Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-25
Her Christmas
Angel---Or His
A CHRISTMAS STORY
By Sally ChAmberlin
Copyright, 1904, by sally Chamberlin

AinE smiles, as he walked into the room
of his invalid sister at the end OF his
days work.
Eleanor Darlington" replied Susan
promptly
Surprise oyerspread his beaming
eountenance
That's exactly who it was. but how
in time did you guessY'
"A sort of second sight we invalids
have. dear boy" answered his sister
'The moment you appeared around that
curtain a sensation swept over me
which | always used TO have when |
saw her standing across the aisle in
church with her unapproachable bear
ing and her calm, Madonna-like face.
fairly worshiped her, Ned. Where
did you see herr"
AT the Grand Central depot. She
was helping crippled boy out of
cab when his crutch fell under the
wheels Maybe l wasn't Mr.. Johnny
on-the-Spot My, but she IS u queenw
More than this he never said Of any
girl, for il was Susan's greatest cross
that her stalwart brother, the apple OF
her eye, had been obliged TO give up
his young life, social and athletic, to
bear the financial burden of her illness.
Ned Strong had held the record for
hammer throwing at his university and
had been candidate for the next years
football team when he had been forced
10 put II all behind him and turn his at
tention TO sterner realities, including
exorbitant bills presented by the spe-
cialists employed to relieve his sister
For two years she had suffered with
m affection Of the knee which even the
most eminent surgeons had been un-
able to name. For some weeks now
she had been fastened in a brace which
gave comparative relief and permitted
her TO sit up in bed, and with the ces-
sation from suffering came renewed
eagerness TO hear OF the beautiful out
side world
Eleanor doesn't seem to be going In
very strong for society" Ned contin-
ued. perching himself on the edge Of
Susan's couch. When | was lunching
with Billy Sanford yesterday he said
she had spent almost the entire sum-
mer going 10 and from New York with
children whom she was having treated
at the hospital for cripples on Forty
second street"
why, Ned, that's the hospital where
Or. Gibbs IS head surgeon. He was
telling me about those patient little
children only yesterday when he was
working on my knee
Sure enough | telephoned him this
morning and he says he has a new
contraption which he will try In a week
or 80 that will simply discount the
brace you have on now"
Il shall ask him II he knows Flea
nor"
Don't you worry. He isn't the kind
Of man who would let such a beauty
pass unnoticed - and uncultivated =
though understand she's spoken for
Billy says Senator Elkus is the favored
suitor."
Hes too old for her" This In a tone
Of disappointment.
That's the way Of the world, Sue
The man that's got the money is the
only one who need come round. The
rest OF us poor devils can stand back
and adore silently. Think OF the Grip
Piles she could have treated on the sen
ator's money He flung back his
shoulders as II throwing off an ugly
thought. then he bent tenderly over the
invalid. "Oh, Sue, 1t is splendid to see
you free from pain once more" and
with n rousing kiss. emblem OF all his
devotion and self sacrifice, he strobe
away 10 his solitary dinner.
In one OF her wakeful night watches
Susan lived back In the year which had
preceded her Illness. 1t came to her
like a revelation that in those days Ned
had not exactly stood back and adored
IN silence Eleanor Darlington had
shared all his college enthusiasm, and
though Susan. lively. golden haired lit
tie sister OF big strapping brother,
had never entirely entered into these
interests, in the new light OF under
standing vouchsafed inyalids as u com
pensatlon for physical deprivations she
saw why Eleanor Darlington had sud
denly dropped out OF her brothers life.
When DIR. Gibbs called the next
morning he was surprised at her ami
nation
You want Christmas work to do?
Now, see here, you're not worrying
about bills and things"
She shook her head. Il just want
to make some one happy for Christmas.
Don't you think l could dress some
dolls for the hospital children"
"Just the thing to make you forget
the occasional twinges in this knee
that is, II you don't sit up too long at
a time. TIL speak to Miss Darlington,
who is chairman Of our Christmas COM
mittee."
And he od not dream why the sud
ten, glad light came into Susan Strong's
eyes.
Two days later Eleanor Carrington's
carriage stopped before the humble
Strong cottage She brought into the
sckroom a new and invigorating at
mOsphere.
My dear girl, have never heard Of
your Illness We have lived almost
constantly In the country of late, and
seldom see your brother Why didn't
you let me know | should have been
so glad TO come And now you send
for me that you may help me in my
work You make me feel $3.50 self
ish"
Her rich furs dropped from her shoul-
ders, and the tall. statuesque young