Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-31
as companion for a wealthy in

rs companion for wealthy ia, -
and they went To Europe.
"She may be married for all |
know and have forgotten me, and i
well, am perfectly happy. ! an
sure. Hanged II | know what has
got into me that | can't think of nm.
thing else tonight. l don't want 10
think OF her-of course l don't. am
perfectly content as | am. Yes. her
white kitten was as the apple of her
Eye. Beryl--a pretty name - Berry,
Bayswinter. l. wonder If she did mar
ry. / saw Teddy bears and wooliy
dogs and cotton cats I'm the shop win
iows tonight, and l thought of the
Christmas trees mother used to make
for me-red apples and striped candy
and popcorn, with tallow dips for
candles. It's the old memories that
have got into my brain tonight. Con
found the holiday season anyway!
But l believe I'll take turn down by
the shops and shake them off. can
make lot of little buffers happy
with handful of Christmas pennies.
1t is not that | want IA home-with
Beryl In it--no-certainly not. I'll
Just go to-to-I am perfectly salts
fed as I am. But I'll take a look
around to-to-well. to pass the time
away"
The stores were ablaze with light.
and the windows twinkle with tinsel
and toys. and the tired shopgirls
were behind their counters until 10
o'clock at night John had spent
pocketful of dimes, and there was but
one Ieft-that is, but one dime left of
the ten dollar Bill that he broke when
he stood treat TO Christmas toys for
the first ragamuffin he met as he
started out to do the Santa Claus act
on a small personal scale.
AS he turned to take the car he
stumbled over n ragged little mite,
who was pressing a bit of blue face
against the plate glass Of a big win
dow and cooling in broken English to
spra wiling yellow Teddy bear in the
toy window.
want a Teddy bear?' he asked
And the child grinned hungrily
'Well, come on in, then. I'll get you
| one"
The bear bore the price tag, Seven
| ty-fve cents" John must go in to
change bill. Crowds were thinning
In the store. and he dragged the rag
ged mite after him through the long
aisles, up the elevator and down
among the rows of toys.
Toy animals? oh, yes. Down that
aisle at post TO-" so the fioorwalker
said, and John led the child hastily
along.
''Havc you toy he began. The
clerk was putting box on the shelf
She turned a weary white face to at
tend to her late customer.
"Berylw
The cry rang across an ocean of
ed on a dozen counters. little rat
Ting crash followed, and then the
voice of a clerk crying, "Oh, Mr..
Headman. Miss Bayswinter has faint
ed again.
The manager hurried up. Miss
Bayswinter lay very white and limp
! across the arms OF the tall customer
No one noticed the little German
wait scudding away with two white
cotton cats and a Teddy bear in her
pinafore.
"Send for the ambulance, some Of
you! Miss Bayswinter will get her
discharge in the morning. This faint
ing is getting altogether too fire.
quent," the manager said sharply.
Where does this lady live?' John
LOTUS asked. II will take her home
III carriage"
ooh, rooms somewhere. Wen send
her TO the hospital. Don't trouble
yourself"
The marriage occurred on Christ
mas day. aud now the fellows are all
wondering who the mischief Miss
Bayswinter was. whether she was
some English girl or simply an Amer
lean heiress.