The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

| enveIopinp paper torn, The address wal blurred, but ho could still make out taintly l the inscription 'F. D. Lane ana the nam' | of the apartment house. It was really tol | him.
 His fingers trembled with eagerness aS hs | slipped off the outside wrapper and disclosed dainty tissue paper and ribbons. It must sure | Iy be from Q girl, he thought
 Inside was Q creation of violet SILK. He eyec | it dubiously, but then his face cleared. Hs had seen similar curioB in shop Windows. II must be A hankerchef case.
 But the name of the sender? He took hold of | the case gingerly and shook 1t. He carefully turned it inside out. No card appeared. II must have slipped out on the way. He sninet appreciatively. The case was strongly scented | with vioIets. It almost seemed as if the faii | donor herself was glorifying his room with hei presence. Yet the question of who had sent 1t still remained unsoved. He knew whom he wished had sent it-the girl in the fiat above. Sht was the girl who. when she came in from tht office of evening, sat down at the piano l and rattled of a jolly twostep-that was when things had gone well-or crept in quietly and sang soothing lullabies-that was when the | days work had left her wornout and blue Lane sympathized. for he had felt just that way himself.
 "B-r-r-r'' rang the electric bell. Lane drowned he reached his hand back for the | button. Why need commonplace realities in the shape of the tanitor break in upon his day dream? Then he strengthened up suddenly. The figure standing in the doorway was not to be confused with the janitor. It was a girl with rebellious brown curls wandering down to obstruct a pair of serious dark eyes. It was the girl of the fiat above.
 The girl stood uncertainty 6 moment in the gathering dusk, then stepped forward with suden decision. 'I beg your pardon for in- truding you" she said apologetically, T don't believe you even see who am in this emi-darkness Won't you let me light up? I am the girl from the lat above" As she spoke she turned to the switch. In mo- ment the room flashed into a blaze of light. Lane still stared at her if at a vision. but the years of business training came to his aid. Wont you sit down. Miss Fane2" he said courteously. "I can't rise-a little trihe of a sprained ankle"
 pathetically. 'HThe janitOr told me. I am 60 sorry" The man found her pity very sweet
 ''I don't want to trouble you," she went on, ''but I am looking for one of my Christmas presents which is lost, strayed or stolen. Ii must have come. for my cousin writes that it was mailed some days ago"
 Instinctively Lane spread his hands over the dainty trife lying in his lap. Yes. the pillow hid 1t from view.
 'It is a handkerchief case made of purple silk As names look something alike. thought it might have come to you by mis- take" She looked at him expectantly.
 Now, Lane had been mentally planning how he might keep that handkerchief case. He was
 
 could not answer those searching brown eyes with a lie. ''Yes. I have it. thought It was mine" And he held 1t out weakly. Then sudden inspiration came to him 'I wish you would let me keep it, he said pleadingly. 'I will buy you anything else in its place that you like"
 Miss Fane's color deepened. "why?" she asked wonderingly.
 ''Because." he said vehemently, tits the only Christmas present I shall have. I have been lying here in the dusk imagining who might have sent 1t to me. and I can't bear to give 1t up. I would not care so much if I was up and around You don't know how blue fellow gets shut up here all alone Lit tie things come to count lot"
 He looked so helpless lying there on the couch that the girls heart went out to him and she had a fashion of following her heart more readily, than her head. You poor fel. low!' she said gently. q know just how YOU feel. You shall keep the handkerchief case Cousin Laura will never, know. and I have several others. And you must count 1t as q real Christmas present from me. Only don'l give me anything in its place except to wish merry Christmas when I come down to see you in the morning. I will bring somt goodies from my home box They will max, you forget all about the ankle"
 She hurried away Lane did not know thai 1t was because she wished to hide tear, brought to her eyes by the dumb look Ae srAti