Smyrna times., 1909-01-20

as companion for a wealthy invalid,
and they went to Europe.
"She may be married for all l
know and have forgotten me, and /
well, am perfectly happy, l am
sure Hanged if l know what has
cot into me that l can't think of any
thing else tonight. don't want to
Nink of her-of course l don't. am
:erfectly content as l am. Yes, her
white kitten was as the apple of her
eye. Beryl-a pretty name Beryl
Bayswinter. l wonder if she did mar
ry. l saw Teddy bears and wOOlly
dogs and cotton cats in the shop win
dOws tonight, and l thought of the
Christmas trees mother used to make
for me-red apples and striped candy
and popcorn, with tallow dips for
candles. It's the old memories that
have got into my brain tonight. Con-
found the holiday season anyway!
But believe I'll take turn down by
the shops and shake them off. l can
make a lot of little buffers happy
with a handful of Christmas pennies.
1t is not that | want a hOme-with
Beryl in it-nO-certainly not. I'll
just go tO-tO-I am perfectly salts
| fed as | am. But I'll take a look
around tO-tO-well, to pass the time
away"
The stores were ablaze with light,
| and the windows twinkle with tinsel
and toys. and the tired shopgirls
were behind their counters until 10
| O'clock at night. John had spent a
pocketful of dimes. and there was but
one left-that is, but one dime left of
the ten dollar bill that he broke when
he stood treat to Christmas toys for
the first ragamuffin he met as he
started out to do the Santa Claus act
on Il small personal scale.
AS he turned to take the car he
stumbled over a ragged little mite
who was pressing a bit of Il blue face
against the plate glass of big win
dow and cooling in broken English to
sprawliHg yellow Teddy bear in the
toy window.
"Want a Teddy bear?" he asked.
And the child grinned hungrily.
"Well. come on in. then. I'll get you
one"
The bear bore the price tag. "Seven-
ty-five cents" John must go in to
change Il bill. Crowds were thinning
in the store. and he dragged the rag
ged mite after him through the long
aisles, up the elevator and down
among the rows of toys.
"TOy animals? Oh. yes. Down that
aisle at post TO-" so the foOrwalkel
said, and John led the child hastily
along.
Have you toy he began. The
clerk was putting a box on the shelf
She turned a weary white face to at
tend to her late customer.
"Berylr'
The cry rang across an ocean Of
cotton cats and paper elephants heap
ed on dozen counters. A little rat
Ting crash followed, and then tht
voice of a clerk crying, "Oh, Mr.
. Headman, Miss Bayswinter has faint
, ed again"
The manager hurried up Mis-
Bayswinter lay very white and linn
across the arms of the tall customer
No one noticed the little German
/ waif scudding away with two whit
| cotton cats and a Teddy bear in he
pinafOre.
! ''Send for the ambulance. some O
2 you! Miss Bayswinter will get he
! discharge in the morning. This faint
] ing is getting altogether too FIRE
T. quent," the manager said sharply.
where does this lady live?" Johl
LOTUS asked. 81 will take her hom
: in carriage"
: "Oh, rooms somewhere. Wen SEN
her to the hospital. Don't trOubl
d yourself"
The marriage occurred on Chris
mas day, and now the fellows are Il
wondering who the mischief Mis-
= Bayswinter was. whether she wa
some English girl or simply an Amel
-, lean heiress.