Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-12-24
The CHRISTMAS
BEARS.
By GERALD PRIME.
Copyright 1909. by American Press
Association

Association
W SABEL was having it out with her
father 1t was only a few days
M before Christmas and she should
have been at peace with herself
and all mankind in general, but she
wasn't. She had been telling herself
all this particular day that as soon as
her father came home she would put
her case before him in Il light so con
vincing that he would he brought to
admit that he nad been little too ar
hitrlry. Her scheme had not worked
She WAS beginning to realize painfully
HAT her effort To gain her point had
resulted in confirming her father in his
opinion that il WAS "A mans privilege
to rule in his own house. especially
when the woman of it was his only
daughter. II girl of twenty. who could
not be expected to know her own mind
You know perfectly we'll" said lsa
bel. with Il final heroic attempt to
Snatch victory from the jaws of de.
feat that Jack and | have been
have been good friends for a long
time. The only reason he hasn't spO
ken about ito you-is because he has
been waiting until he was in more OF
a position to do so.''
"Then it's mighty lucky for him that
he concluded to postpone it," declared
Tom Truesdell testify. Romance is all
very well for those who can afford it,
but Jack Goodale doesn't belong to
~ I,;,, f..f- l.,,.
and | admit he earns it. But ! don't
see how he expects me to accept him
as son-in-law. How could he ever
provide for a wife as extravagant as
you? Absurd
He has little money, and he may
make a lucky deal some day" she per-
sisted in spite of the forlornness of her
hope.
do you mean that the young man
intends to gamble in wheatT he asked
ironically.
why shouldn't he? You do, don't
your"
Tom Truesdell snorted impatiently.
NO" he retOrted, II do not gamble. A
gambler risks his property. / never
risk anything. l know how the market
is going because l make the market.
There Is a difference, Isabel"
Driven to desperation, Isabel played
her last trick. THE man you want for
son-in-law," she said, "is no better
off financially. He has nothing but his
debts to distinguish him."
He smiled sardonically. "If 1 want
him for a son-in-law," he returned de-
cidedly, II am well enough off to az
ford him. ! grant you Gerald Van In
gen has very little means, but he has
something that the Truesdell family
needs a good deal more. He has posi-
ton"
He's an empty makeshift," declared
Isabel wrathfully.
HE isn't very brainy, l suppose"
her father admitted. He'll be all the
easier to manipulate on that account.
That ought to appeal to you, Isabel.
But haven't made up my mind yet.
Mr.. Van Ingen Is coming to lunch
with me tomorrow, and / shall make a
study of him. He certainly ought to
do great things for us socially"
Van Ingen was punctual at Trues-
delrs office on the following day. AS
he entered the busy place he found
the hustle very disquleting to his
nerves. Tape machines clicked. clerks
were shouting perplexing fractions
into telephones, and there was an up
roar quite unfamiliar TO the young
mans ears. All at once Truesdell
rushed into view, almost overturning
his distinguished visitor, and without