The Falls City tribune., 1909-12-17

W ~MlJ she said, and led
him from the
room.
When the child was snugly tucked
away between the sheets his mother
bent down and kissed him.
Goodnight, darling" she whisper
ed. Tomorrow is Christmas. and
maybe II you are "A real good boy
Santa Claus will bring you something
But good little boys don't tell fbs
Rlly-remember that"
Doris Lathrop sighed, even AS she
crooned n soft lullaby that sem Billy
drifting away into the land OF dreams
she WAS not happy, poor thing. and
the universal merry.making OF the
christmas season only intensified the
deep desolation of her heart. How
she had lived through the dragging
years that bad elapsed since her young
husband had left to become a wander.
or on the face OF the earth, she scarce.
~ knew, II was just five years-fve
years this Christmas %eve-since he
had gone away. Billy, she remember.
cd, was but three years old at that
iine--now he was eight.
u was a dark chapter in her young
NE, n the memory OF IL still made
her blood run cold. A man had been
slsin-a man named Duke, who had
heen her fathers hitter enemy and
prosecutor for years. Circumstantial
evidence pointed to young Jack
lathrop as the perpetrator OF the
deed, and Jack had been foolish
enough to run away like an ordinary
fugitive from Justice, thus conyicting
himself in the eyes of the world. lie
mad never been caught, and had never
communicated with his wife, who at
last had gone home to her fathers
house, not knowing whether her hus.
band was alive or dead.
But there had been a SEQUEL to the
terrible tragedy. Less than a year
ago her father had died. On his death.
bed he had confessed that he was the
real slayer of his ~arch-enemy. Duke.
that in the madness of evaporation
he had struck the blow that made
him a homicide; that his son.inlaw.
Tack Lathrop, had been the only wit.
ness to his rash act. and that Jack
noble, qliXotic J2ck-to save his
wife's father, had deliberately diverted
suspicion to himself by disappearing
from the community,
Christmas dawned ON snow-eoyered
earth. but it brought no peace to
DoeiS 14athron's heart. She sat at he
breakfast table vi h the other mem.
A"rs Of the family. silent and distract.
s1e did not even notice when Billy
slipped down from the table and soft
|, stole ont of the room,
Where is Rilly?9 some one sudden.
" asked.
Wis mother started M ard threw p
startled glance arc nd the room. The
boy had disappeared.
L heard some one open the front
door a minute ago" said her brother.
The little rascal couldn't have gone
outdoors this cold morning.
Doris stepped into the hall. The
front door was wide open. She hasten,
ed forward to look out. and who
should she see but Billy coming up
the walk, leading by the hand a tall.
trampish.looking stranger with a
bushy gray beard, and dragging be
hind him a magnificent new sled,
Here he is, mammal" cried Billy.
in great glee, This is the messenger
from Santa Claus. See the sled he
brought me. Now, mamma. | didn't
tib, did II"
Doris fell back in dismay. Billy and
his %new-found friend came up the
steps and into the house.
4 couldn't help it. ma'am,.' said the
stranger, apolosetically, as he took off
ais disreputable hat The child in.
sisted on my coming to the house, and
III just couldn't resist"
Doris gave a piercing scream.
lack, jack" she cried out wildly.
Il know hat voice-I know that
voice."
She snatched the long gray beard
from the mans face and dashed 1t to
the floor.
jack" she family articulated, and
fell swooning into the strong arms of
her husband.
And at that moment the bells in the
neighboring town broke forth in a
xlamor of Joyous Christmas greetings