Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-12-26

came for the dog, found the big box
with the paddock on, snapped that shut
as they saw what In the semidarkness
they thought was the dog and loaded
it in the wagon. The weight and sub
dued snoring made them feel sure the
big animal was asleep inside.
Mary and her household were all
astir, as this was Christmas morning,
and there was much to do Through
the dim light Of the early dawn they
saw two men tugging an immense box
to lift it carefully out.
Mary sent two other men to help,
and the strange looking box was
brought to the veranda. She wondered
what it could be
The expressman took his receipt book
to Mary, who mechanically signed it
while she looked at the awkward box
askance.
II reckon it's a dawg," said one Of
the men. The other then pried off the
tacks that held the letter and handed
1t to Mary, saying:
IF you'll take out that there key
We'll take him out"
The men both had q 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 it had he barked.
Mary gave them the key and read the
letter. 1t was:
Dear Miss Mary-I beg you to accept
the one you will find in this box as your
| Christmas gift. He will love and protect
you and be devoted to you alone as long
as he lives, asking but little of your
priceless love in return. Wishing you q
merry Christmas, BERT ALLEN.
Somehow her heart grew lighter, bel
cheeks grew red and her eyes sparkled
So he had not forgotten her.
1--WE will take him out for you," said
one of the men again.
go and get a big piece of meat and
a basin of water, Billy, and then we
will open the box. He will be strange
at first" said Mary, while her aun1
looked afraid.
"Oh, 1 know the dawg. He's a fine
animal" said the first expressman
"He's as gentle as kitten, and he's
young, but as big as a man."
BY this time the water and meat haG
come, and the expressmen opened the
box, but to their surprise they found
a man in it. He made no reply tt
their questions. They finally got hin
out and then he proved to be Ber1
Allen, limp, pale and scarcely able t.
stand.
| He tried to collect his senses and un
! Mary's veranda. At last he saw anl
recognized the letter in Mary's hanG
and stammered:
miss Mary, I don't know how it ha:
happened that am here in the place
of Prince Roland, but if you read thu
| letter over and take me instead of hin
for your Christmas gift'-
ut is 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 ant
have some hot coffee" This from tn
aunt, who was quick enough to Sc,
that the best thing to do was to Civ
the young people chance to talk i
/ over. Eass
The upshot Of it all was that Der
stayed and helped with the tree an.
also that there. was wedding in May
when Mary deliberately abandoned he
career and settled down for life as {
happy wife and mother. Bert inherit
ed comfortable fortune from MI
Burnside, and so with neither power
ty nor great riches" they were yer.
happy. Mary keeps IN the garnet the bi
box where once the boxer was boxed.