Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-24
roreIEn ro ner cnaracfer.

Cant you guessf' with most be- witching smile.
 T never was good at guessing" he replied somewhat sardonieaiiy.
 Why. I'm Eima." she announced impulsively, rushing to his side and possessing herself of his hand.
 ''oh, you are." he responded. with exasperating coolness. though he did not withdraw his hand.
 res. and started to you and Stella just as soon as we received your teie- gram, she went on. "l sent you word l was conlns. Didn't you get my mes saEe?-
 Il have a rather vivid impression that did" he returned. gazing in ad- iniration upon the flushed face.
 And we arc going to be friends TOW. are we potf" And there was . pleading look in the violet eyes raised 10 his own. q hope SO he could not help say ing.
 "oh, you make me so happy. You know. was away at school when yen and Stella clo-when it happened. Papa was very angry and unjust. know. but when you sent us that teie- gram he reIented right away. He could not come himself on account of wretched attack of Rheumatism. so he dispatched me on the first train as bearer of the branch of peace. know I shall love you as a brother. But so. as she told herself. and yet how could she bear to have her darling for gotten in the household ot which she had been the sunshine. to have her sons and eEugbtsrs in future years say:
 There are five of us" without word or thought of the little sister gone before2 Then MOliie's words came back to her with anotber and tenderer significance; ''l do wish we could have some kind of memorial for little Bethr'
 memorial" not for the eyes of the world. but one that would keep alive in the hearts of her children the mem ory of that dear lost one It might not be an impossIbillty. after all. and the plan. once started in her mind. went on unfolding. and as the last spark died out in it's bed of somber gray .ashes and the clock counted out. loud and clear in the stiffness. the twelve strokes of midnight she rose to her feet with moist eyes. but hopeful smile upon her lips.
 '1n that way they will be sure to remember her" she nurmured to her self. and the little charities given fin her name will be twice blessed"
 It had always been a custom In the Mason family for the children to hang up their stockings the night before Christmss-a custom that. as Mrs Mason declared. owed it's popularity 10 the one extravaganza In that economic ally ordered household-an open fire in the family sitting room. When Christmas eve came there was brought forth for the occasion the usual array of stockings Of various sizes and hues. from Mollie's. of conventional black lisle thread. down to little Ben's. of coarser. home knit gray. and there was a great deal of chatter and fuss Il of places and the finding of pins large and strong enough to sustain the ex- pected burden.
 I'm going to put mine out here at the very endr' proclaimed Ben. with a flourish of the article in question and q desperate dive for the biggest pin in the cushion. but his mother laid her md 1rya rt,n rr-f.h SI softly spoken reminder:
 Not there. dear. That's where little Beth's stocking always hung. you know"
 The merry babel of voices suddenly ceased. and the children turned to look at their mother in a kind of awestruck wonder as. taking from her work. basket a pair of pretty scarlet stock ings-baby's favorite pair-she careful ly fastened them in the accustomed place with the low voiced explana- ton:
 We have no money to build grand memorial windows or to endow hos pitals in the name of our lost darling. but we can keep her memory alive in our own hearts at least in a humber way. Now I am going to hang up her stockings jEst as she did on her last Christmas on earth. and we will each contribute something out of our own stores that will make some poor chill dren more comfortable and happy on this the worlds great gift day
 Moliie slipped her hand into her mothers and laid her cheek tenderly against her mothers shoulder while she whispered. with a half suppressed sob:
 "Oh. mother. dear. that's beautiful thought. and we'll all be so glad to give something toward dear little Beth's memorial stocking"
 The morning saw this promise faith fully fulfilled. and it was wonderful when each one set his or her brains to work what a number of poor. neglect ed children were remembered and pro- vided for out of little Beth's gift stock ing.
 Charlie found that with a new pair of skates be could spare bis old ones for a poor little lad round the corner who never had so much as top or ball that he could call his own. Kitty was glad to give paint box almost as good as new to the criDDled girl
 FINE THREE INSPECTORS.