Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-12-14

CHRISTMAS gifts. such Christmas
tree you never saw. There were little
things IN silver spoons. forks, after
dinner conecs and knives. and there
was a rocking chair. also several little
footstools and little articles Of bric.a-
brac, an newly covered with cheap
ehintz. And there were toys. Oh. 20
many toys. And upon the table at the
side Of the tree stood the best OF wines
and Christmas fruits
'IIow swe,t ~ you. wlllT Winters
pretty wife said ns she threw her arms
around his neck aud kissed him. How
did you ever guess that wanted all
those silver thlugs Tor the tableT"
"And did any one ever see such n
son-ln.lawT cried the old lady as her
eyes fell upon the table with the wine
and fruits.
Il have got the coolest papa In the
world" yelled the six year old. while
the others chlmed 10 "Yeth" as they
made n dive for the toys.
= could sit IN this rocking chair for
week." murmured Winters wife.
rocking herself back aud forth with
her foot Ga the gayly covered footstool.
IL Il wasn't that felt as n wanted
90 get up and kiss you again." she
said TO Winter for the twentieth time
as she looked around.
"Now go 10 bed. an Of you" cried
Winter. 'and something extra Tor the
one who starts FIRST Don't let me
hear o word from you again until TO
morrow morning az breakfast, and
then well have Christmas al day"
IIe hustled them out Of the room, ana
when ! tapped on the door there was
no one LETT downstairs 10 open It but
he.
well what are you going 70 DO
about n.y. ! asked. stepping into the
room and pointing to an the Christmas
things
Il don't know" said he. dropping
down by the table and hiding bis face
In his hands 4 don't know. am sure.
II VIII Mi her il son tell her"
"What made sou take themT
asked
because he's SOC so much he doesn't
know what 20 do with g." said Winter.
$50 ! took them all easy Ike and
thought e would blow over IN a few
days You see. we have 10 many ba.
bies On our family" be added. that
there wasn't much left this year FOR
Christmas. and the children have been
talking about Il every day FOR the last
three months. Il broke my heart 10
think ia have 10 disappolnt them. 20 !
did The bet ! could FOR them"
'iou watched the house all night for
the colonel. did your"
~Yes. except Tor abotS an hour: long
enough 10 slip over here with an arm.
full"
We'll. what are you going to do
about ~"
God knows; DON'T he repeated.
1T viii KIN her n you tell her"
do you want me 10 arrest you to
night, or win you wait until morulngTr
Christmas dayr be exclaimed.
breaking down and beginning TO cry
Ike a baby. 4 know I'm a wretch.
Only KIN me-do anything; but don't
tell her"
II might have been that the spirit Of
Christmas was IN the air Perhaps
the thought OF those six little children
and that sweet faced wife had a
stronger influence than they should
have had over a detectives heart. But
said 10 him. well. bundle up the
things and come along with me. and
Wen see what we can do about H."
We looked Ike two Santa Clauses
ourselves as We slipped along the
streets choosing bylancs aud cross
paths TO the Payne residence
We got into the triangular lawn by a
rear path and stole softly up 20 the
house. There was the dining room
lighted and 10 the middle
stood tree all bare and waiting for
sifts, just rs ! told the colonel 10 az. /
'anee t.
There was no one IN the room, and .
lfter had pried up the sash we stole
% together There was only Just time
o drop our packages on the door az the =
DOT Of the tree aud 10 rush away again
lcfore the colouors daughter came IA.
"Oh, papa" she cried, here are
.ome presents FOR u.s."
But heard no more Just then. for
vas busy helping poor Winter get
way. An hour later rang the
.olonefs front door bell He opened
be door himself.
Come right in." said he. Il guess
ION are a wizard tonight Just after
We got the Christmas tree set up and
While we were upstairs getting our
'rcseuts together 10 hang on the tree
be thief came back and left the Christ
mas presents"
Everything thereY ! asked
Everything" said be, down TO the
lst teaspoon. We have counted them
H. roor fellow. he must have had a
Utility conscience. and when Il came
eve be squared Il with him
cli by sending back nll hc had stolen"
stranger said |.
Very strange" said the colonel "Td
ko. II | knew who the thief was 10
end him something Tor a Christmas
resent Just rs reward Tor his con