Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1909-04-01


DEER MIS- DLADE ing how long
merry cHRlsMts' 'twould be before
you'd discover that retorted Miss Nir-
ginia. Her conscience was troubling
her, but she would not yield. She toss.
ed a key to her sister and then put
the drawer back.
"'Tain't in my drawer either" said
Mrs. Perkins. Il guess it must be in
that bag. You'd better hurry. Miss Adj
elaide. She'll be home pretty soon."
Miss Adelaide pulled the bag out and
fitted the key. The four old ladies
peered eagerly down at her. suddenly
she drew her hand back again.
Il can't" she said. "One of you
must do it,"
Mrs. Perkins stopped down and pull
ed open the bag, which seemed full OF
bits of silk and ribbon.
"Where'd she get so many:" she
asked. 1t looks as if we're on the
track now, don't it? And see here
She pulled from under the rags
three little packages carefully tied up
in bright coiored bits Of tissue paper.
She distributed them rapidly, passing
Il to Miss Adelaide, who made no
effort to take it, but let it roll under
the bed. Mrs. Perkins dived after it
and came up flushed just as Mrs. Slo-
cum gave an exclamation of dismay.
whats the matter:" asked Mrs.
Perkins i1npatiently. Mrs. Slocum laid
something on the bed. The others
crowded round; only Miss Adelaide
never moved. They saw a red pin
cushion In the shape of a rude heart,
and on it in crooked letters the pins
formed the words, Deer Mis- Adlade
Merry Chrismus."
The silence made Miss Adelaide turn,
and she caught up the ugly cushion
with Il little cry.
That's what it MEANT" she cried.
That's her 'neechin' ways. She was
making us Christmas presents-us
who'd never done q thing for her, no
q thing to make her lonely life less
lonely, Tot q thing to make Christmas
a happy time for her. and she feed
ing her poor starved life on the scraps
of kindness We flung her.
y tear rolled down and SMASHED ON
the red cushion. Miss Virginia snatch
ed the cushion away.
There she cried. Make things
better by spotting this
Mis-; Adelaide left the room. and her.
sister did not oppose her. The rest
worked in silence until everything was
| In n11n,. rE1n,, 4II, an =,
and shut the door.
That night Miss Adelaide had a sick
headache. Scraps came up at suppcr
time to bring her some toast. Her
thin little face looked sharply through
the gloom OF the room.
Here's your toast" she said. .It,,
dark in here. Slant I get Won n
light
"No. no." answered Miss Adelaide
quickly, 1t seemed to her She coull.
not meet the child's eyes. Scraps stoo,
a moment, full OF sympathy.
I'm sorry you're sick. Miss Ade
lalde. she said awkwardly. Il CUES
you'll feel better in the morning wont
you:"
Yes, answered Miss Adelaide, bury
ing her face in the pillow. Run down
stairs and get your supper. Scraps. It
will be all cold"
Scraps obeyed, as she always did. and
Miss adelaide heard her shutting down
the stairs in her loose old shoes. whoa
Miss Virginia came In she found hcr
sister sitting up in bed. with a flushed,
excited face.
"Virsinia," she cried. how much
money have l in my purse"
Three dollars and five cents" an
swered Miss Virginia.
Il am going to get Scraps a pair of
shoes for Christmas.' Miss Adelaide
was frightened when she had said it,
for it was understood between them
that Miss Virginia should say what
was to be bOIpht