New-York tribune., 1903-01-07

IooG night. sir. III keep heye on tne ueiI1Ce
Merry Christmas to YOU said the policeman al
tne corner of the court
Won't get it WHAT'S ne paid for? what Dc. We
.. Sarly oeggar, old Ragoag. said the policeman
Where's your place. Andrews asked nfr-
Camden, Town sir Very nice locality. quite
Oh. You won't be expecting q rise. Andrews;
my room. room thats m pay an IoF my snare OF 'ne supper anu
,scA - E rise IS the last thing that should s5
Nj Grandcourt eyed him suspciously and gruntsd
deserted City streets and scraped up mud and soft
wet SLOW into some semblsnce to balls and pelted
s9unt-y. mead iii-fsd chiidrsn Trey were with
5IonPPad features and shrevd faces Andre~s
his Companion shouted back CHEEKY replies to the
standing at doors watching the snow.
At the door of the little house. with six feet Of
as the other hundred little houses in the street.
excuse turned % to MT m s4 6o Il and n-epare
Mrs simmons She's a lady as wants deal Of
unawares." So In he popped with the convulsive
chuck1ng more alarming than ever. and out he
versation with an asthmatic voice which seemed
only only capable OF saying 'L'oT, yer dom sye sor'
Come in. Mr.. Grandcourt: come In and wei
and here's a hook for your coat and bless me,
don't the supper smell good?"
Tnen with flourish. Andrews opened the door
court had he b1+b Jd tI Isy mgI IN r; erI y,
was not the wonderful texts. in large red capitals
and small blue letters, framed with holly leaves.
the walls look quite dingy the cutlery and table
cloth prepare tons for the supper. It might have
been all these. for they were remarkably different
fTo anything he had cause TO expect from his old.
% snrlVeled, little Glerk.but II was not so II was
TAN pretty faIr haired woman. of twenty-eignt or
so. who rose half-timidly and held out her hand;
Proc proad 2Iue sesn and narrow blue ribbon keeping
ner curly brown hair in much order It's IN
two. mother and chilQ. standing half-frightened
petore him. that absolutely took away all his
This is Chrissy-my-er-son' wife sir and
sons only child. said Andrews s'' II my
II am very. very glad to you. Mr. Grand
court SAID the mother, keeping round
her child and looking at the thin. shabby City
Ilerchant IN pleading wav, that would have gone
straight to his heart If he had not so hidden It
away for ten years that all the channels to it
astonished. ANU -eo
Now" cried Andrews briskins about like
good natured but somewhat dilapfdated fairy now
1or supper. Mr0 Simmons. Mrs. Simmons
MI Grandcourt. gaIantly. we must wait FOR him
..c.dh9r he won't be home-yet." said Mrs. Andrews
What What a supper that was! Mrs simmons was
no inoIhng more nor less than a cOnjUror. and. what
Is better producing all sorts Of appetizing viands
ron, nowhere genially allowed her audience TO
again After the dessert Dorothy went to bed, al
@ fn9ugh before she would move out Of the room she
INSISTED upon kissing Mr.. Grandcourt; and Mr..
Grandcourt submitted quite cheerfuIy. and was
the chocolate evidences Of the embrace While
MI Mrs Andrews was undressing Dorothy somewhere
glasses OF grog and Mrs simmons. with cIatter
matte accompaniment somewhat resembling a dis
tant brass band, cleared the table
low chair between into WbcB g Tr Ine 6rss a5s Pqs
presently stole very softly and then most artfully
turned down the gas--to the gas bill" as
ne 7Sa SAD Ia aPologetIcallyi stt2e5 ally,
snow weather outside-and w1nked sleepily at Mr.
Grandcourt who sat back in his chair with a sigh
Mrs Andrews. my dear he said suddenly per
maps In response TO the suggestion Of the fire, I
-er"-- ne coughed little as though there was
your husband Dorothy's father-your son. Andrews
Il wonder" said Andrews. apostrophizing the
ire 7 wonder what has become OF Master
Mr.. Grandcourt grunted.
beg your pardon. sir but seeing me so happy
makes ne think. sir Things weren't always 50
-'Eh?' said Mr. Grandcourt You always had
Not always" said Andrews. quietly Mrs An
drews with bent head. intent upon the fire Mr.
Grandcourt was still troubled with huskiness-
Not always sir That's why I'm so happy now.
Is sort Of new sir Bless your heart sir and beg
when it's new; II quarreIled with my son. sir,
Long ago?'' 8Ir. Grandcourt asked looking very
carefully al his whiskey and water
him to 60. He obeyed me in that and went /
thought I was glad. sir, but bless you I wasn't 7
take lot Of looking after-but when you come
@ n0s beT e nobdv e23 YOU 9 M Sg oo f @ t @
and there's nobody. tit is bit lonely
He said it so softly that only MS Andrews heard
She lifted her head quickly and looked At the old
and the thin hand with which he was now shading
Il was ioneiy. sir. I We you my word sir Every
time saw Georges vacant chair felt louelier and
and up to my work and I don't know a better clerk
in the City, but an old and-and 1t IS hard 70 be
IT is bitter hard" said Mr. Grandoourt. in the
same soft voice.
No wife sir; no son. sir"
All"
so one day last Christmas Eve. sir, Il vas
there's coincidence for you. there was knock at
the door Mrs simmons whos a an g angel! & StF ss 9s
cooking which I'm told Is very trying. she goes 70
Jss W6isperfs at that door and in comes my son
George Chrissie here and Dorothy II tried to De
SIC 15 t5a eoodViI toward men why. sir be-
pea 7 eUT r not cried ike baby-ike Sir two
and suddenly dropped coal as a sort OF hint Mrs
Andrews was crying quietly la -,a-- ssia Mr
Grandcourt suddenly. after fearful struggle Win
ms ssYeg Se5 sir Ny son George came back to me
Christmas Ewes seem made for happiness don
'ngY .sYoEr I George came back. Andrews" said Mr.
Grandcourt fercely What nave T you r GTe srory-
yes Andrews. damn your story .-,a5 .,1-az,x
but II your George sir - crleo Andrews
~ mine came-Andrevvs. I'm lonely: I'm an old
InEaiv I3llvi come and iii the vacant chair"
s.--y,.., shouted Andrews. leapfng up with an
o55 agiif+v and speaking so fast that you might
have thought him a new phcnograpn set 100 1aSt-
1+r.er sir saw It. and forgive me. too for m q
deceiver I have son I'm oacheior sir; a,
WAYS was It's your son. your son George, hved
r-s+b ne ro- three years till ne got and it's
voIr 5auehter sitting there and rushing TO the
door GEORGE George.
Mr. Czrandcourt rose, trembling very mucn, Tne
door ooened young man Of thirty entered, and
ssEI,is Is trickr' said Mr. Grandcourt. sternly.
Then his lips tremhled ana suddenly he faltered
TVba+ an evening IL was after that They would
,aver have thought old Ragbag could have been