The Washington herald., 1907-12-25
By ANNA S. RICHARDSON.

The store fairly radiated the Christmas
spirit Crimson bells swung from every
chandelier. Ropes Of evergreen jIapcd
all the shelving. The counters were
strewn with Christmas cards. booklets
and favors.
The man who had dropped in to buy
lead points FOR his pocket pencil remained
90 pore over "a stack Of gift books bound
in rare leather Then he heard the voice.
After that only his gaze was on the
books. His interest was concentrated on
the possessor Of the voice.
But you said such things We're in great
demand around the holidays, and l have
taken infinite pains with these. Please.
please tell me what is wrong with them.
There was a note Of tragedy in the rich
contralto tones. which. together with a
beseeching glance from wonderful violet
eyes. put 10 rOut the rules and regula-
tiCns of the astute buyer OF Christmas
novelties. His was a smart shop and he
had never vOUchsafed explanation TO
struggling young artists whose work he
declined to sell on commission, but now
he picked up the little packets of plate
and score cards. gay with holly, Santa
Claus heads. sc.
Let me explain" he said. These are
not novelties. They are the same style
OF cards used in the past twenty years.
with the same decorations. Women who
can afford 20 pay the prices demanded
for hand-painted novelties want some
thing new See this pOinsetta blossom.
not painted on q card. but cut in the
shape of the blossom itself. and this
funny bulging stocking. oyerfiowing with
faces Of pretty girls, for a bachelor
They are catchy, the sort of things my
customers want Your work Is neat, but
not novel"
Thank you, the girl said bravely I
understand now, and il is too late for me
90 try my hand at novelties But per
maps you Will keep my cards and if-weu
your novelties might not go around and
then, perhaps some late customer might
buy mine after all"
Certainly viii be glad to keep them
IN reserve Your name and address-oh.
yes, L remember-Miss Sylvia Leigh. the
Grant studios. l will do my best for
you"
Nevertheless. as the girl slipped through
the door he opened a deep drawer under
the counter and dropped the cards out Of
sight 1t would never do 10 display those
old-tashloned bits Of pastebOard among
the novelties which appealed 10 his fash
lonable trade. And then very suddenly
the man who had been engrossed in
leather-bound gift books stepped up 10
the counter
one minute, please. l would like to
take look at those cards YOU Just
bought from the young lady"
The astonished manager Of the store
glanced from the well-grO0med man with
me brown eyes and iron gray hair to the
more expensive novelties in the show
case.
The ones You just bought from the
young lady, repeated the customer Sc
renely
Certainly" responded the manager
hastily, and he spread forth the despised
bits OF pastebOard. The work was dainty,
but utterly commonplace.
Just what my sister would like-con-
serVative sort of woman my sister is
don't 90 in for new-fangled ideas. I'll
take those-three dozen? Not enough,
Dc you suppose the girl could do two
dozen more by the day before Christmas?
If she can, send EN- to me, James Macy.
at the Marquette I'll take these with
me-"
And almost before he could realize what
had happened the manager was actually
gaping. open-mouthed after this eccen-
trlc customer whose sister was to give a
oinner party Of sixty covers on Christmas
day and intrusted the buying of such i'm
portant articles rs dinner favors TO an
obviously inexperienced bachelor brother.
CHRISTMAS eve was frosty and stariit
James Macy, coming home from his Of
rce, smiled somewhat gTimly at the hDli-
day preparations made by his faithful
man.
Holly and evergreens there were in
plenty. great wreaths with massive bows
OF satin ribbon. bowl filled with scarlet
poinsetta blooms. and on one table an
orderly stack of parcels evidently sert bv
express. mail and messenger 10 the pop-
ular but elusive bachelor. For elusive
ne was dubbed by matchmaking moth
ers.
Now he stood before the howl nnad
with, poinsetta. lingering the crimson
petals thoughtfully
"A young lady 10 see you. SIR re-
marked his man impassively.
James Macy took the card
Miss Sylvia Leigh ran its legend
She came to him. looking taller tbsp
the day in shop. for her head was held
high' with an ungrlish mixture OF i'm
periousness and defiance.
You will pardon my coming here on
Christmas eye-and unchaperoned.
could not leave town without seeing Won -
The violet eyes had turned almost black
the cOntraltO voice was a bit to even
in its tones
Il am honored," replied James Macy
gravely, and he offered her chair, which
she declined with a wave Of her gloved
hand.
1T was hard enough to know that the