The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-28

IN L
igi..y I'll take this
one" he said.
"But we never break a pair!" Dor.
othy exclaimed, with some amuse-
ment "Oh," she added syrlpathet-
ically, as the boys face fell, was 1t
was 1t for some one with only one
leg?'
ITS for my partner. He's got two
| legs, but he's crippled--iust been let
out of the hospital. And I'm going to
! give him Christmas"
"Oh!" said Dorothy. comprehend
ingly. "And you wanted the stock
| ing to hang up? I'm sorry, but
watt" she cried suddenly as the boy
was gathering up his money in disap-
pointment. Il can let you have 1t.
think Cash! Cash."
The little girl who came in re-
sponse to the summons nodded to the
boy, and then sped away to the desk
| with the quarter that Dorothy substi.
tutod for the dime and three pen
nies.
When the customer had departed,
carrying his package, Dorothy contem-
plated the odd stocking which had
come into her possession.
well, what an idiot ! ami" she
I murmured "Why didn't I 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 saw you nod to him."
Barney Flynn. He lives on the
floor above US. Cash" answered,
with Billy; and Billy got run down
by 'lectric. Barney sees to him."
Customers claimed Dorothy's atten-
tion, 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-
1t. Dorothy had seen her dallying at
the counter
She rummaged moment in pile
of shirt waists; then she looked trag-
ically at her friend behind the coun-
ter
20 Peggy, It's gone! knew 1t!
knew IT, | saw 1t in that bargain wom-
ans eye."
She had waited so patiently for that
waist to be marked down! 1t would
have suited her complexion 1t had
just the right warm, rosy tints.
Peggy, why did you let it go?" she
cried reproachfully,
Had to, my dear. ] did my best
put 1t at the very bottom of the pile,
but she fshed 1t out"
Dorothy went back slowly to her
counter
"Dick would have liked It, too she
i. 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 I don't believe he evei
) had a Christmas for himself in his
} life,' Dorothy meditated. II know
what ] bought the odd stocking for
so long as ! can't buy myself thai
lovely waist"
And she felt glow OF enthusiasm
, as plans began to take shape In hel
mind. 1t was almost closing-timG
when the little cash-girl came dartins
up with a message from Peggy.
: ,"She's brought it back-the shir
waist-sleeves too short. u you wan
it, better hurry.
Dorothy hesitated. mo I've Chsnget
my mind" she said resolutely. "Tel
Peggy I'm much obliged" And sh'
added to herself; Now II Dick doesn'
like me In my old plaid waist.
guess wen have to quarrel.
When Dorothy returned to the stor
the morning after Christmas. the III
tie cash girl came running up to her
, and cried.
, II got 1t In for you all right, Mis-
Winslow! ] worked II fine. ! crep
In in the dark, when Billy and Ban
. ney were asleep; you couldn't hav,
, heard me with an ear trumpet. AM
, ! felt for Bllly's stocking. and hum
/ yours alongside. And then ] file,
'em both with all the things you,
given me-"
} "Well,' said Dorothy. eagerly; "an
! what happened?"
20 my sakes." said the child. "Al
OF us on the floor below was wake
up that early Christmas mornir
Such yellin' and stompin'! You
like to have thought they'd never ha
Christmas!"
Dorothy turned away to hide
smile.
And Dick was glad to see me jus
as ! was" she thought. contentedly.