The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-02

from his thoughts as were the rules
Of Chinese grammar, but somehow the
lady took it differently. Indeed, By
the second day she conceived the mo-
ton that the young man was violently
in love with her, She realized HE
youth. however. and saw that che must
expect him to be somewhat slow IN
making any open declaration. In the
meantime she decided that was no
more than right that she help him out
as much as was permissible with
maidenly decorum. She saw that the
matter might as well be brought to
conclusion before he eft fo- home
On Christmas Eve the whole house
hold was gathered in the drawing
room and there spran2 up lively dis
cussion as to the best way Of dealing
with the Christmas presents. There
was a difference of opinion, but Miss
Dorothy, who was destroying Toms
peace OF mind, stood out for the good
old fashioned way CT hanginG up
stockings. ut would be a shame"
she said "not to utilize this big old
fireplace. There's room along the edge
of the mantel for all of our stockings,
and then we can get up early in the
morning with the children and see
what old st. Nicholas has brought us
and have a jolly time before break
fast What do you say, mamma"
Eyes, l think that's the best way"
assented Mrs. Powers.
"Oh, N.Y." broke in Miss Hicktree.
"Hang up our-our stockings like chill.
dren? The idea! 1 sha'n't. for one"
Miss Dorothy jumped up, slipped
her arm around her aunts waist, led
her into the hall and whispered some
thing in her ear. When they came back
the older lady said she was willing
after ALL 1t was rather foolish. but
no matter. Miss Dorothy had offered
to lend one of her stockings to her
aunt
Accordingly, before retiring, they all
hung their stockings along the mantel,
amid much me"riment. Even rom got
quite at his ease, and the last thing
before withdrawing he announced i'll
a confident tone that he should be the
first one up in the morning to see what
the old saint had fetched him. II was
always first up at home when / was
a boy, and you'll see that l haven't
forgotten how" he said. In a few
v,,Np,nnte 4b0 dv;,,or m, :, orc Of tbn 6pa
shone out on a row of 'tockings and
the whole house was wrapped in
slumber.
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. Ut
ter silence relgned, and when lie
reached the drawing-rcom door he was
confronted by total darkness. He
Numbered against a chair and nearly
fell over a hassock, but at last found
the chandelier and scratched a match
on the sole of his slipper The gas
light hared up and with buoyant ex.
pectancy the young man strained his
eyes toward the fireplace. There on
the mantel, with both feet trust deep
into his stockings, sat Miss Hicktree.
Gle, he, Tommy, dear. she gurgIed.
The boys knees smote together and
his head reeled Then with a hollow,
hunted cry ne staggered back into the
hall, tore open the front door and
rushed down the steps and out into the
darkness. A half hour later he was
found struggling through the snow,
three miles away. by milkman, taken
to farmers house and put to bed. On
the second day. after he became ra-
tional. he told his address and was
brought home by trained nurse.
It's all right, gentlemen. to denounce
overstudy in college-go ahead-I'm
with you-but let this case of Tom
Bisbee alone I'll attend to that. and
if no complications set in 1 expect to
have him back l.. school when the term
opens.-Good Literature.