The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-12-20

things, but he is so shy and timid.
Minnie Blake is engaged, and so would
/ be if only Archie had the courage Of
"a chipmhnk," she hastily added as
she thought of her bare feet and pos
sible mice. Now, If could hang this
mistletoe to the cha delier tonight in
the excitement of So: ing our gifts l
could MANAGE know | could-tO get
him under it beside ne. and the boys
would do the rest. and then-well, the
ice would he broken. | will if you
say so. Why don't you speak,?
Saving this, the dainty little beauty
stamped hex foot, now i'll its slipper,
which Jared the room ever SO slightly,
and the doll did nod its head. Polly
laughed. half startled, but with new
courage. She took the night light in
one hand and the bunch of mistletoe in
the other, with its graphing wires, and
stole downstairs to the library door
and on into the parlor, not noticing that
the library door had slut to with the
spring lock.
Polly did not wish to awaken any
member of the family. 50 she did not
switch on the iIZhtS. Her own tiny
H%ht but made the darkness visible. 1t
YVES fcarSG,nc Gown here all alone in
the dark. So she hurried and pushed
the side table over into the middle OF
tie room under the chandelier, with the
mistlctoc on il, and then brought
delicate, long legged. gold painted chair,
on which she climbed timilly, listening
all tie while for sound.
The chandelier was high and Polly
not tall, so do her best, standing on her
tiptoes, she could not reach the fixture.
Il must get up on the table" she said
to herself, land hope I'll not fall and
break my neck and rouse the house"
Just as this very courageous little
maiden stepped ~ the table with one
foot. while the other Was still resting
on the insecure chair. thee was the
sound of a latchkcy i'll the front door
and then blast OF wintry wind aud
two voices in the hall. They were
those of her Oldest and most unbear-
able brother Fred. and the other voice
belonged to Archie Steadman. 1t was
too much for Polly. 1t would be awful
If Fred discovered her.
She tried TO step down from her iii
secure perch, but the treacherous orna-
mental chair tilted, and Polly came down
suddenly, striking her head against
the table. She was too frightened to
feel the hurt, for the noise was great
enough to startle Fred into saying:
whats that? Burglars, I'll bet.
Come on, Arch
Saying that, Fred bounded forward
and switched on the light and, Selling
heavy cane from the hatrack, spran0
into the parlor But Polly had manas
ed to get on her feet and scamper to
the library door, dropping one of hei
slippers as she went and leaving the
lamp behind her: but, try as she might
she could not open the library door
and stood there pulling with strength
born of desperation, while Fred said:
Burglars! Here's the light. They're
after the gifts on the tree. Come onv
With his cane swinging like an In
dian club. Fred sprang into the library
while Archie, with his umbrella. fol
lowed, and both advanced upon tn,
burglars. They could hear the rattlin,
OF the doorknob. and Fred shouted:
"You may as well give up. Your,
caught
And then the library was also flooded
with light, which was reflected from
thousand gilded ornaments. on the tree
and by the illumination Fred ans
Archie saw miserable little figure il
yellow pajamas, huddled up like a cole
duckling, with one bare foot and will
its head down. i'll the corner Of the doc
frame Us though trying to hide.
From her baby days Polly had had /,
queer habit Of hopping from one foo
10 the other without moving from he
place when frightened or angry. Nov
one siippered little foot and one pinl
bare one kept up the familiar hopping
movement. Fred looked at the culpri
a moment and then sprang forwar,
and, Selling one shoulder and the lonl
braid of hair. turned her around to tn,
light, while the miserable girl coveret
her face with her hands. Fred laugh
ed loud and long. saying:
"Well, I'll be jiggered il it ism
Pollyp'
Archie said nothing and was tryin,
to pretend that he did not know any
thing at all until he saw the tear
streaming through the fingers, and the
he said hotly: