The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-18
Mrs. Rordcn's Christmas Angel.
BY Anna s. Richardson.

BY Anna s.
Millions for advertising. but not one
n for sentiment" exclaimed John
Borden. with TIA firm set Of his color
less lips which James Cartwright. his
Junior partneS, knew SO we'll. Still
Cartwright madc one more effort.
We've done it, Jack. ever since the
firm was organized, and every mothers
son and daughter of en-, from foren.a
to stockboy. will be looking for it. Be
sides, [ don't know but it will hurt our
credit to have the story get around that
the firm of Borden, Cartwright & ca
had failed, for the first time in eight
years. to treat their employees at Christi
mas. It's only the natter OF i've each
for the foremen and candy for the rest
and
1.-THE best answer can offer your
rambling remarks. Jim. Ia to refer you
to our books for the months OF SepSNm-
her and October. I'll be hanged IL I'll
fool Christmas trent. I leave tomorrow
night for st. Louis. The Burrell COM
Dany is putting In a shoe department.
N 1 want to cinch their trade"
We'll, wire johnson to jump down
there"
AK WAY 1aC WSSlCIlt ildii "
den frOwned and snapped a rubber
band viciously around a roll of papers
II prefer to handle this deal myself
and take nc chances. Some one has
got to hustle"
The implied. suggestion of easy toll
GRANGE fell lightly from James Cart
wright's shoulders. If his senior part
ner was bound to give himself up body
n soul to the firms success, the jul
niOr member would not stand in his
say. Secretly he was registering a
y0w. to have Borden's mother down for.
lady, In her impressive but cOlOrless
apartment. had become a pathetic fig
ure to Jim Cartwright II his sylnpa-
'lhetic young wife.
The pathos would have deepened had
he seen her the next evening at dinner,
when her son remarked carelessly:
Have my bag packed by 8 O'Clock
mother. Tn running out to st. Louis
Tor q few days"
The slender deep-veined hands Of the
little mother 1uttered up to straighten
her lace cap. The fingers touched the
ribbon bows. but one arm was care
fully held to shadow her face. Jack
was always annoyed at the sight Of
tears. Just then he was carefully mix
ting the dressing for his salad. and did
not notice that twas some time before
she replied. he~sitatingly:
But the Gay aIler tomorrow Is
Christmas. dear
II know. I know. he answered
rather impatiently. Jim Cartwright
has talked of nothing else for a week.
But 0 and I are old enough to have
got over sue foolishness. Jim said
something about having you up to din
ner, and. M0llie's chatter will keep you
from missing me-"
II miss you every hour, every mo-
ment."
The words trembled on her lips, but
did not fall. She had long since ceased
10 raise the slightest protest against
her sons business plans. But her salad
was taken away untouched. and good
hearted Irish Maggie impaired to the
cook the Information that either the
blanc mango a been burned or Mr..
Borden was in one of his tantrums. for
the lady of the house had not eaten
more than.a spoonful of the dessert.
And then they went into the library,
with Its orderly array OF shelves. Jacks
sever and well-appointed desk. and the
~unfiickering gas log. Somehow that
equable. uniform fame seemed to typi
~ her whole life.
She ook her regular position in the
square rocker. Her son tool his papers
to the Norris chair. with its leather
upholstery. He liked leather. 1t re.
minded him of the shoe business. II
which he was building up q fortune.
In her ShadOWy corner, reached bu'
family by the rays from the green,
rocked gently n dreamed. She clOset
Aer Eyes to the handsome room which
represented the best years of her son.
life. At least that was what he said
To her the beautiful appointment rep
resented q blank In her life. The hes
years? Why. those were the YEAR
when she and her husband, with thet
yolden-haired boy. a lived in a small
Town In western New York. They al
passed In review before her--the frs
trousers he had worn.J his first fright
ined. awesome day In school. his tori
Joys and smaller sorrows his hirthda.
treats. his Christmas trees. his well
filled stockings! Yes. those had bee
the best days. before he a invade'
the big Massachusetts town. to max
the shoes, hts father had been conten
to sell. AS his business had grown, h
had passed more and more out Of he
life. Surrounding her with every com
fort, giving her a liberal allowance. h
felt his duty alone. Himself he gave t
the accumulation OF wealth. The re
view Of years seemed suddenly to gal
dropped. A figure IN soft whit
draperies seemed. to bend over her. Th
faceswasSth face OF an angel. n TIL
voice murmured gently. II bring bac
with a glad cry Mrs. Borden starte
up and found her hot, trembling han
clasped In the firm. cool one ct he
son.
wen, 1 am OF. mo her. The cab
at the door. You've had q nice mai
Take good care Of yourself until I g
pack"
And with perfunctory kiss he we
gone. Mrs. Borden's head droope
.-~i~ md the foorat fell freely. u
Where are We. porter" demande
Borden, waking to . sudden r~ealizatic
that the train was not moving. ar
that daylight vas streaming under II
curtain Of his berth window.
Just east Of Syracuse sir" reptile
the colors1 maj Your Q VIII