The Brinkley argus., 1909-12-17

his retufn. she had written him t,.a sae had made plans for Christmas taaI
 might Gssain her at Sussex. but sns
 Aisred him very iaerry Christmas wished that he might find his hearl
 filled with tcy at again heinz bene lta tis old roof-trce, wished that this { Christmas might be the happiest ol
 all the Christmases he had ever ex
 perienced. and lastly assured him that
 5he was sending him a memento oi the season. which she hoped he would cherish and love for>her sake.
 Parrish Morton repeated the words sadly: For her sake. Ah, for her saxe!"
 If she but knew what he would do for her sake. were 1t possible. But no. she was not for him. The violet and the cosnscs are incongruous Youth and late. summer arc not born to trip hand in hand across the fields Elysian Into Agapemone.
 The bell rang sharply. He heard Phipps seft tread upon the stairs, and listened. Yes. 1t was she. There was no nistahing the ripping cadence of that swect-throated bird of passage. Turning. he pressed a button and tie room was sparklins with light. At the top of the stais he stood hesitating, striving to gain control of himself. At the foot. she paused. made him mock courtesy" and held out her arms:
 "Oh, Par, dear old Par, have brought you your Christmas present instead!"
 The attitude, the look in her eyes, the irresistible entertainment of her beauty flooded him with impclling power. What did she mean? Was it herself she was offering? For brief moment he stood swaying to the mighty impulse within him. Standing supplied there, he remembered, as she bounded toward him! He must not he could not
 And then, as he was about to sweep aside all the positivcness of his duty all the negatives and forbearances and give free impulse to his heart. there came step behind her She heard and turning as she was about to enter the yearning haven of his. eager arms, cried:
 "Oh, pardon me. Mir Morton, let ne introduce Marshall Marriott. He"
 Suddenly the stairs went black be- fore hifa. He realized now. She was bringing him a Christmas surprise. the man she loved, the
 Somehow he managed to greet the stalwart young fellow with the frank eyes. In maze, ,uf conflicting pain and surprise he did the duties of host and wten Verona, and her es- cort had been shown to their rooms to dress, he dipped into the den and cast himself into the sreat arm chair before the psilseless coals ofsthe fire place.
 Lost! .Lost!" kept ringing in his ears, and with a groan of anguish he once more buried his face in his hands and gave way to a mans grief. In vain he tried to reason with himself that 1t were better so.s Hs should not have expected or even dared to think 1t might have been otherwise. He was too old for her She was sunshine, he was the somber cloud but. oh, how he loved heri And for tke moment he had thought she meant to give herself. The misery of it all. The heertache of it!
 Suddenly, behind him he heard a rustic. the froti-frou of womans gown, and over the side of his great chair warm arm stole softly against his neck.
 "Oh, Par, what is it, dear? What have done? What"
 'Instinctivsly in the darkness he felt the frightened rabbit look. the appeal ing gaze. 6ummoning all his reserve strength. he said. with scarcely a tremor in his voice:
 Nothing dear. nothing to offend. I am glad -glad-for you, if he is worthy. N-"
 'If-if-he--is worthy-oh, you goose. zee it all now." In flash she threw her arms about his neck Her face was close to his. How soft and warm and soothing her flesh was "He-he is my brother, lost that day in the foothills of New Mexico. I-I have just found him. f-thought you would be glad-I wanted to surprise you want your Christmas present?" in desperation.
 With mighty heart throb he reached about and drew her to him Tenderly, tremblingly he clasped his arms about her and as their lips met in . plighting kiss. a tiny flame spring ing as from the heart of an ash-cov cred sapphire. famed up from the grate and sent the shadows scurryins Phipps coming to announce dinner stood tfansfixed. Then, broad grin | upon his face, he slipped softly away to his inm0st self:
 "Lawd! Lawd! Dere sure am gwine | 7 be a weddin in this yeah house lSore another Christmas eve! Yas'iri"
 A oujckly.Mado Present.