Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-11-24
CHAPTER vi.
Spirit of Christmas.
1t is Christmas eve.

All London was alight and busy
The toy shops, the butchers shops,
the poulterers' shops, ay, all the
shops were doing a roaring business
for Saint Gifts day is close at hand,
and money must be spent upon him.
Up in Sir Richards luxurious
counting-house alone there seemed no
excitement, no hustle.
The green lamp was burning on as
if it never needed replenishing and
was prepared to burn on forever.
Sir Richard was writing with calm
speed, the clock was ticking with its
wonted regularity.
To him Christmas was but sus-
pension of money-making, a sad and
unnecessary waste of time.
Now he was writing quickly, be-
cause the troublesome day was draw
ing near and there was still work to
be done.
At last the letter was written and
he rang the bell.
"My hat and coat"
His valet brought him his hat and
coat and waited for further orders.
SIS everything ready at Heavi-
thorne?"
Everything, sir" replied the man.
Then we will go down tonight, as
arranged. Tell me what time the
train starts
The valet cleaned the information
from a Bradshaw and communicated
it.
"A quarter past eight, SIR
And it is now six. Be ready at
eight I"
Tie -.Sn -1woa BE- as2s
sir Richard looked aroua0 his room.
to see that he had not forgotten any
thing, and went out, locking the door
after him.
1t was cold night and a dark one.
The square seemed empty, and Sir
Richard drew his coat around him and
buttoned an extra button as he strobe
down the steps of his mansion.
1t was not quite empty, for as he
strobe along his face thoughtful, close
and lowered, a figure came from out
of the darkness and caught his arm.
Sir Richard turned, angrily.
1t was a woman, thinly clad and
shivering with the cold.
She turned her pale face imploring-
ly up to him, and with her disengaged
hand forced a shrinking, shivering
little child upon him.
Richard! oh, Richardl how can
you be so cruel?"
Faint, woefully faint was the voice;
it came from the depths of broken
heart
Sir Richard started, whitened in the
sickly gaslight and drew his arm away
from the grasp of the emaciated hand,
with an imprecation.
Lucy" he said, with involuntary
dismay and horror.
cay, Lucy, your once loved Lucy.
Richard, look at me, and think what
l was once till loved you. Richard.
have sought you for years: ] am
starving, dying. Do not frown so
cruelty; did not say you knew it;
knew my letter never reached you,
that the servants would not deliver
it. l knew that you thought me dead,
or you would never have neglected
your poor Lucy. oh, no, Richard, you
would not, you were too kind hearted
for that Richard, look!"
And with a faint effort she caught
the child up-a fine beautiful little
fellow-and held it before him.
See, Richard" she continued; ''he
is your own, Take him and love him;
want nothing; l am too weak, too
i'll, too poor to take care of him. Do
not think of me, but save him! Rich
ard, l plead not for myself, but my
child,'
OH spirit of Christmas, wherever
you are, stop a while in your fight
and touch the mans heart She
pleads not for herself, but for her
child-her child, ay his child! Let
her words strike home, kind spirit,
and melt his hard, wicked hearti
Alas. no kind spirit could stop on
such fruitless errand.
Sir Richard turned his head aside.
pushed the child away, and in harsh
hoarse voice, said:
There must be some mistake