The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-23

left. "Charges are to be collected" "
he had said /; and Maude's eyes had
grown big with horror. Sixty cents ?
1t represented all she had, their
Christmas marketing. Then the
mail carrier brought her note from
Uncle Dan.
"Dear Niece Il am sending you
a gift which I hope will prove accep-
table. Do not open it until Christ
mas morning. I think one enjoys
surprises best then. 1 feel sure you
will be pleasantly surprised with my
remembrance since it is exactly what
you need. Now don't wonder how I
happen to know what that is, perhaps
a little bird told me-" ("I know who
the little bird is" Maude exclaimed,
"it's Cousin Mary; she knows about
things
"With best of wishes, am,
"Yours affectionately,
JUNGLE DAN"
Maud viewed her empty purse dole
fully. IF only he hadn't forgotten
to prepay the charges. :" she said,
half-crying and half laughing.
"I know what it is" Max fairly
shouted. Its canned goods, 1 can
hear the tomatoes gurgle. =
"Oh, Max, do you think so ? Maybe
corn and beans and peaches = and
maybe maple syrup !"
They stared foolishly at each other.
"Cousin Mary suspects we're-that
we sometimes-Oh, do you think
it's eatables? You know he says it IS
something we need"
"We're not sure about the box,
DEAR" Max murmured, and,
the sixty CENTS" He fumbled
with a slip of paper in his pocket.
81 lb. pork chops IA
2 doz. rolls /. :. +. . 10
a PIX. potatoes .o8
Il ID. butter rs (the best)
also few nuts and things
'I have almost a whole loaf of
bread, DEAR" Maude whispered, "a
lot of coffee, and a slice of ham. I'm
not single bit hungry tonight and
we can save these things until to-
morrow. You run down to Cousin
Mary's and wish her Merry Christ
mas and she will invite you to stay to
supper and" =,
'Maude p Max said, ,sternly. Then
he bowed his head on the mantel.
The child wife put her arm over his
shoulder.
Forgive me, Max, I didn't mean
to hurt you. II will cook the ham
tonight and make a nice hot pot of
coffee to cheer us up. 1t was foolish
for me not to have done it before.
Come, help me, dear; come, my own,
my own"
He clasped the slight form to his
heart and kissed her again and again.
The tiny room with its plain furnish
ings looked dainty and cosy. with
plenty of love and joy we can get
along" Maude had said when her
parents had given her the choice be-
tween them and the man she loved.
When Christmas morning broke
clear and crisp, Max rose first, and
had warm fire made before Maude
even opened her eyes. When she did
she dressed hurriedly. "Quick,
Max" she cried, ''the box y
81 had almost forgotten it, "he said,
bringing it from behind the table.
''I hope it is"
"Of course, it is"
When the lid was off the two dared
not look under the stiff brown paper.
They held their breath and Maude
whispered a little prayer to herself /:
"Dear God, we need something to
eat."
'You look first"
"No, you look first; it was sent to
you."
"I can't, I'm afraid"
With sudden jerk Max pulled the
paper aside. There, before their eyes,
was beautiful clock.
''It's very pretty" Maude said,
weakly. She grasped chair to keep
from falling. The room seemed to be
moving. Max lifted the clock to the
mantel without a word. A slip oi
paper fell to the floor:
"Every young couple needs a clock.
"UNcLE DAN"
For several minutes Max stood mo-
tionless. "There is letter for you
Maude," he said, handing her an en-
velope. cit came too days ago, but
could not give it to you"
Maude took it and started as she
read her fathers business head:
"Deay Daughter My home Is
open to you any time that you viii
come back-alone.
"YoUR FATHER.
"You had better 60" Max said
not looking at her.
"Do you want me to go?"
"Don't ask mel guess it is best
II am miserable failure.
"But shall not go For bettel
or for worse we took each other
aud, Max, I cannot give you up"
"Shall I wind the clCck 7" the maj
asked, brushing aside the tears tha
filed his eyes.
He kissed he gravely, and noticed
how white she looked. Turning has
tily, he took the key from under th'
pendulum.
Neither Of them spoke; they saw
e ~ tLa carr,e tiue-a hripht ten-dOl