Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1905-12-30

He looked up into her face with al
expression of rapture. That's straight
goods" he said. Its the real thing
even to the press copy" Then his
thoughts took a long jump. How
long before Christmas?" he asked.
During the next three weeks Amy
was very busy. she had to calculate
closely for the money. Her salary was
small, and there was her widowed
mother to care for. But her anxiety
was unnecessary. One day a note
came from the manager of the tele-
graph company. The boys in the office
had taken Us a little collection for
Teddy's Christmas, he said, and it was
his pleasure to send her the eash-ten
dollars and eighty-seven cents. What
a God-sendi Teddy should have a
royal Christmas-eyen to the "ingyne-
that would 60 by itself.
There was now no doubt that Teddy
was improving. Day by day the thin
lace filled out. His color returned
He was eating regularly, sleeping
soundly, and the spells of coughing
were less frequent. The doctor spoke
Of the change, but Amy was neon
municative.
Some new influence is at work. he
said to her one day. 1t was just a
week before Christmas. "The gain is
most remarkable. Tell me, Miss Nor.
ton, what wonderful elixir have you
given him? | may need it myself be.
fore long. I, too, have a malady that
defies drugs"
She looked at him in sudden fear
then flushed before his strong. tender
gaze. Il nno tell you now" Her
eyes were turned away. Her face was
bright with pleasure.
But can't | know soon?" he asked,
with an almost boyish pleading in his
voice. Name a day when l may ask
and be answered"
She turned to him with a new light
in her eyes,. Something told her that
his interest was not in Teddy alone.
ASK me Christmas morning." she
whispered, land l will tell you; not a
day before" And try as he might he
could get no more from her.
Christmas eve arrived, with wind
and snow and bitter cold. Teddy
feared the weather would keep Santa
Claus away. But Amy treasured him.
"Oh, Santa Claus likes the snow. He
rides in a big sleigh with a long team
OF RENDERS. He's sure to get here
some time in the night. Well hang
up your stocking right here on the
bedpost. And then you must go to
sleep early"
At eight o'clock she went off duty.
Teddy didn't get to sleep as directed.
for excitement, but finally he fell into
a deep slumber. His telegram in his
hand. and his long black stocking
hung in plain sight on the bedpost.
All over the city. fathers and mothers
were commencing their work of love,
and Amy. tired though she was, began
her own.
In a private room stood the tree.
The floor was strewn with packages
She had no assistance, but she worked
on, with strings of popcorn and cram
berries, fancy bags of candy, brilliant
glass balls, and showers of tinsel
Near midnight four strong men came
the lower ward, and Tedly's lit
tie iron bed. with Teddy sound asleep
was carried gently into the private
room. Then she slipped away to her
rest.
1t seemed to Amy that but a few
minutes had elapsed when she was
by the alarm clock on her
bureau. She arose, made a light, and
her face again and again in the
cold water until she felt allie TO keep
her eyes open. 1t was five o'clock
still dark.
She entered Teddy's room and
turned on the cleo ,ric light. He was
the hall and the door opened. 1t was
4, he laa+a.- hio foan q study Che hold
up a warning finger, then turned to the
in her arms and kissed him. Teddy
she cried, a little sob in her voice
TEDDY, Merry Christmas! Merry
Christmas! Teddy"
Teddy woke suddenly and sat bolt
upright. He gave a shout of joy
"Oh-h-h," he cried, in a long. echoing
gasp. ooh, Jimm!ny Williams,
amt that great" Then words failed
him, and he could only look and look
his eyes foastl-g on wonders that his
tongue could not describe.
They put a warm bathrobe around
him and placed him OF the floor, fOI
he was not yet able to walk. By his
side Amy laid the stocking, 10Y
bullying with treasures. In front oil
him stood the "ingyne" and many
other things dear to boyish hearts
lie handled them one after another in
silent awe. Then he took the stock
ing and with delicious elaboration
poured from it a wealth of treasures.
He was dazed by his sudden aecumu
lation of riches. He looked up al
them with a smile. That's a bully
Santa Claus" he said. lie done his
part nobly. I'm goin' to get we'll ali
right"
After a while they put him back to
bed, with his gifts spread around him
and together left the room. The dawn
was breaking. The busy world was
waking. From without came the toot
ing of horns. Bells were ringing all
over the great city. 1t was Christmas
morning.
The doctor went with her to her
door. Even in the dim light of the
hall he could see the drawn lines
$500 IA-