Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
BRIDE AND eRooM's CHRISTMAS

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GOriginaLl
Tom and Julia Kenworthy were re
turning from their wedding trip Il
their quiet little home for Christmas
They had no money to waste on an ex
| tended tour and had planned their wed
ding for the 18th Of December thai
they might wind up the festivities al
| a time when other people were also
| given over to pleasure.
But to begin at the beginning.
Tom and Julia had been playmates
| and when they were at that age wher
| children pass into youth and are cast
| ing ahead for their life's occupation
Tom found Julia OF immense aid and
| comfort TO him. In talking over his flu
| ture Tom was both intellectual and am
bilious. He desired to go to college and
| after that TO study profession. But
Tom was the son of Al widow whose
| slender income kept her pinched in or
| der TO give her boy his schooling. and
after that Tom would not hear of her
continuing her sacrifices. Tom had q
great many friends among his compan-
ions as we'll as admirers among older
w
pathy expressed for him OH his gradu-
alton at the high school that one SO
fitted for professional life must go into
"a business occupation.
One day Tom received n note from an
old friend of his mothers stating that
he would furnish him Si0O n year for
the purposes OF collegiate and profess
siOnal education that Is, he would do
so as long as the funds We're forthcom-
ing. Tom WAS 10 give him notes for
the amounts with interest. Tom was
very much surprised 10 receive such an
offer from the man no made ii. for he
was considered very stingy. He was
not surprised that his benefactOr eX-
pected the amount To he returned and
with interest. He accepted the offer
and the next fall entered college.
Tom did not forget Julia. He heard
soon after he left her that she had be-
come a teacher on IL very small salary,
report saying that her father had made
business losses. BE this as it may, Ju-
liza took hold of her work energetically
and every year advanced. Tom mean
while was teaching during vacations
and tutoring I'm term time. The small
amounts he was enabled TO pick up in
this way, together with the prizes and
scholarships he won, added to the re-
mittances he received, enabled him to
get through college. and in similar
manner he secured his degree as doc
tor of medicine. So well fitted was he
for this profession of his choice that
the day he was graduated he was made
.f.-t. ,,t
er at the medical college where Tom
had studied, at salary of 81 800 a
year.
Tom had met many girls while pur-
suing his studies and on one or two
occasions had become somewhat inter-
ested, but there was something COM
fOrting about his old schoOlmate that
made him feel when he began his LIES
work that he would like her to be his
permanent companion. The result was
that he asked her to he his wife, and
she consented.
But there was something more than
this well conceived adjunct to his
plans in store for Tom Kenworthy. AS
1 have said, the couple returned from
their wedding trip and entered for the
thC toLy Ittlt tncy udu
been preparing for months before their
marriage. Tom had determined to put
aside $50 II year from his salary to-
ward paying Off the advances made for
his education. This. with the fact that
So much had been expended In fitting
the house, determined the young peO-
pie TO make each other a Christmas
present consisting solely of some ne
cessity that had not been included in
their wedding presents.
They reached home Christmas eve
and found that kind friends had tidied
up everything, putting flowers here and
there and lighting up the house. A
nice supper had been provided. and
Toms brother and Julia's sister con-
stituted themselves walters to serve 1t
TO the couple who were taking their
first meal in their own house. There
was 10 be reunion of both sides OF
the family the next morning at break
fast. for which everything had been
provided. When the bride and groom
had finished the others withdrew with
the understanding that they were to
be on hand at . O'Clock the next morn
ing. presents for all to be opened after
breakfast.
There was a merry party Christmas
Tom sat at the head of the
table with his mother on his right.
Julia Mt the other end with her father
and mother on each hand. The rest OF
The board was taken up by the brothers
and sisters. with Julia's little brother
Ted on u high chair. After breakfast |
Tom put the presents on the table and |
them. His present to Julia |
and her present TO him he left till the |
asst. When the others had been given. |
hiking up a box. he handed it to his |
wife. She opened il To find coffeepot |
something that had been omitted in |
he presents. All clapped their hands
It the idea OF a groom giving his bride
IN their first Christmas so practical an |
,rticle. Then Julia produced her pres
INT for Tom. 1t was in a very large /