Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1902-12-27

wagons and chariots, and bushels OF
candy which benefcent Santa Claus
filled when all was still in the
| house"
! There are big hearts, too, that
| throb with hope and expectation on
the eve of the anniversary of the
! Christ child, and exult with joy in
| unison with the merry chimes, when
| they find somewhere, in the morning,
choice gift, upon which the dew of
| loving friendship still fingers.
Moreover, the hero of the tale is
the original Santa Claus, the true, the
simon pure. His sled and graceful
reindeer are another matter for
where he lived and practiced his kind
| and loving deeds, there was neither
crisp, cracking snow, nor singing
frost. The air was always balmy and
! the winter time was the summer, so
there were no warm furs, nor yawI-
ing chimneys down which to drive
his team, but, nevertheless, good
Santa Claus lived and breathed;
warm blood flowed in his veins, and
he made the hearts of the young peo-.
pie glad and jubilant.
he Lulu VI 1QCdn Was d plOuu d1N
naughty noble-he was a captain in
the Kings Guards, post of honot
but not of profit-and he was all the
prouder and laughter because his
wealth was not commensurate with
his rank.
To add to the lords embarrass.
ment, he was the father of three
beautiful and accomplished daugh-
! tiers, Margarita the Pearl; ROxana,
| the Dawn of Day, and Claudia, the
Lame That he loved them and re-
| garded them each as the apple of his
| eye, was evident, from their affection
for him, and his personal economies
to fit them for attendance at a gor-
seous court, where alasl they were
compelled to go by the Kings com
mand, their father being one of his
| chief officers.
Many a silent tear he shed; many
a time his heart was wrung and torn
| because of the scornful, envious, jeaI-
| Gus glances of the naughty danes
! and demoiselles, who looked down
upon the three poor girls whose
| father could not deck them with
! flashing jewels and silken garments,
/ VI ndlS IOpSS VI pSd11S anu
| around their lovely necks. They were
upstairs, most of them, but they Jared
! well in this worlds goods. though
| they had little beauty and few &C
/ complishmentS.
Fain would the nobleman have
| lived in peaceful. happy retirement
| with his daughters, but giddy luxu-
rious king said NO" and that was a
! law unto them all.
| Faith, my Lord Lucan. thou hast
surprisingly lovely daughters said
the King one day; '''tis time they
should we'd
Whereat the lord bowed, AYE, your
! Highness, well l know it, but the dow
~ that must go with every lawful
welded wife, that have l not
There are many of my noble lords
| who would be proud to mate with
them" continued the King honor
| them, say, with an alliance
What, your Highness, wed them
| without a dowry?" The noble lord
was surprised, for he knew the law
| and the custom that required a dam
! sci to bring her husband, not broad
lands. but good. hard gold, or else
remain unwed.
u said not we'd my Lord of Luz
| can; said alliance Canst thou not
| understand? ?" And his Majesty
| frowned.
! The Lord of Lucan knew too well,
| but he knew not what to say, and
stood in deep, painful thought. May
hap he breathed a prayer to Heaven.
The King broke roughly in upon his
/ cogitations.
II am accustomed to be obeyed, as
| thou well knowest my Lord of Lucan.
| wherefore be advised. Within a