The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-12-22
+ ~ n rYes2M}sg :
i Christmas Gift
By BARRY ESTON 7
ARGARET WILSON sat

were lined with hurrying people, al!
of whom carried handles and jostled
and were jostled with rare good hui
NOR
Day after tomorrow Margaret could
so cheerfully back to her proofread-
ing. In the meantime this wretched
holiday obtruded its grewsome pros.
pect of loneliness.
o, well, she would make the best OF
1T Tomorrow morning she would
spend reading her beloved Stevenson;
In the afternoon the matinee, and
after that dinner at the cafe down the
avcnue, where the linen was snowy
and the coffee had delicious flavor.
She would keep up sort of forced
cheerfulness and forget she was alone
She angrily brushed tear from he,
cheek.
AS she did SO the bell in the hall
whirred noisily. She went to the
speaking tube and called dispirited
Hello
Hello" came the cheerful response.
That you, Margaret? Merry Christ
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
"Helio!" he pulled. Long flights
these Ought to move down or have
an elevator to move me up"
Margaret's face frightened percep-
tibly st the sight Of him
I'm glad you came,' she said, fer
vently.
Course you are he affirmed.
f'Knew that beforehand or I 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 a morris chair.
May II" he said, drawing 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-"
"Al! right" he assented, affably.
"What'll | Go? Sing?"
He pulled down his collar and
stretched his neck in mock prepare
tioa.
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, brought
you some holly wreaths"
In moment he was hanging them
in the windows.
Say he said over his shoulder, q
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, sc
j dropped in on Doc Higgins this
morning" he went on What do you
lOlO
nc?"
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 Of
gear again-nothing serious, but a 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 a ticket for the boat Of
Monday next. The same he presenteth
to himself with much gusto as
Christmas present"
20, I'm so SORRY" she said.
For met" 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 so
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 laza
around and fish off the reef-down
there you don't care whether or not
you get bite-and shoot gators at
the edge of the swamp. And before
you know it your tubes are well, and
you wonder whether it will be better
to go back or to laze here the rest Of
your natural life. / wish you could
see old Easter" he said, half wistfully.
1--WE half 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 own
confession you have the blue devils
OF loneliness. Now, I'm going to give
you a Christmas present that will rid
you OF them forever-that is, if you'll
accept it."
I'D accept anything that would
drive them away" she said.
WELL he said Nhnro,r fho o,,ro