Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-12-30

/ 4A11010 Bt80C005 ON u OS1OIS SAAO
shadow Of Mason's blum was already
empurpling the valley: It would soon
be cusk.
She dived behind the counter. took
out suit of red flannel trimmed in
white cotton. peaked cap and mask
with long. white beard attached. With
this costume wrapped in bundle she
was waylaid at the door by her father.
''Whar ye goin'?" he demanded, sus-
p:ciously.
ITO find one Of the neighbor boys to
play Santa Claus; then I'm coming
back to fix the tree" aud snatching .
shawl from the forked limb of a pine
which served % hat-rack. she slipped
Eout.
The air was fresh and frosty; A.
ready there was promise Of the dark.
AT twilight" his note had said.
and she started of toward the bridge
at the Gap. ~ /.
Face to the ladies ana back to the wall;
Take q chaW O. terbacksr and balance ALL
The rafters Of The cabin shook with
the stunning feet, the laughter of the
dancers, the calls Of the fiddler and
the uncertain strains OF "Old Dan
Tucker" The fireplace smoked just
enough to wrap the ceiling in
picturesque Christmas swaddling
clothes. p, 3d. .
Coal oil lamps fltfully Illuminated
the tree at the far end of the big room.
There was a sudden commotion at
it's base, as without warning Santa
Claus stood on a tar-barrel, holding
aioft his bundle.
Promenade ALL Seats" roared the
fiddler, and the dancers and the chill
| dren gathered around the tree-but
not too close, for Mamie, as mistress
of ceremonies, waved them away from
| the magic circle. AS he, in a thin,
disguised voice, called out the names,
| the owner would step up and claim
! the parcel
Who is hep one man asked. but
! MacGregor nudged the speaker
! Hush; it's one of the Jimson boys
most like; don't matter; we want to
fool the youngsters and they think
it's Old Nick himself"
Malcolm MacGregor."
Now, it was not often that NAMES
father had heard himself thus ceremo
niously addressed, and the canny Scot
blood leaped in veins he thought long
dead to pride.
Somebody said: well, Mac, i
reckon that's you" and he shuf1ed up
to the tree and took the slip of paper
Santa Claus proffered. It was a sworn
promise to buy the 20-acre lot adjoin
ing MacGregor's place. adding that the
mysterious donor had stopped by the
owners farm and taken an option on
it in favor Of Malcolm MacGregor!
! Below the business form were the
written words: 1.-The one and only
consideration therefor, to be the hand
of his daughter, Mary, to be mine, tc
have and to hold from this day forth.
MacGregor tottered to q chair
where he sat gazing at the precious
paper. In the hubbub nobody noticed
him; the children fingered about
Santa Claus, shifting at his empty bag
longing to touch the hem of his robe
He waved them away. signifying tt
Malcolm to follow him out of doors
Here, at the edge of the clearing, he
awaited the man and his daughter.
When they came he said, still in the
disguised voice: MAY I hope, Mr.. Mac
Gregor, that you will accede to the
plan-?"
Put her thar, Bud" and Mac Gregol
grasped his hand.
But he reeled and leaned against q
blasted tree for support when Santa
Claus, throwing of the cap, revealed
the smooth-shaven. square-jawed face
of the teacher at Rabun's Gap.
THANK you, Mr.. MacGregor," and
the teacher moved to Mary's side.
Her father rallied to swear and say:
But thought"
"you thought you were swapping
! your daughter for a 2O-acre lot-aEd
you were not mistaken; the only mis-
take is in the identity of the party
and that will scarcely matter. Or
perhaps, you prefer to let your friends
! know that"
But nobody ever did know. and the
identity of Santa Claus was so well
kept that to this day the children be
lieve that he hid in cave, and the
spring freshet rushed In and drowned
him. Anyway, he has never come
back. - T..
j
! -: - 9GasiTT tFE 9'31y.EHT ii s.-.
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