Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-12-24
2AHe r2S@ J
Christmas Gift
By BARRY PREsToNI
ARGARET WILSON sad by tt

-
L. the diminutive fiat. In the
street below the lights along the curb
ing twinkled frostily. The sidewalks
were lined with hurrying people, all
of whom carried bundles and jostled
and were jostled with rare good hu-
nor.
Day after tomorrow Margaret could
go cheerfully back 10 her proofread-
ing. In the meantime this wretched
holiday obtruded its grewsome pros
pect of loneliness.
0, well, she would make the best OF
it. Tomorrow morning she would
spend reading her beloved Stevenson;
in the afternoon the matinee. and
after that dinner at the cafe down the
avenue, where the linen was snowy
and the coffee had a delicious flavor.
She would keep up a sort of forced
c%heerfulness and forget she was alone.
She angrily brushed a ear from her
cheek.
AS she did so the bell in the hall
whirred noisily. She went to the
speaking tube and called a dispirited
Hello
Hello came the cheerful response.
THAT you, Margaret? Merry Christ
mas. Kindly unlock the door and I'll
ascend"
She opened the hall door and waited
on the landing. Presently from the
semi-darkness Of the place Jack Carl
ton appeared, putting prodigiously.
''Hello!" he pulled. Long flights,
these. Ought to move down or have
an elevator to move me up
Margaret's face frightened percep-
tibly at the sight of him.
Pm glad you came she said, fer
vently.
Course you are" he affirmed.
Knew that beforehand or | wouldn't
have come"
Il didn't expect you." she said.
WHAT he exclaimed. Il deser.
you on Christmas Eve? Neveri"
She led the way to the front rooin
and lighted the red-shaded lamp
Carlton threw off his overcoat and
lounged comfortably in a morris chair,
May II" he said, drawing a ciga:
from his pocket.
She nodded.
ITO tell the truth she said, Il al
most had the blue devils when you
came. You must entertain me-"
"All right" he a%ssented, affably
"Whatll do? Sing?'
He pulled down his collar and
| stretched his neck in mock prepare
ton.
NO. she said. Talk. And make
me forget it's Christmas time
Nonsense" said he. christmas il
a necessary evil, and we must face il
the best way we can o, brought
you some holly wreaths."
In a momen he was hanging then
in the windows.
Say" he said over his shoulder, g
had a present to-day"
Indeed" she said. From whom?'
"Some one who loves me-"
Strange person." she commented.
Exactly he said. 1T was from
myself"
She laughed.
Haven't been feeling AL lately. 81
l dropped in on Doc Higgins THU
morning" he went on. What do YOU
J imagine the idiotic old pill-slinger tolC
me?"
That you are as careless OF YOU
health as Of your language, | pre-
sumo"
Never, my lady" he replied. "TolC
me my breathing apparatus was out .
gear again-nothing serious, but a lit
tie care needed. Paraphrased Greeley
and told me to go south"
She was silently watching him.
Therefore Little Willy hieth him t
| the agents of the steamship line ant
buyeth himself a ticket for the boat 0
Monday next. The same he presented
to himself with much gusto As
Christmas present"
20, I'm so sorry" she said.
"For me?' he said. Look here, yol
don't know what Easter Key is like
That is where I'm going-where wa
two winters ago, you know. You g
down TO Key West, and from Their
Old JefI takes you over 70 Easter in