The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-12-20


hear the rough voices that had begun
to seem to her sWeeter than any mu-
sic. But 1t was all dark and still, and
she replenished the fire and set the
table, running every few minutes to
look out. 1t was growing toward twi-
light; people made haste with new
skates under their arms the dolls
head peering from the parcel, the tur-
keys legs in evidence some times a
whistling urchin, sometimes a forlorn
and empty-handed woman. But no
Captain Billy came numbering up the
wharf,: no Johnny.
1t was quite dark now She could
hear the great ice-floes splitting in the
river; her fatehr's boat-she had grown
very restless. She walked the floor,
pressing her forehead on the cold pane
at every turn.
"Oh, it's pretty Christmas I've made
for us ALL" she cried. And then she
walked the floor again, and wrung her
hands, and could not sect the glad and
gay people going by for the squirting
tears, nor hear the children shouting
Merry, Christmas!" to each other for
the sound of her beating heart and the
cry Of the rising gale. ooh, Johnny!"
she sobbed again. II don't know where
you are! Oh, if you only get back
I'll never speak sharp word again
till the longest day I live!" But neither
pa nor Johnny replied.
In fact, Captain Billy could not have
replied if he had heard her. He was
at that moment down the harbor on a
oo1xo Of 10
had happened he could not have told
accurately: whether, when the dark
coal steamer came blowing to her
mornings, his skiff was cut in two, or
whether she sent the great cakes Of ice
crashing and fitting about, and some
of them did the business for him. But
here he was, suddenly landed high and
dry on one of those cakes, and CLUTCH
ing the slippery edges for dear life, hal
loOing for help, seeing the town lights
slipping away behind him the harbor
lights, live emerald and a ruby, fol-
lowing, bearing the long note Of the
bar before him.
by king" said Captain Billy, !
guess it's come this time! I wisht I'd
left my bank books to hum 18th Kate"
said the poor old soul. dts a turrible
Christmas she's a-goin' ter hev, an she |
settin' so much by the day, ever since |
she went to Cunday school! 1 amt !
ben good father to her., he said pres |
emily, between his shouts. i've ben |
real miserly. She's allus seemed hap |
py, though-the little busy. frolickin' !
creatur'! I'd orter made her happier. !
I hope Johnny will. It's too late now,
I hope the Lord'll hev marcy on me: !
an on Kate, too! Hullo' What's that ?"
w'"That" was boat - 1ding along
side, strong voice, strong arm, a.
stout heart. "Come along, Cap'n Billy! |
Roll over! Tumble in! BY George, this
was tough on you! Close CALL Here.
you take an oar. Twill warm you up.
Well make it before you could say
Jack Robinson. I expect there's a
little body'll be glad to see the two of
us an wouldn't give a copper to see
one of us thout the other
you're talkin' like a man, Johnny!"
said Captain Billy. An if I've got any
influence 18th her, you'll be a married
man by the time the Christmas bells
ring
Kate had left her watch at the VIM
dow, her pacing Of the floor. She was
crouching by the fire listening-not to
the grinding and crashing of the ice
in the river, nor the sweeping of the
tide not to the wind rushing by, nor
to the gay street voices giving merry
Christmas-but for feet creaking on the
trodden snow of the little path.
Suddenly she sprang up and ran to
light the lamp and pull down the
shades And at the same moment the
bells of St Stephens began to pour
forth the Christmas peal. There was
a fumbling at the latch, a stamping and
shaking in the little entry, voice roar
ing out: WAL, Katy, gal, here we
be-"
Il was looking for you about this
time,". said a demure ard rosy young
person coming to meet them.
s'Kate," said her father, IAN hour
ago never expected to see your face
again. I've been in forren port, but
I've cleared 'ith,new papers and a clean
bill. Things amt goin' on the way they
was. There's my bank books; you take
'em. I amt a-givin' of 'em to We, but
I'm maxim We a Christmas present Of