the accompanying
illustration emphasized them SO TINT
he remembered them perfectly after
the one careless reading:
Not what we give. but what VIC share,
For the gif without the givcr Is bare.
He laid aside the book. impntieDtly
dismissed his unpleasant thoughts, and
sought that masculine refuge. the
newspaper; but the haunting lines he
had read were not so easily disposed
OF. They looked at him from the stock
reports, they crowded into the tele-
graphic news, they spread themselves
in black lines down the amusement
column, they seemed to be repeated all
over the society and fashion articles.
und when, as last resort. he turned
to the marriages and deaths. he found
them larger and more distinct than
ever.
he threw aside the paper at last
with an angry "Pshaw"' and started
up. Things did not go Mt all to his
liking, and this was Christmas Eve.
Why should he be so annoyed about
nothing? IT must be Indigestion. he
reasoned. impaticntly; he knew he
took too little exercise; he would walk
down to the office and get rid of these
doolisn fancies.
Old Simon Bowling put up the shut
ters. covered the fire, locked the doors.
and made ready to leave the office for
the night.
Usually he made quick work of it.
and was of to Hannah and the babies
and supper; but tonight lie fingered,
and when, at last, everything was
done. he took his hat in his hand and
sat down before the fire.
They called him Old Bowling he
cause his hair was getting gray and
he stopped little, but he was younger
by n dozen years that Mr.. Chadsey,
who was Mt the head of the establish
ment in which he performed the du-
ties of porter and anitor.
His face was troubled. and after n
while he shook his head, saying:
Its no use; tho days got to go by
without anything TO mark it but good
wishes. Thank the Lord. they don't
cost money; and they can't he bought