Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-12-26

,cumbent was upstairs temporarily In
icapacitated, owing to too close ac-
quaintance with Mr.. Strelling's wine.
The cook had left in disgust, and the
housemaid, in a bewildered condition.
had Just informed the master of this
chaotic household that there was no
dinner. So Mr.. Strelling turned back
into the hall, donned his hat and over
coat and went out into the wintry night
to search for q restaurant. If there
was one thing that Mr.. Strelling did
dislike, it was eating in restaurants.
AS he sat alone at the restaurant ia
BILE he found himself descending into a
regular vat of the blues.
After all. what did his life mean?
Just toiling for money. And for whom?
There was no relative he cared a pin
for. And it seemed all at once to be
borne upon him with most painful
sharpness and force that he had made
q bad mess of his happiness.
He was not man to care for clubs
or a sporting life. Every one said he
ought to have married. But every one
did not know that he had had his ro-
nance nearly fifteen years before and
that being possessed of the rare quail
tiles of constancy and depth of affec-
ton, he had never since cared enough
for any woman to marry her.
I AS he sat there at the solitary table
the face of his old love came up be-
fore him. 1t was that of merry eyed,
happy girl of eighteen with light brown
hair always blowing about her face in
little tufts
Suddenly he heard his name called
"Richard!"
! He turned in surprise No woman
called him Richard now. 1t was a
woman's voice. But no one was there.
/ Great Scott! suppose I dozed off
waiting for that waiter. No, | don't
think l was asleep. Well, l must be
getting light in the head. I'll shake
myself out of this and 60 to the thea
ter. Tomorrow I'll put on the house a
sign, TO Let" Then the discomforts
of boarding house loomed up before
him in sickening array.
"Well, but what is to be done? It
seems there must be a feminine head
to house. And where am going to
get her? l suppose l ought to have
married. No, oughtnt. What's more,
! won't"
Firm in this resolution, he paid his
check and went out. Every one was
carrying parcels and great punches Of
holly and Christmas trees and they all
looked so eager to get home the sight
grew quite maddening. Presently he
found himself trying to elbow through
solid mass of humanity before a
store window.
Strelling was obliged to pause or else
walk over two children in front of him
"Now. Dick, you must come" said a
small voice.
"Just a minute" piped out still
smaller one. "Say. do you think he's
going to get down our chimney"
81 guess so, but you mustn't mind il
he doesn't. You know mamma said hi
was real poor this Christmas"
"He amt either. Just see all those
things"
"Now. see here, Dick" said the CIR
remonstratingly. eff you go wanting
things you'll make mamma cry. cause
II Santa Claus don't bring them she
can't. She hasn't any money"
81 don't care. want something IL
my stocking"
"Now, Dick, mamma will feel awful.
ly sorry if you do that. You are almost
a man, you know. Please don't cry"
The five years of manhood made q
heroic attempt at self control and dug
his red mitten industriously into his
eyes, whereat the little mother Of nine
kissed him affectionately.
Now come along. Mamma is wait
ing for us in the bakery. And, oh
she'll think we're lost"
"We don't have't to pay money just
to look, do wei"
Strelling, strangely interested, hat
listened to every word, and severa
times the tears had been very near hi
eyes. AS they turned to go he ben
down and put dollar in the GIRL