Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-12-24

was never wildly festive for Christ
mas, but even that was to be denied
him this year.
There was q rafting at the hall door.
Lane hastily brushed aside the tears as
the wife of the janitor came in. Wom-
anlike, she was compassionate. Her
face beamed as she cried: "a package
for We, Mester Lane TIL postman jest
left 1t, an 1 hurried it up, thinkin' 1t
might cheer ye bit. It's sure some
prisint lady fren's been a-sendin' ye."
The invalid laughed shortly. From
a lady friend! He had been raised in
an orphan asylum and as far as
his knowledge went had not living
relation. His position in the business
world was entirely due to his own
pluck and energy. He had not had
time to make lady friends.
When the woman had gone, he still
looked curiously at the package in his
lap. 1t was in bad order. The string
was loosened and the enveloping paper
torn The address was blurred, but he
could still make out family the in
scription "F. e. Lane" and the name
of the apartment house. 1t was really
for him.
His fingers trembled with eagerness
as he slipped off the outside wrapper
and disclosed dainty tissue paper and
ribbons. 1t must surely be from girl,
he thought.
Inside was a creation of violet silk.
He eyed it dubiously but then his face
cleared. He had seen similar curios in
shop windows. 1t must be handker-
chief case.
But the name of the sender? He
took hold of the case gingerly and
shook it. He carefully turned it inside
out No card appeared. 1t must have
slipped out on the way. He shifted
appreciatively. The case was strongly
scented with violets. 1t almost seemed
as if the fair donor herself was glorify-
ing his room with her presence.
Yet the question of who had sent 1t
still remained unsolved. He knew whom
he wished had sent 1.-THE girl in the
fiat above. She was the girl who,
when she came in from the office of an
evening, sat down at the piano and
ratified off 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 sympa-
thized, for he had felt just that way
himself.
"B-r-r-r' rang the electric bell. Lane
frowned as he reached his hand back
tha h,,tf WHY mood
place realities in the shape of the jan
itor break in upon his day dream?
Then he Strengthened up suddenly.
lhe figure standing in the doorway
was not to be confused with the jan
itor. 1t was girl with rebellious
brown curls wandering down to OBJ
struct a pair of serious dark eyes. 1t
was the girl of the fat above.
The girl stood uncertainty a moment
in the gathering dusk, then stepped
forward with sudden decision. 81 beg
your pardon for intruding on you"
she said apologetically. 81 don't be-
heve you can even see who I am In
this semidarkness. Won't you let me
light up? l am the girl from the nat
above" AS she spoke she turned to
the switch In moment the room
flashed into blaze of light.
| Lane still stared at her as If at
vision, but the years of business train
ing came to his aid. won't you sit
| down, Miss Fane" he said courteous
| ly. 81 can't rise-a little trifie Of a
| sprained ankle"
Eyes, 1 KNOW" the girl interrupted
| sympathetically. "The janitor told me.
( 1 am so sorry" The man found her
/ pity very sweet.
'I don't want to trouble you" she
went on, "but am looking for one of
! my Christmas presents which is lost,
| btrayed or stolen. 1t must have come,
for my cousin writes that it was mailed
J some days ago."
Instinctively Lane spread his hands
/ over the dainty trifle lying in his lap.
Yes, the pillow hid it from view.
at is a handkerchief case made of
| purple silk. AS our names look some
thing alike, 1 thought it might have
come to you by mistake" She looked
at him expectantly.
! Now, Lane had been mentally plan
! ming how he might keep that handker-
! chief case. He was a thief in every
thing but the deed. But he could not