River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-12-19

othy exclaimed, with some amuse-
ment. "Oh," she added, sympathet-
ically, as the boys face fell, was it
was it for some one with only one
leg?"
Its for my partner He's got two
legs, but he's crippled-just been let
out of the hospital. And I'm going to
give him a Christmas"
"Oh!" said Dorothy, comprehend
ingly. "And you wanted the stock
ing to hang up? I'm sorry, but
wait!" she cried suddenly, as the boy
was gathering up his money in disap-
pointment. 81 can let you have it, /
think. Cash! CASH."
The little girl who came in re-
boy, and then sped away to the desk
with the quarter that Dorothy substi-
tuted for the dime and three pen
MES.
When the customer had departed,
carrying his package, Dorothy contem
plated the odd stocking which had
come into her possession.
well, what an idiot l ami" she
murmured why didn't l give him
both of them? But of course he
wouldn't have taken them-as long as
he was paying for one
She called the little cash girl again.
"Do you know the boy that was here
little while ago." she asked. II
thought l saw you nod to him."
Barney Flynn. He lives on the
floor above u.s. "Cash" answered,
with Billy; and Billy got run down
by 'lectric. Barney sees to him.
Customers claimed Dorothy's atten-
ton, and for awhile she was all hurry
and hustle. During the afternoon,
however, when the neighboring sales
woman volunteered to watch over her
counter for her, she slipped down the
aisle to the shirt waists, says Youths
Companion. She was quite excited
for fear that the particular shirt
waist should be gone. There was that
woman with the bargain counter hab-
it. Dorothy had seen her dallying at
the counter.
of shirt waists; then she looked trag
ically at her friend behind the coun-
ter.
80 Peggy, It's gone! L knew it! l
knew it! saw it IN that bargain wom-
ans eye!"
She had waited so patiently for that
waist to be marked down! 1t would
have suited her complexion it had
just the right warm, rosy tints.
Peggy, why did you let it go?" she
cried, reproachfully.
"Had to, my dear. l did my best
put it at the very bottom of the pile,
but she fished it out"
Dorothy went back slowly to her
counter.
Dick would have liked it, too," she
thought, disconsolately And now
he'll have to see me in just my shah
by old one"
1t occurred to her that other peo-
pie probably had Christmas disappoint-
ments; and then she thought of Bar
ney Flynn and his partner.
Hes going to hang up the stocking
for Billy-and l don't believe he ever
had a Christmas for himself in his
life" Dorothy meditated. 81 know
what I bought the odd stocking for
so long as I can't buy myself that
lovely waist
And she felt a glow of enthusiasm
as plans began to take shape in her
mind. 1t was almost closing-time
when the little cash-girl came darting
up with message from Peggy.
"She's brought it back-the shirt
waist-sleeves too short. If you want
it, better hurry.
Dorothy hesitated. mo, I've changed
my mind she said resolutely. Tell
Peggy I'm much obliged" And she
added to herself: Now if Dick doesn't
like me in my old plaid waist, l
guess we'll have to quarrel.
When Dorothy returned to the store
the morning after Christmas, the lit
tie cash girl came running up to her.
and cried:
Il got it in for you all right, Miss
Winslow! l worked it fine. / crep'
in in the dark, when Billy and Bar
ney were asleep; you couldn't have
heard me with an ear trumpet And
I felt for Billy's stocking. and hung
yours alongside. And then 1 filled
'em both with all the things you'd
given me-"
WELL" said Dorothy, eagerly; land
what hapDened?"
20 my sakes," said the child. "All
of us on the floor below was walked
up that early Christmas mornin'
Such a yellin' and stompin'! You'd
like to have thought they'd never had
a Christmas"
Dorothy turned away to hide a
smile
"And Dick was glad to see me just
as l was she thought, contentedly.
Holly Luck.
A bunch of holly with berries, so