Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-12-27

sat in the library of his
home and his hair was tossed into dis
order by the combing Of his nervous fin
gers. His dull eyes gazed into the red
depths of a great fire, but read no Grim
son pictures there.
This was the man the world had called
"compacent John Howard"
Eight years before, when he married,
people expected a change in his habits,
but they were disappointed. He had
merely added another part to his ma
ehinery. He had carefully chosen the
kind Of woman who would helplessly be-
come part of a machine.
When children came they, too, were
compelled to become parts of the order
", silent machine controlled by John
Howard. Meek little mites they were.
NO one suspected that they were chill
dren.
There were three of them: Mary, a girl
OF seven; Anna, girl of five, and John,
boy of four. By direction of John
Howard, good, plain names were given to
tlem, names that would wear. Meek
Mrs Howard would have chosen differ
when the children came, John How
ara laid down the rules for their con-
a0ct and keeping; and never afterward
vothered himself about them. If he saw
mem once day 1t was by accident One
!" Ills rules, conditions, was that he was
never to hear them, save when he wish
Gu. as result John Howard was r
aather without children-and the chill.
ufen mad living father, but were faith
eress.
All this would have continued but for
one Inevitable little incident in life called
eeath'-for death, after all, is II part
VI ME, and dying very often the main
pait OF living. The entrance of Mrs.
Inward INTO the life of her husband had
aaue no perceptible change in it. Her
seath mad thrown every part of it out Of
se@' There were three waits In his
~ asuSe VINO came at his bidding and look
" az MN In frightened sort of way
.hn now was he to win the love of his
now John Howard longed to enter that
pay rooml But he never dared. He
fo.s. AFRAID MS entrance would drive them
sS ,A' ana he realized that this room was
%er own little world. Sometimes, in
= sSSOly ne listened at the door, and learn
oh,, sow inherent they were from other
far ~" ne ionged for them to ask him
N N something! What joy he would take
hal .ahting them any wishi But they
IL Zen eeh Drought up to ask for nothing,
Van ApecI nothing, save on one day in the
~. mat day was Christmas.
AZ IN That day they could exnect wondar-
teriona presents, they knew, from n nys-
lata NJ. person called Santa Claus. The
dear a ss Howard had cultivated this one
that .sa iusion IN them, and so perfectly
Or M never dreamed that either she
the ana iatner had anything to do with
litlo annual midnight visit of tbe good
nonthd LAT man. OF him they talked
be lef. Deiore he came and months after
they MI. ana with the presents he left
the nd piayed from one Christmas until
ones patiently waiting for the new
n,a ano carefully guarding tbe old
the con6deau at MS failure to win even
ard birad nc OF his children, John How
Mother eu that hopeless substitute for n
With b,a;le' 10 take care of them.
dinary business BUSINESS acumen and lack of or
New Enoln nlaon sense he secured a grim
cate pos S,ana school teacher for this deli
abe suocaaS and in less than a week
dustry n , by perseverance and in
The lives - lasting more of shadow over
John Hon u The three waits than ever
"ard had. But the waits had