The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-12-22

CdPC TIC vi 0Cut VI AOOAAnS a. Ais
wife across the impossible gulf which
her pride set between them.
So, on this Christmas Eve Kate sal
lonely by the parlor fire, broodine
over the past. Her husband, she
fancied, was at the club, enjoying
himself after the fashion of mankind.
As matter of fact, John was doing
nothing of the kind. He was walk
ing slowly up and down a neighbor-
ing street, careless of cold, making
up his mind to plead with his wife
once more. And, besides, there was
Daisy.
Yet Kate sat on plying herself.
In all her life, until six months ago,
she had never known severe trouble,
and perhaps this immunity from sor-
row and pain was at the root of her
hard, unforgiving nature. She was
startled by the door opening. A tiny,
white-robed figure stood gazing at
her.
"Where Daddy -
Mercy Daisy. Have you never
been asleep1 You'll catch your death
of cold p cried Kate, fastening to
pick her up.
Where Daddy?" she asked again,
as her mother wrapped her In the
sofa rug and carried her to the big
easy-chair.
"Never mind, dearie," said Kate,
kissing her.
"Want to be cuddled-feel bad" !"
sighed the little one, her mouth quiv-
ering.
"Now, now; mothers wee girl
mustn't cry when Santa Claus is COM
ing"
"Not want Santa Claus-w n t
Daddy"
"But you've got mother, darling"
"Want Daddy-love Daddy" sob
bed Daisy, childishly ignorant of her
cruelty.
Kate turned pale as if suddenly
stabbed. Was she not sufficient for
her child?
Five minutes passed, and then Daisy
sat up.
"You cryin','' she said with terri
BILE directness.
Kate smiled a ghost of a smile.
"No, no, dearie."
'You cryin' - insisted the cherub.
"Daisy cuddle muvver now. Muv-
| yer feel bad-want Daddy" she whis-
pered. clasping her mothers neck.
And Kate burst into tears. She
had not cried since she had known
John.
Daisy was put to bed again and fell
asleep, after being repeatedly and
solemnly assured that she would find
her father in the morning. Kate re-
turned 70 the parlor, but could not
partake of the supper which the maid
brought in. Her mind was in tur-
moil. In the last hour the aspect of
everything had changed. Six months
ago she had compelled herself to be-
lieve that she no longer cared for her
husband somehow, she had never
thought that he might no longer care
for her. Tonight that possibility was
forced upon her, and under its weight
her pride crumbled into ruins, and she
beheld her heart in all its coldness
and cruelty. What made Daisy love
her father as she did? Was there
any doubt about Johns affection for
his wee daughter? Had she herself
not loved, or, at any rate. reverenced
the man for years; and had she not
been his hearts desire? Whereip,
then, lay the unworthiness of John
Langlands
And Kate's soul was dumb because
her pride was gone. 1t seemed to
her, as she dried her eyes at last, that
she had never really loved her hus-
band till now. 1t was as if all his
past loving kindnesses, unrealized
before, were gathered together to fall
upon her in one overwhelming debt
of love for him. 1t tortured her to
remember how that very evening she
had sent him away rebuffed. His
sin was little thing compared with
hers. And then the fear that she
had lost his love and regard forever
took hold on her. Thus the night
wore on.
About II o'clock she went upstairs
to sustain the role of Santa Claus.
By the glimmer of the night light
burning in Daisy's room, she per-
ceived that her little one was sound
asleep; and so she entered, and, with
all manner Of childish delights, filled
up the mighty "wader" that gaped
greedily at the foot of the dainty bed.
A great sadness was in her heart, and
tears blinded her in her labor of love.
When the toys and good things were
all safely slowed in their proper place,
she leant over the crib, smoothing the
pillow and tucking the bedclothes
round the ci1erub.
A movement behind her caused her
to turn. 1t was John, with brown
paper parcel.
Something for Daisy" he whis-
pered, shyly, and uneasily. would
you-would you mind if it were put
beside your presents?"
She took the package from him in
silence and found room for it in the
"wader." A faint smile crossed his
face.
"Daisy has great expectations, "
he sighed rather than whispered,
bending down to kiss her curls.
daisy, is SO wise," said Kate,
under her breath. She was standing
very near to him, and there was a
look in her face that he had never
seen before, not even on their mar
riage day.
Now, these two dear people had
both prepared long speeches, but they
were never delivered.
"Oh, Katie y whispered John.
"Oh, John p whispered Kate.
And then they fell into one another