The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-12-22

you love me, you will give them to
me-"
But 1t was sweet to hear him plead,
and the little maiden was DESTROYS of
prolonging the pleasure,
"lf ever | love you again, | Will give
them to YOU" was all she would say,
Just then a neighbours boy had hurried
up breathless with Importance.
John, John. Your mother has sent
for you to go home right away. She's
got a telegram from your grandfather,
He's dead"
1t was the last time she had ever
seen John Warren. Within an hour
he was speeding on the train to the
home that death had entered 30 sud
denly. Then there had been sickness
and unexpected removal In her own
family. II John had written to her,
she had nevt. received the letter. Her
him had come back to her months aft.
erward from the dead letter office.
John had passed completely out Of her
life. But put away among her most
precious treasures were the little red
mittens waiting to be given to him.
What had an old maid to do with
such mementoes? How Juanita would
laugh II she knew her f%oolishness!
She would get out the mittens this
very Christmas and send them to her
brother Bob's boy-Bob's boy who was
always losing mittens.
1t was a hard day, Juanita's heed
less words seemed to tinge everything
with bitterness. They sounded in her
Imagination again as she sat wrapping
up the Christmas presents. A foolish
mist was in her eyes as she did the
stubby mittens up into a neat parcel,
wrapped them in white tissue paper
and tied them with red ribbon. Just
then she was called away. The pres.
ents lay out on her table as carefully
arranged as the specimens In a scien-
titic cabinet, hers on one side and
%Juanita's on the other. So tley would
have remained had careless little
Susette kept out of the room, But
Susette wanted BABY ribbon for her
own small concerns, and nobody but
Aunt Annabel kept II on hand. In
helping herself TO 1t, she knocked two
small packages from the table, They
were both about the same size, soft
and tied up with red ribbon, and the
envelopes 10 hold each had laid. al.
ready directed, beside. susette, hastily
picking then up and trying to put
them back exchanged the packages.
The study red mittens in their dainty
wrappings laid beside the envelope ad-
dressed ".Mr. Walter Taylor" to whom
J~uanita had meant to send an EN-
broidered handkerchief.
who is Mr.. Walter Tay1or?" Aunt
Annabel had asked, and Juanita had
replied, lightly:
"Oh, he's Jacks uncle" fJack was
the boy who carried the skates for
herr Hes a lonely old gentleman and
| thought it would please him to have
me send him something. He's a wild
over, and he has lots Of money, and
Jack is his only nephew" And world
ly-wise little Juanita smiled meaning
ly at the unworldly little aunt who
would never, at her age or at any age,
have thought OF future prospects in
this way.
And 50, by Susette's mistake. Mr..
Walter Taylor received the stubby red
mittens instead Of the handkerchief
that was designed for him. 1t was a
lonely man who opened the little red
ribtoned package, though no one but
a girl like Juanita would have thought
OF calling him an old gentleman.
When he u%nwrapped the package and
read the card that said In the small,
dainty, old-fashioned 'lady's hand:
with a great deal Of love for Christ
mas from Annabel Wilder" his face
suddenly changed into the face Of a
boy. He whistled. Then he laughed.
Then he B~crutlnized the pOstmark,
snatched his hat and was or like a
shot to find a directory. But Miss An
nabel's name was o In the directory.
az she lived With her sister and sisters
husband. 1t was Christmas evening
before he traced her.
1t had been a lonely day for Anna.
bel. Juanlta's words bad taken all the
pleasure out Of It. Sister Agnes and
Brother Charles and their children
we're sc kind as could be. but they be.
longed SO thoroughly TO each other
and were so absorbed in each other
that she could not help a very core
left-out feeling. She vent to her roam