The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-21
A CHILD Of CHRISTMAS
ChriStmAc Tale Of North and South
{ North and South.
BIZ JOEL cHANpIER HARRIS.

crept slowly upon him, Matthew Clopton
had gradually surrendered the manage
ment Of his domain into the hands of his
daughter. who had early developed exec
utive abilities Of the rarest kind. This
daughter had never married. The years
Of her young womanhood had been given
to the rearing Of her nephew, Francis
Bethune. and to this task she had de-
voted the largest part of her time and
quite the largest share of her affections.
At 40 Sarah Clopton still preserved much
of the beauty of her younger days.
Time had neither dimmed the lustre of
her eyes nor marred her features, and
there was a mature. an almost masculine
strength in her face that gave an added
charm to her conversation.
What she longed for and most needed
was companionship. There are moments
when the busiest of women are thrown
back upon Observation-Disclosures when
their natures demand communication with
some thoroughly congenial person. This
was eminently true of Sarah Clopton.
Francis Bethune had arrived at an age
when he could be depended on to take
care of himself, and 1t was not to be sup
posed that he would continue to hang to
the apron strings of his aunt.
Besides Francis Bethune there was FL
sic Clopton. the young widow of Sarah's
brother. McGillivray Clopton; but there
were streaks of frivolity and folly in the
character Of Elsie, that the elder woman
found unbearable. A widow with the airs,
ways and romantic notions of a school
girl Is not the most attractive person in
the world. The young widow had some
attractive qualities, but none that so far
Offset her silly romancing as to commend
h.. - Go IT,; fr,a
ship.
Then there was DR.. Randolph Dorring-
ton and his daughter Nan. Both of these
were indeed the objects of Sarah Clop-
tons affectionate appreciation. but they
were what they were; one a practicing
physician, busy sometimes day and night.
the other the most delicious and surpris-
ing little girl in the world-and not so
small, either, when you come to think
about 1t, but bubbling over with the high
spirits of Joyous and innocent youth.
Moved, therefore. by an impulse which
she could not have explained If she had
tried, Sarah Clopton caused an advertise
ment to be inserted in the Malvern Re
corder. This notice was worded to the
following effect:
WANTED-By a middle-aged lady of
means, a companion A young woman OF
education and refinement. and possessed
OF some musical accomplishments. pre-
ferred. The position will not be serviie
one. Applicant should come well recon-
mended.
To this were added the necessary details
covering the address.
A few days after the notice appeared in
the Malvern newspaper, Father Martin
who had charge of the small Catholic
In, hat city, entertain
ment to a missionary priest who was or
his way to Canada from New Orleans
To the care of his guest Father Martin
intrusted trifling souvenir, to be deliv'
cred to the Mother Superior of the Con
vent of the Sacred Heart at st. Hya'
cinthe. At this convent Father Martin
only sister had died while attending the
school.
Whatever the token may have been, he
wrapped 1t in a copy of The Malvern Re
corder, tied the bundle neatly, and saw
that this guest placed 1t safely in his
travelling satchel. This particular copy
of The Recorder contained Sarah Ciop
tons advertisement. The souvenir reach
ed its destination in due time and was
received with pious appreciation. Then
when the Mother Superior was finding a
place for it, where 1t would remind hel
Of the sender, and especially of the young
girl, dead long ago, one or the sisters
moved by curiosity. smoothed the wrin
kles and creases of the wrapper. and al
most the first thing on which her eyes
fell was the advertisement of Sarah Clop
ton. She called to Zephereine Dion, and
for brevity's sake, turned the matter rap
idly into French, though Zepherine GOULD
read and write English fairly well.
ut is on the way to New Orleans" the
sister suggested. Now. this was intended
as a piece of pleasantly, all the sisters
knowing Of Zepherines expressed pur-
pose to 20 in search of her father wher
the opportune moment should arrive. TIC
he surprise of the sister, and, indeed. oi
III, Zepherine took the suggestion serl-
)usly.
But yes. my sister" she remarked
With gentle gravity, lit is true, 1t is or
he way there. Do | go by your adviceY
silly child!' the sister cried. taker
lback. you will do nothing Of the kind
{ou take me too seriously"
Zepherine shook her head solemnly
No, my sister; today l am IS. l have
inished here. Now 1 must find my dear
|ather. He is there" She waved heI
and toward the South,
"Oh, folly, folly!" cried the sister
Harmed at the serious attitude of the
,irl. You know not where your father
:, the poor man. Perhaps the good Goo
las taken him: you know not"
But l feel he is there. my sister, -
zepherine persisted. Hourly 1 pray tc
re set right; but 1t is always the same
have the strong feeling that he is there
waiting for me. my sister,
But will you have reason. silly child?"
cried the sister.
1T is reasonable. my sister, to have
the strong desire to aind my dear father.
replied Aepherine.
At any rate. 1t seemed reasonable TO the
girl; and, as she was to go away from
the convent and out into the world in
any event the Mother Superior decided
TO take the matter into her own hands
So she wrote to Father Martin at NAL
vern, making such inquiries as the ma
-ure of the case and her strong interest
n the girl called for. Father Martin
Knew the Cloptons well, and he lost no
lime in placing in the Mother Superior s
hands such information as was calcu-
iated to set her mind at rest. So, at last,
after considerable correspondence. the
matter was arranged definitely and the
young girl came South 10 begin, as she
thought. the search for her father.
1t was lHe peBiHnIHB VI SuhIIler when
Zepherine reached Shady Dale AS for
zcpherine. she felt she was taking long
step in the direction of her father, and
there was never a moment when she re-
GREETED 1t, save during the last hour of
her journey. when depression seized her.
and all sorts of doubts and fears and
grim forebodngs took possession of her
mind. But, after all, matters fell out
very well. Who could have dream I'd that
Sarah Clopton would take the girl in her
arms at the first moment of their meet
ing?