The San Francisco call., 1904-12-18

bvcone larks. and dear Aunt Nell smil-
ing over the tea things Then the OLD
Dutch clock struck IL.
So late? The fairy godfather had
given until IL.
he saw Aunt Nell smiling proudly at
him with her hand upon the large old
fashioned IOcket she wore at her throat
A singular thing, the picture IN that
circlet Of gOld-a young man with
laughing face dressed in some masque
of Yule-tide, robe OF red ana Wnlles
and holding a snowy wig as II ne nau
lust taken it of to catch the camera
eye The young people knew Of some
memory in Aunt NelPs life; OF a lover
a foolish quarrel one Christmas night,
parting-and he had come no more. To
her each Christmas was an anniVer-
sary; thirty years had scftened her
sorrow to a sweet remembrance, yet To-
night, as always, she was IN a revere
1t may have been some tremulOus pain
in all this joy that caused her to un-
clasp the lOcket. while the young peo-
pie were about the piano; to kiss 1t Sc
cretly in the firelight's glow.
Fresh young voices and laughter
were raised ON DoOlan'S dark stairway
as Harvey saw them. down to a cab
on Folsom street. The time to the train
was brief: he should not go with them
to the station. The carriage dashed on
with the girls calling out holiday
greetings. Then the host stole up
stairs, dreaming of some message that
had come to him from the pressure OF
Barbara's fingers; in his bare little
room he watched the glittering lights
of the city and waited for the midnight
bells of Christmas
1t was very late when Mr. Gets re-
turned The last candle had long
burned from the tree at Slacovich's
bakery Maggie Thomas, the lame girl,
had been carried to her home by Santa
Claus himself. The little Ramseys
slept in the Ramsey tenement, treas
uring the toys that St. Nick had found
for them. The old man climbed the
Doolan stairs. In his room it seemed
some warm, human presence of the
nights guests fingered; the echoes OF
young laughter filed old Gets brain
with memories Of other days. He laid
off the overcOat that had concealed his
fantastic coat of red and white cotton,
and sank back in his old chair before
the fire, still the Santa of SlacOvich's
party, with snowy hair and Whi5kerS
below his round. red little cap.
Old Gets was tired from the shout
ing gayety where he had been the gay
est of them all. He was alone. as he
was wont to be. in these silent rooms,
sunk in thought before his fire.
The Christmas bells were ringing;
chorus of glad young vOices-a carol
of the nativity it was; some early band
Of joyous wanderers singing the
Noel" Old Gets wondered why
there should be sadness in his heart
at this rejoicing, as there had been for
thirty years; it brought. as it always
had done, the vision of his hearts de-
sire. In this WEAKNESS of thought he
slept and from the doze awakened.
She had come out of the frelit dusk
of his room before. him. She stood with
lips half parted in a question, framed
in the shadows on the wall.
Harvey. dear" she said, a trihe
breathlessly, I'VE missed the train-we
drove back for my lOcket-it must
have fallen here. Why-Santa Claus?
Harvey. are you joking again? No.
who-whC-are your"
Aunt Nell started in dismay at the
figure rising from the chair.
Il beg your pardon, she faltered,
this cannot be the wrong room.
Harvey-Mr. Bell-where is he ?"
The red and white Santa Claus
bowed staring at her from under his
shaggy, false brows- He stepped back.
placing a hand upon the table. Her
eyes followed the motion; she came
forward with a little cry of relief.
"Oh. no-these are his rooms! My
locket-I came for this"
He picked up the thing she was
touch was sacrilege to her. He held
the gold circlet, looking at the mask
er's face. She still advanced a hand
to receive it, frightened by his intent.
This yours-madame? ?" The voice
was almost a cry of eagerness.
Yes Why, who-who-ar you?''
The Santa Claus figure suddenly
caught the white wig from his head
and face; he Strengthened up, coming
TO her with an exclamation.
"Oh. would you believe-could you
believe-a wonderful thing? Ellen
King, he has come back to youl'
Aunt Nell stared at him, more
frightened than before. And then. as
she was stumbling, old Gets caught
her, led her to the couch. was crying
out, caressing her. eager with passion,
with joy with the wonder of it.
Nelliel 1t Is true-true as that
loved you then Yes, you've come to
me, dear heart Nell-we do not need
to. understand-yOu have come"
Yes" she whispered, II waited
waited-even though I believed that
you were dead
were ringing. Below in the street the
horses became impatient. Janette and
Barbara presently stole up the dark
stairs to see why Aunt Nell did not
return They came upon Harvey in
the hall, listening outside of a door
Harvey hushed the girls as though to
him had been given some wonderful
understanding.
Where's dear Aunt Nen?" they
whispered to him.
Il came down to thank him." Har-
vey uuttered. and now-oh. come
away"
But some one stirred within the
room. Old Gets suddenly flung the
door~wide OPEN Then he stood by the
couch where Aunt Nell lay in a peace
that needed no Interpretation. Still
young and fair and kind she appeared.
by some glad TRANSPORTATION and Mr..
Gets was very proud and erect with
something a-glitter on the white beard
Of Santa Claus that still hung from
his neck. He stopped to kiss Aunt
Nell's hand and then smiled upon
them.
Come in, come in" he cried. ~Ah.
boy, came back an hour ago before
your guests departed and stood out
side the dOor-alonei Then / stole
A. in,