The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-24

himself, there was nothing derogatory
in that 1t it had been anybody else
he would have been thrilled with a
glow of satisfaction, but Mr.. Clifton
was long past glows of satisfaction
ii was years since he had permitted
himself to have such things.
"Jour--our-nal fi-i-i-ve cents!
screamed an intermittent newsboy in
his ear.
Get OUT" replied Mr.. Clifton, the
uncompromising nature of his Ian
guage being intensified by the fact that
he Jumped nearly two feet from the
suddenness of the neWsboy's attack.
Even the neWsboy, Injured to the short
words of an unfriendly world, was
impressed by the asperity Of the sug-
gestion and moved somewhat hastily
on. Possibly his cold wet little eX-
istence had been rendered morbidly
susceptible by the general good teel-
ing af the hour, one lady having even
spontaneously given him five cents.
After this exchange of amenities
Mr.. Clifton stepped into his horse car.
1t was crowded. of course, as horse
cars that are small and run once In
half an hour are apt to be, and he
had to stand up, and the turkey legs
stuck out Of the brown paper in a
very conspicuous way. If Mr.. Clifton
had been anybody else he would have
been chaffed about his turkey because
to make up for the conveniences tiLt
the horse car line id not furnish the
public. the large hearted public fur
nished the horse car line with an un-
usual amount of friendlness. There
was almost always something going
on i'm these horse cars. Their social
privileges were quite a feature. To-
night they were in unusual force on
account of the season. But NOBODY
said anything to Mr. Clifton. Only
when he jerked the bell and stepped
off, one stout man with his overcoat
collar turned up TO his ears said.
without turning his head
"I supposed of course he was going
to give the turkey to the conduc-
tor
Everybody laughed in that end of
the car except one small old lady in
the corner. who was stranger ana
visiting, and who was left with the
impression that the gentleman who
got off must be a very kind man. 1t
was darker and blowier and snowier
than when he had left the corner and
Mr. Clifton fioundered through the un-
broken drifts up the little path 10
the door with increasing grudges III
his heart against the difficulties OF
y.
went in slamming the doc" after him.
There was no light in the nall, ana
he murmured loudly against the in
convenience
"Confound it," he said why didn't
they light the gas? I'm not one OF
those COMPOUNDED Billions; / can af-
ford to pay for what / don't get" and
without pausing to take off his hat
and coat, he strobe 10 the sitting-room
door and flung it open. That was an
awful moment. The sudden change
from the cold and darkness almost
blinded him, and confirmed the i'm
preston that he was the victim of
an illusion The sound Of many vol
ces, and then the hush of sudden con-
sternation, was in lis ears. There
was a lamp and there was fire, ana
there between them sat Mr.. Billion on
one side and Mrs. Billion on the other,
and round about. in various uncon-
ventional attitudes, sat four Bllton
children. And there in the very MIDST
of them in his heavy overcoat, with
snow melting on his hat his beard,
and his shoulders s.ood Mr.. Clifton.
The unexpected scene, the amazed
faces gazing into his. rendered him
speechless; he wondered vaguely ii
he were losing his reason. Then, in
q flush of enlightment, he realized
what had happened; thanks to the
storm outside, he had come into the
wrong house Naturally his first i'm
pulse was towards fight, but as his
bew,ildered gaze slipped about the
room it fell upon the five stockings
hung against the mantleplece. ana
stayed there fascinated. Five fool
ish. limp, expressionless stockings
it was long since he had seen such
an unreasonable spectacle. Then he
recollected himself and looked around
him. Perhaps even then, il he had
made a dash for the door, he might
have ESCAPED and matters have been
none the worse. But in that instant
of hesitation caused by the sudden
sight of those five stockings some
thing dreadful occurred. 1t must De
promised that Cora COrdelia did not
know Mr.. Clifton very well by sight.
being in the first place small and not
noticing, and in the second, filled with
an unreasoning fear that caused her to
flee whenever she had seen him APP
proach. This is the only excuse for
what she did; for while her mother
was feebly murmuring, as if in extern
uation 1--WE thought it was John COM
ing in" Cora Cordelia elapsed her
hands in delirious delight, and cried
aloud, Its Santa Claus! oh, it's San
Ia Claus!' Could anything more aW-
full happen to a cross man, very cross
man., than to be taken for Santa
Claus!
Mr.. Clifton looked at Cora Cordelia.
and wondered why she had not been
slaughtered in her cradle.
"And," exclaimed Susan Billion,
with sudden communicative fervor,
"he has come and brought us a tur-
kew for tomorrow's dinner!'
The truth was that Susan had been
coming to the age that is sceptical
about Santa Claus, but she could
not resist this sudden appearance.
No one could appreciate the nom
sense of the whole situation better
than Mr.. Clifton; and yet, stlNngely
enough, together with his annoyance
was mingled touch of the strange
feeling that had dawned upon him
him first when he saw the stockings.
To be sure, it only added to his an
noyance, but it was there. Bv this
! time-it was really very short time
Mrs Billion had recovered herself
and risen, and Mr.. Billion had risen
| too.
FLUSH, children; it is not Santa
| Claus" she said, cit is Mr.. Clifton. We
are glad to see you, Mr. Clifton" and
she held out her hand to him. won't
1 ,yo,, CT. 5our -, She felt that he ha n