CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1907-12-12

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came for the dog. found the big box
with the paddock on. snapped that shut
as they saw what in the scni,larkness
they thought WIS tin. 'lo:; aud loaded
II In the wa :ou. The G.iEit and rub
.lurd snnrii: made ItclI Iuci sure the
hIy rnimal was asL'r.' Inside
M.r, aud her hu Srhuld We're all
astir. as this Was christmas morning.
and tbcrc Hns niuch to do. Through
the dim light III the "i"ly dawn they
saw two meu ,ut cling an Immense hoS
to lift II carefully out
Mar, sent two other men 10 help
and the strange looking box was
brought to the veranda. She wondered
what IT could b"
The expressInan took his receipt book
to Mary. who mechanically signed it
while she looked at the awkward box
akkancc.
Il reckon it's n dawg." said one OF
the men. The other then pried OF the
tacks that held the letter and handed
It to Mary. saying:
"lf you'll take out thai there key
we'll take him out
The men both had n faint fear that
the dog was dead. as he had made no
sound, though coming over the rough
road they had travelled and with their
ears bundled as they were they could
not have heard II had he barked
Mary gave them the key and read the
letter. II was:
Dear Miss Mary-l beg you to acccp,
the one you will ftnd In this box as your
| Christmas EFT. He will love and protect
you and be devoted to you alone as long
as he lives. asking but a little OF your
priceless love In return. Wishing you a
merry Christmas BERT ALLEN.
Somehow her heart grew lighter, her
cheeks grew rcd and her eyes sparkied.
SO he had not forgotten her.
ave viii take him out for you.' said
one of the men again.
"Go and get big piece Of meat and
a basin Of water. Billy. and then we
will open the box. He will be strange
Mt first" said Mary. while her aunt
looked afraid.
"Oh. I know the dawg. He's fine
animal" said the nrst cxpressmnn.
Hes as gentle NJ \ kitten, and he's
young but as big as . man."
Ry this time the water and meat had
come. and the expressnen opened the
box. but to their surprise they found
a man In II. He made no reply to
| their questions They nnaily got him
, out, and then he proved to be Bert
| Allen. limp, pale and scarcely able to
| stand.
He tried to collect his senses and un-
derstand how he came to be here on
Mary's veranda At Inst he saw and
recognized the letter in Mary's hand
and stammered:
Mis-. Mary. I don't know how it has
happened that am here In the place
Of Prince Roland. but II you read the
letter over and take me instead Of him
for your Christmas Eift"-
cit IL too cold out here. Mary. bring
| him into the sitting room by the fire,
and I'll tell Dinah to hurry the break.
| fast And you. men. come out and
have some hot coffee" This from the
aunt. who was quick enough to see
| that the best thing to do was to give
| the young people Z chance TO talk it
| over.
The upslot Of II all was that Bert
stayed and helped with the tree and
also that there was wedding In May.
when Mary deliberately abandoned her
career and settled down for life ~ Q
happy wife and mother. Bert Inherit
Cd q comfortable fortune from NJ.
| Burnside. and 20 with ''nelther p0vsr-
| q NOR great richsa" tAsy wero yeey
happy. Mary heepa y IL sArsst tho I'D
| - OAnsN nmaN - hnRnP Rnn h0R01