Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-17
TOMS VACATION.
BY HAYDEN cARRUTH.

toyed with the coffee spoon, that
young Tom Bisbee is broken down
from overwork, and that it's doubtful
if he goes back to college after the
holidays
Eyes, 50 I'm told,g returned the ed
itor, taking cigar from the box prof
fered by the waiter Nervous pros
tration, they say It's shame how
students are forced to work nova
days. I believe I'll give the college
authorities roast In to-morrow's pa
per-"
"Well--yes-of course" observed the
doctor, slowly. as he critically exam
ined the lighted end Of his cigar to see
that it was started evenly. What you
say is true, in measure. But If |
were you, | wouldn't use Tom Bisbee
as horrible example in these edito-
rials and sermons, and things you're
going to produce. Write em, of
course-write all you please-but don't
drag Tom in"
why not?" demanded the editor.
We'll, ! suppose ! can tell without
violating any professional secrets"
He took a few more pulls at the weed,
then went ahead with the following
tale in the most solemn and earnest
manner.
Tom Bisbee arranged to spend
Christmas with his college roommate
at little New England town, and
then came on home a day or two for
the rest Of the vacation. This room
mate is named Powers, Frank Powers.
Tom had never visited his friends
home, but as Frank had two or three
sisters, and there were other young
folks In the family, he looked forward
TO having gay time. They arrived
three days before Christmas, and i'm
mediately settled down to have it
the gay time, | mean.
1t seems that there is also in the
Hicktree, a very estimable lady, of i
don't know how many years, but GER
tainly of a considerably greater num-
Der than have passed over the head
of Tom
Tom, you know, is the best hearted
fellow in the world. but a little bash
full, especially in the presence of the
opposite sex. He was very anxious
to make a good impression on his
friends family, and especially on one
of mis- sisters, an attractive girl of
about his own age. In fact, he had
Il.
he was head over heels in love with
the girl. This, of course, only made
him the more bashful and every time
he found himself in her presence he
felt he was making a fool of himself
each moment. Probably he wasn't,
but this Is the way he felt. Now,
this embarrassment and his desperate
desire 10 impress the family favorably,
combined with his general good heart
edness, caused him to begin paying
special attention to the elderly Miss
Hicktree, almost from the first. He
did not feel embarrassed in her COM
pany, and talked freely on all sub
jects. Now, he assures me that the
idea of making love to Miss Hicktree
was as far from his thoughts as were
the rules of Chinese grammar, but
somehow the lady took it differently
Indeed, by the second day she con-
ceived the notion that the young man
was violently in love with her.
On Christmas Eve the whole house
hold was gathered in the drawing
room, and there sprang up a lively
discussion as TO the best way of deal
There was a difference of opinion, but
Miss Dorothy, who was destroying
Toms peace of mind, stood out for
the good old-fashioned way of hang
ing up stockings. 1T would be o
shame" she said, not to utilize this
big old fireplace There's room along
the edges of the mantel for all OF
our stockings, and then we can all get
up early in the morning with the chill
dren and see what old St, Nicholas
has brought us and have jolly time
before breakfast.
Accordingly, before retiring, they all
hung their stockings along the man
tel, amid much merriment. Even Tom
got quite at his ease, and the last
thing before Withdrawing he an
nounced in a confident tone that he
should be the first one up in the morn
ing, to see what the old saint had
brought him.
1t was scarcely four o'clock the next
morning when Tom awoke. With the
exuberance of youth he promptly
bounded out of bed, hurriedly dressed
and CROPPED his way downstairs. Utter
silence reigned. and when he reached
the drawing-room door he was con
fronted by total darkness. He blum
dered against a chair and nearly. fell
over a hassock, but at last found the
chandelier and scratched match on
the sole of his slipper. The gas fiared
up, and with buoyant expectancy the
young man strained his eyes toward
the fireplace. There on the mantel,
with both feet thrust deem into his