, 1904-12-17

tive fiat. 1t was Christmas eve and
she was lonesome. o. well. she would
make the best Of 1t. She would keep
up a sort Of forced cheerfulness and
scrget 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 al l called a dispirited
Hello"
Hello" came til cheerful response.
THAT you Margar~.? Merry Christ.
a Kindly unlock the door and
I'll ascend"
She opened the hall door and waited
on the landing. Presently from the
semidarkness Of the place Jack Carl.
ton appeared, putting prodigiously.
Margaret's face frightened percept.
IDLY at the sight Of him.
Il didn't expect you.'' she said.
What" he exclaimed. II desert
you on Christmas eve? Never!"
She led the way to the front o
and lighted the red-shaded lamp. Carl
ton threw of his overcoat and lounged
comfortably in a morris chair.
May l." he said, drawing a cigar
from his pocket.
She nodded.
ITO tell the truth" she said, 81 al
most had the blue devils when you
came. You must entertain me-"
A right" he assented affably.
"Whatll l do? Sing"
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 a moment he was hanging them
In the windows.
Say" he said over his shoulder. "I
had a present to-day"
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 In on Doc Higgins this
morning" he went on. What do YOU
Imagine the idiotic old p%ill.slinger told
me?"
That you are as careless of Your
health as Of your language, pre-.
sumo"
Never. my lady" he replied. Told
me my breathing apparatus was out
OF gear again-nothing serious, but a
little care needed. Paraphrased Gree.
ley 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 a ticket for the boat
OF Monday next. The same he pre.
senteth to himself with much eusto
as a Christmas present."
70, I'm so sorry" she said.
For me?" he said. Look here Won
don't know what Easter Key is like,
That is where I'm golng-where was
two winters ago. you know. You 90
down to Key West, and from thee
Old Jen takes you over to Easter in
a crazy old launch. You're M end
seasick going over. but after Won 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 fsh of the reaf--
down there you don't care whether mr.
not you get a bite-and shoot gators.
at the edge of the swamp. And he
fore you know 1t your tubes are well
and you wonder whether II will he
better to go back or to laze here the
rest OF your natural life. / wish o
could see old Easter" he said.
I've half a mind to develop bron.
chial trouble myself" she laughed,
Say, do" he said, looking at her so
earnestly she flushed.
Don't be silly" she said weakly
Look here" he said, by your ow-
confession you have the blue devils n
loneliness. Now. I'm going to give
you a Christmas present that will rio
you OF them forever-that is. IL you'I
accept It,"
I'D accept anything that woulG
drive them away" she said.
Well" he said, here's the cure
It's the other ticket"
The other ticket?" she questioned
Certainly" said he. Il bought two
this morning."
She raised her head from his shou
der and smiled up into his ewes.
You said I'd be sick going across
rom Key West, didn't youo" s.
asked.