West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-12-16
Twenty dollars" said madame. lift.
ing the mass with a practiced hand.
give IL 10 me ouick said nell,

fob chain, simple and chaste In design.
properly proclaiming its value by sub
stance alone and not by meretricIous
ornamentauon, as all good things
should do. IL was even worthy OF the
watch. As soon rs she saw Il she
knew that II must be Jim's. IL was
Ike him. Quietness and value-the de.
scription applied TO both. Twenty-one
dollars they took from her for II, aud
she hurried home with the 81 cents.
With that chain on his watch Jim
might be properly anxious about the
time In any company. Grand as the
watch was. he sometimes looked at Il
on the sly on account OF the old leather
strap that he used IN place OF chain.
When Della reached home her lntox-
ication gave way a little TO prudence
ana reason. She got out her curling
irons and lighted the gas and went 10
work repairing the ravages made by
generosity added TO love. which Is al.
ways n tremendous task. dear friends
"a mammoth task.
Within forty minutes her head was
covered with tiny. close lying curls
that made her look wonderfully ike n
truant schoolboy. She looked Mt her
reflection In the mirror long. carefully
and critically.
IF Jim doesn't kill me-" she said TO
herself. before he takes n second look
at me he'll say look like a Coney Is.
land chorus girl. But what could
do-oh, what could i do with Sl.STT"
At o'clock the coffee was made aud
the frying pan was on the back OF the
stove, hot and ready TO cook the chops.
Jim was never late. Della doubled
the fob chain in her hand and sat on
the corner OF the table near the door
that he always entered Then she
heard his step on the stair away down
on the first flight. and she turned
white for just moment. She had a
habit OF saying little silent prayers
about the simplest everyday things.
and now she whispered. please, God,
make him think ! am still pretty"
The door opened. and Jim stepped I'm
and closed It. He looked thin and very
serious. Poor fellow. He was only
twenty-two-and TO be burdened with
family! He needed n new overcoat.
and he was without gloves.
Jim stopped inside the door. as i'm
movable as setter at the scent OF
quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della,
and there was an expression In them
that she could not read. and Il terrified
her. 1t was not anger nor surprise
nor disapproval nor horror nor any OF
the sentiments that she had been pre-.
pared for. He simply stared at her
hxedly with that peculiar expression
on his face.
Della wriggled of the table and went
for him.
"Jim. darling" she cried. don't look
at me that way! i had my hair cut or
and sold ii because / couldn't have
lived through Christmas without Civ
Ing you present. It'll grow out again.
You won't mind. Will you? / just had
to do IL. My hair grows awfully fast.
Say Merry Christmas. Jim and let's
be happy. You don't know what a nice
what beautiful, nice gift I've got
for you"
you've cut of your hair?" asked
Jim laboriously, as IL he had not ar
rived at that patent fact yet even after
the hardest mental labor.
"Cut It or and sold It," said Della.
Don't you like me just as we'll any
how? I'm me without my hair, ain't
IY
Jim looked about the room curiously.
You say your hair IS goneT' he
said, with an air almost OF idlocy.
You needn't look for It," said Della.
IT'S sold. tell you-sold and gone too.
It's Christmas eve, boy. BE good to
me. for 1t went for you. Maybe the
hairs OF my head were numbered" she
went on. with a sudden serious sweet
ness, "but nobody could ever count my
love for you. Shall put the chops on,
JimT
Out OF bis trance Jim seemed quick
ly to wake. He infolded his Della.
For ten seconds let us regard with
discreet scrutiny some inconsequentIaI
object In the other direction. Eight
dollars a week or a million n year
what Is the diTerence7 A mathema.
ucian or a wit would give you the
wrong answer The magi brought
valuable gifts. but that was not among
them. This dark assertion will be H.
Illuminated later on.
Jim drew a package from bis over
coat pocket md threw II upon the
table.
Don't make any mistake. Dell" he
said. about me. ] don't think there's
anything in the way OF hair cut or
shave or n shampoo that could make
me Ike my girl any less. But N you'll
unwrap that package you may see
why you had me going awhile az
first"
White fingers and nimble tore at the
string and paper, and then an ecstat-
&c scream OF Joy, and then. alas, a
quick feminine change 20 bystericsl
tears and walls, neccssitating the I'm
mediate employment OF all the com.
forting powers OF the lord OF the fat.
For there lay the combs the set Of
combs, side and back that Della had
worshlped FOR long In a Broadway
window-beautlful combs, pure tor.
toise she'll. with Jeweled rims. just the
shade TO wear I'm the beautiful van.
ished hair. They were expensive
combs she knew. and her heart baS
simply craved and yearned over then
without the least hope OF possession.
And now they were hers. but the
tresses that should have adorned the
coveted adornments we're gone.
But she Rugged them 10 her bosom.
and at length she was able 10 look no
with dim eyes and n smile md say,
my hair grows so fast. jim"
And then Della leapcd up like a little
slnged cat and cried. "Oh, OH.
Jim had not yet seen bis beautiful
present She held lt out 10 him eager.
ly upon her open palm. The dull pre.