The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-04-01
MILES
| GIFT :
BY Fritz Korsmeyer
Copyright. 1901, by F. Korsmeyer
BY Fritz Korsmeyei

0drElSOnS, sue VeuIureu restrained
Good evening"" but GRANGER calmly
stalked by her over to the hall tree.
When he had put aside his things and
turned to her again, she said:
''Mr. Robert is in his room. sir. Shall
/ tell him you are here, or will you
I'll go up. He's expecting me-
At the head of the stairs he knocked
at his friends room and entered.
Sorry to keep you waiting, old man;
ready In few minutes. Sit down and
make yourself comfortable. won't
you?"
GRANGER took the proffered cigar and
smoked in silence few minutes while
his friend worked at his cravat.
Il had a rather peculiar talk with
Miles today" began GRANGER in a tone
that led Garrison to stop whistling and
humble an encouraging monosyllable;
happened to meet him on the street,
you know, just as l was going into
Hopes to look at a few Christmas
things. He had such long face on
that thought he needed jollying up
bit Not like him to need cheering, is
it?"
Scarcely assented Garrison, with
an uneasy laugh. But of course you
know that Charlie has had some occa-
sion to look glum lately"
'.Oh. yes; I've heard the family for
tunes have been rather going to pot.
Well, as | said, started in to chaff
him about Christmas gifts. | bought
few trifies, but most Of the time /
was showing Miles things that | said
man with fiancee ought to be in
terested in, and he was. Several times
thought he was on the point of buy
ing something worth giving. but he
finally said he couldn't decide. We
walked up the street together, and
Miles fell to specializing in general
way as to what girls expected of Their
fances at Christmas time. He seemed
to want my opinion. Queer of him to
come to me with that sort of talk,
wasn't it, Bob?"
yes, but | suppose he thought you
didn't know enough about his affairs
to suspect that he was talking of his
own case. Men who are in love always
talk glittering generalities, while they
haven't thing in mind but their own
particular affair, supposing other peo-
pie won't know it. What did you tell
him? p
We'll, / said it depended largely
upon what girls had been taught to ex-
pect. From that we drifted into a dis
cnssion as to what a man should do
when his prospects changed during his
engagement. Miles said that to the
sort of girl man would really care
for it would make no difference. Good
Lord the sort of girl man would
really care forp told him a man never
knows what kind of girl he is likely
to care for or what kind he Is caring
for, so far as that goes, and ! said that
if l were engaged to a girl wouldn't
take any chances at Christmas. He
responded rather weakly that most
girls of our acquaintance already had
everything they wanted"
(which is quite true put in Garri-
son.
"Oh. yes, true as far as it goes, but
you know very well that the average
girl likes to think her lover has search
ed the town over for something out of
the ordinary. Now. we men know that
nothing remains to be bought as a
Christmas gift that we wouldn't just
as soon be without. but women don't
know it and never will, and so they
go on. expecting joyous establishment
every year.
"Stll, don't believe Martha's just
like other girls In that respect"
.'Oh. | don't mean that she cares
particularly for what Miles may give
her, If | may touch on such matters.
But wouldn't any girl of the proper
spirit expect BY the way" GRANGER
broke off. interrupting himself and
glancing toward the half open door,
81 saw light across the hall when
came up. Is that
"Yes, that's Martha's room, but
think she's down stairs Garrison
went to the door and called his sisters
name. Receiving no response, he re-
turned.
Her door was open. but she didn't
answer. so she isn't up stairs. Shall we
go now%
At the foot of the stairs they en-
countered Miles, who had just come in.
The three men chatted Il moment Then
young Garrison and GRANGER went out
Miles thought Martha looked at him
more seriously than usual as she gave
him her hand. but her eyes were
bright. and when she spoke there was
a touch of gayety in her voice.
"Sit by the fire. won't you?" she urg-
ed. you must be nearly frozen. l
like snow for Christmas, but without
this freezing temperature" She push
ed chair nearer the fire and then
crossed to a stand where huge roses
were nodding over the edge of a cut
glass jar and gathered them in her
arms
"How 90 you always manage to finn
the most perfect blossoms for me.
Charles" the girl asked indistinctly,
her face hidden in the roses. She rails
ed her head for an answer, but the
man was looking into the fire She
moved the stand nearer him.
81 want these close to us this even
Ing. Don't YOU think they should be?
Why don't you reprove me for being
sentimental as you always do? Or
are you already under the influence
of tomorrow and kindly disposed to-
ward every one. even mef"
even you. Now, Martha"-
'Oh, well. I'll take it back If you
don't like it." she FASTENED to say.
laughing. then in a tone of almost
bantering tenderness: my dear,
wanted to tell you about some plans
for tomorrow, but how can ! talk
Christmas when you are in such a
solemn state? You'd dishearten Santa
Claus himself
I've been thinking" answered Miles
slowly, that perhaps you may have
thought the roses-may have taken
understood them a little He rose,
took a few steps around the room and
then began again with better courage.
1T occurred to me after | had sent
them that as they would arrive this
evening you might not take them as
as my gift. / must tell you something
that has been troubling me for a long
time. Things are not quite the same
with father and me as they were when
l first met you. Perhaps you knew
it."
There was questioning infection
In his last words. The girls face had
paled little, but just the faintest
smile curved her lips. She was gazing
steadfastly at the rose jar. on which
her hand rested, and she made no an
swer
Until Christmas came l did not
realize the change in our prospects,"