The Press., 1907-12-25

about tea, and she felt better after drinking 1t. Altogether she was in quite cheerful mood when the little daughter of her landlord came to wish her merry Christmas and bring an invitation from her mother to eat her Christmas dinner with them. Dinner would be at half past 2. Miss Acker- mann thanked them very much and would dine with them with pleasure. Then she gave the little girl the pres ent she had ready for her, stylish fashion, with coat and hat complete, a gift which made its recipient radiant. and sent her off to exhibit 1t at once.
 The sermon Gods Christmas Gifts, :" from the text Wait upon the Lord, and he shall give thee the desire of thy heart" made her homesick again, the desire of her heart seemed so ex- ceedingly far off. Miss Ackermann was not one of those who forget, hard as she had tried not to remember. She found her thought straying back ten years to the seaside, to her old home and Jack. Their parents were neigh bors. Her father and mother lived in the little fishing town and took board CTS in the season. His father was the farmer who supplied them with vege tables and fruit. Jack drove the wagon which brought the daily supply to the cottages. They would have known each other in any case, but the morn ing interviews over lettuce and straw berries, melons and tomatoes brought them closer together.
 Every one approved of their engage menC and the day was set, when a great misfortune happened-her moth CT and oldest sister were killed in a buggy which they were driving by a train at a railroad crossing. This was bad enough surely, but troubles hunt in couples" and the blow seemed to af- feet her fathers mind. He became al- most childish, took to his bed and would have no one but her wait upon him. To complete the roll of disaster her brother suddenly brought home as his wife girl whorh none of hlS friends would have chosen, and the old man would not let his daughter-in-
  she had no desire to help Miss Acker- mann in her duties. She had married for step up and said plainly that she did not mean to slave to please any body.
 "You see how 1t is, Jack" Miss Ack- ermann said, with streaming eyes. q cannot leave father, even for you"
 Bring him to our house with you" replied Jack. ''There is plenty of room. and father and mother won't mind"
 ''No, Jack; thanks ever so much. but that wouldn't do any good. Father wouldn't be satisfied. Besides. he takes up so much of my time that couldn't do my duty by you" And Jack had to submit with the best grace he could muster.
 Unfortunately he consulted the doc tor who attended Mr. Ackermann as to the probable duration of the old mans illness.
 The doctor assured him that the trouble was chiefly hypochondria and that he might live for years in the same state or might possibly recover as suddenly as he had collapsed. At all events the patient was in no immedi- ate danger.
 The inquiry would have done no harm had it not been that the doctor had talking wife. to whom he told everything. so before long the whole neighborhood was saying that Jack Ralston had been asking how long old man Ackermann could live Of course the story came to Miss Ackermann's ears, to her intense indignation. and still greater grief. Jack could not deny it in toto, and short of positive denial she would listen to no explanation. There was quarrel, broken engage ment, and Jack Ralston went west, leaving his sweetheart well nigh bro- ken hearted. with only duty to console her. and sometimes duty ia the best