The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-02-16

--rd."
shteam injine.' Thin he signs an
says: Barney, l niver intinded f'r
to do it, but we know how it is ye-er-
silf. Will We lind me tn loan Nv a
two-dollar bill SOS we can ate till tn
mkt payday? That's tn wa-ay Nv tn
ma-an with tn big hear-rt, Mary, an
so I've had me hear-rt ossified."
This naturally had its effect on Mrs.
Flynn. 9TH poor ma-an," she said
to herself; 'he do be ha-avin' hazard
time iv it over tn money, an tbs f'r
me to help him out" So she glad
dened his heart by proposing that they
ignore Christmas entirely. AS that
was the very idea that he had In mind
all along he readily acquiesced. And
yet, even in the hour of victory, he be-
gan to modify the compact, thus DELHI
erately disproving his previous pessi-
mistic assertions about the expected
return favors.
"a bit iv something f'r Maggie an
Terry" he said, "but nawthin' ilse."
Here, however, Maggie objected. If
there was to be any such arrangement
she wished to be included in it. There
was no reason why she Should receive
any presents if she was expected to
give none; indeed, as she was receiv-
ing an Independent salary for her
work as teacher, she told herself that
there was all the less reason why her
parents should incur any Christmas
expenses on her account AS for her
own money, she could do with that as
she saw fit. 1t was right that they
should be relieved of a burden that
was rather hard to bear in the exist
ing circumstances, but that was no rea-
son why she should be deprived of the
pleasure of giving Here, it will be
noticed, was another blow to Police
man Flynn's views of the selfshness
that marks the modern Christmas, but
of course he didn't know it. Maggie
kept her opinions to herself, and mere
ly insisted that she should be includ-
ed in the compact.
Now this is an agreement that many
people of limited means have entered
into at various times, and they will
appreciate the difficulties that con-
fronted the parties to it, The Christ
mas spirit is contagious, and more
than once Policeman Flynn regretted
that he had been so far-sighted. When
he saw anything that he wanted tc
buy for Mrs. Flynn or Maggie, he
tried to console himself with the re-
Election: "Niver mind! T will be
ma -arked down afther Christmas"
But with this came the haunting fear
that the stock might be exhausted be-
fore the day of bargain sales arrived.
The occasional queries at the station:
what are We goin' to buy tn good
woman?" also worried him, for he
feared truthful answer would be mis-
construed, and he would be put down
as misery wretch with little affec-
ton for his family. He had one con-
ISOLATION, however. BY tacit agree
. ment Terry had been left out of the
arrangement, as being too young right
; fully to appreciate 1t, and so there
was an opportunity to make some fam
lily purchases. Thus it happened that
Christmas eve Policeman Flynn told
his wife that he must get something
more for Terri.
!, But We ha-ave plinty fr him." ar
gued Mrs. Flynn.
, Are you tn wan that's doin' this,
or am II" he demanded, with some as
perity.
"Oh, g'wan, IL We want to-" she re-
turned, but ray-mimber wal hing"
whats that?"
"Ray-mimber Cullen, tn la-ad Nv tn
big hear-rt that niver meant FIR TO do
it,"
; Policeman Flynn departed with the
, uncomfortable feeling of a criminal
who fears he has been found out and
, Mrs. Flynn chuckled. Then she re-
tired to her room and made an inves-
: tigation of one of the bureau drawers
; Twill niver do" she commented
as she held up one of Policeman
Flynn's socks and regarded it critical
/ ly. "'Tis Shame tn min don't wear
, shtockin's. Now what1l l ta-ake fl
; to ma-ake it seem fright an proper
; Terry noted his mothers mysterious
movements that night, but he was alb
solutely barred from the kitchen un-
til morning, and Mrs. Flynn kept a
close watch of him. Maggie was SUI
perintending or assisting to superin-
/ tend a waits Christmas celebration
and did not get home until late. When
: she did come she made mysterious
trip to the kitchen in the dark and
r deposited some packages on the table
; With the stealthiness of thief Pc
e liceman Flynn came still later, and
| his movements were the most extraor.
' binary of all. He removed his boot:
: before going to the room where Mrs
a Flyn2 was nnarefullv dreaming Of thu