The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-12-23

Margaret Wilson sat by the win
dow in the front room of the diminu-
| tive fiat. 1t was Christmas eve and
| she was lonesome. o, we'll, she would
make the best of it. She would keep
up a sort of forced cheerfulness and
forget she was alone. She angirly
| brushed a tear from her cheek.
AS she did SO the bell in the hall
whirred noisily. She went to the
| speaking tube and called 4 dispirited
Hello"
Hello" came the cheerful response
That You Margaret? Merry Christ
mas. Kindly unlock the door and
| III ascend"
She opened the hall door and waited
on the landing. Presently from the
semidarEness of the place Jack Carl
ton appeared, putting prodigiously.
M2rgarets face frightened percept
IDLY at the sight of him.
Il didn't expect YOU" she said.
WHAT he exclaimed. Il desert
you On Christmas eve? Neyer!"
She led the way to the front room
and lighted the red-shaded lamp. Carl.
ton threw off his overcoat and Iounged
comfortably in morris chair.
May L. he said, drawing a cigar
from his pocket
She nodded.
TO tell the trath," She said. q al
most had the blue devils when YOU
came. You must entertain me-"
All right he assented affably.
"What'H l do? Sing"
No she said. TAX. And make
ME forget it's Christmas time"
Nonsense" :" said he. christmas is
4 necessary evil, and we must face it
the best way We can. o, 1 brought Won
some holly wreaths."
In moment he was hanging them
II the windows
Say" he said over his shoulder aI
haG a present today"
Indeed" she said. From whom"
Someone who loves me"
Strange person" she commented
Exactly he said. 1t was from
myself"
She laughed.
haven't been feeling Al lately. so
l dropped i'll on Doc Higgins tbis
morning. ne went on. What do vo,,
imagine the idiotic old pilI-slinger told
me?" 'Oiu
That you are as careless of vonr
health as CT Your language, nre.
sumo"
Never, my lady" he replied. Told
me my breathing apparatus was o,t
OF gear again-nothing serions but n
little care needed. Paraphrased Craa-
ley and told me to 90 south"
She was silently watching hin,
Therefore Little Willy hietb hin, -
the agents of the steamship line go
buyeth himself ticket for tho hoat
OF Monday next. The same bo ,,n,
senteth to himself with much e,,sto
as Christmas present"
%, I'm so sorry" she said
For me- he said Look hero vo,
don't know what Easter Kew is 1i,eo
That IS where I'm going-wbere r Ta.
TWO winters ago, you know. yo,, -
down to Key West, and from +boso
Old Jeff takes You over to Eos+on
crazy old launch. You're no 90
seaslck going over. but after vo, gat
there-O, its all white. SHELLY hoenb
WIN Dig blue rollers coming in OF
palms standing out against tba -.
ana green, green everywhera ~
Iaze around, and fish off tho -ooc
down there you don't care wbe+bou
not you get bite-and shoot gators
at the edge of the swamp. And he
lore you know it your tubes are waII
ana you wonder whether II u,i1I -
better 10 go back or to laZe bara az
rest OF your natural life. 7 wish A
coutu see Old Easter" he said.
I've mali a mind to deyeIo, H.
chial trouble myself" she Iamobo D'on-
say DO he said, looking at her so
earnestly she flushed. De' 30
Don't be silly" she said waa17r
LOOK here" he said, "bv vour ~
concession you have the hIne da,,;,1
lonehness. Now, I'm going to a,nn
you a Christmas present that ri,i ~,
accept it." lS' II you'll
l. d accept anything that wou,d
drive them away" she said "'u'o
,+,- el' he said. here's the chr.
It's the other ticket" cure
Inc other ticket?" she cres+,o.,
certainly" said he. - -pt.eu honnht .
this morning" 0o"sht TWO
1or sue ant, s".seG her head from his shovI-
Ier anu smiled up into his eyes
~ lou said Id be sick going a,.,o,,
rom rom hey West, didn't you" shs @
"''''' - -.~-4, "a.