Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-12-09
+ ~ HerY|IQ&g}Ss,gg :
NChristmas Gift
III BY BARRY PRES SION {

ing tvinkled frostily The sidewalks
were lined with hurrying people, all
of whom carried bundles and jostled
: and were jostled with rare good hui
NOR.
Day after tomorrow Margaret could
go cheerfully back to her proofread-
ing. In the meantime this wretched
holiday obtruded it's grewsome PROS
pect Of loneliness.
o, well, she would make the best al
It, Tomorrow morning she would
spend reading her beloved Stevenson.
in the afternoon the matinee, and
avenue, where the linen was snowy
and the coffee had a delicious flavor.
She would keep up a sort of forced
cheerfulness and forget she was alone.
She a1grily brushed q tear from her
cheek.
As she did 10 the bell In the hail
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 III
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.
I'm glad you came,' she said, fer
vently.
Course you are, he affirmed
''Knew that beforehand or l wouldn't
have come"
Il didn't expect yOu," she said.
What" he exclaimed. Il desert
you on Christmas Eve? Never!"
She led the way to the front room
and lighted the red-shaded lamp.
Carlton threw off his overcoat and
lounged comfortably in morris chair.
MAY r." he said, drawing a cigar
from his pocket.
She nodded.
ITO tell the TRUTH" she said, II a.
most had the blue devils when you
came. You must entertain me-
"An right" he assented, affably.
'What'll do? Sing?"
He pulled down his collar and
stretched his neck in mock prepara-
ton.
NO. she said. "Talk And make
me forget it's Christmas time"
Nonsense" said he. christmas is
a necessary evil and we must face it
the best way we can. O, I brought
you some holly wreaths."
In moment he was hanging them
in the windows.
Say" nc said over his shoulder, K
had 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, so
dropped in on Doc Higgins this
morning." he went on. what do you
imagine the idiotic old pill-slinger told
me?"
''That you are as careless of your
health as of your language, l pre-
sumo"
"Never, my lady," he replied. Told
me my breathing apparatus was out Ut
gear again-nothing serious, but lit
tie care needed. Paraphrased Greeley
and told me to go south"
She was silently watching him.
Therefore Little Willy hieth him to
the agents of the steamship line and
buyeth himself ticket for the boat OF
Monday next The same he presenteth
to himself with much gusto as q
Christmas present"
20, I'm so sorry" she said
For ?"'he said. look here, you
don't know what Easter Key is like.
That is where I'm going-where I was
two winters ago, you know. You 60
down to Key West, and from there
Old JEFF takes you over to Easter in
crazy old launch. You're no end sea-
sick going over, but after you get
there-O, it's all white. shelly beach
with big blue rollers coming in, and
palms standing out against the sky.
and green, green everywhere. You laze
around and fish off the reet-down
there you don't care whether or not
you get a bite-and shoot gators at
the edge of the swamp. Aud before
you know it your tubes are we'll, and
you wonder whether it will be better.
to go back or to laze here tho rsst df
your natural life. wish you ooul1
see old Easter" he said, half wistfully.>
i've half a mind to develop eEQ11
, chial trouble myself" she laughed
Say, d." he said, looking at her 50
earnestly she flushed.
Don't be silly" she said, weakly.
Look here" he said, "by your own
confession you have the blue devlia
Of loneliness. Now, I'm going to give
you Christmas present that will rid
you of them forever-that is, If youth
accept it."
I'D accept anything that would
drive them away" she said.