Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-12-16

./// MMl 1T is time little
~ .>>/MgX boys were in bed"
~ = A1MZ she said. and led
him from the
When the child was snugly tucked
away between the sheets his mother
bent down and kissed him.
Goodnight, darling" she whisper
ed. Tomorrow is Christmas, and
maybe If you are a real good boy
Santa Claus will bring you something.
But good little boys don't tell dbs.
Billy-remember that"
Doris Lathrop sighed, even as she
crooned a soft lullaby that sent Billy.
drifting away into the land of dreams.
She was not happy, poor thing, and
the universal merry-making of the
Christmas season only intensified the
deep. desolation of her heart. How
she. had lived through the dragging
years that had elapsed since her young
husband had left to become a wander
er on the face of the earth, she scarce
ly knew. 1t was just five years-t1ve
years this Christmas eve-since he
had gone away. Billy, she remember
ed, was but three years old at that
ttme-now he was eight.
1t was dark chapter in her young
life, and the memory of it still made
her blood run cold. A man had been
slain-a man named Duke, who had
haon her. fofharsc
prosecutor for years. Circumstantial
evidence pointed to young Jack
Lathrop as the perpetrator of the
deed, and Jack had been foolish
enough to run away like an ordinary
fugitive from justice. thus convicting
himself in the eyes of the world He
had never been caught, and had never
communicated with his wife, who ut
last had gone home to her fathers
house, not knowing whether her hus-
band was alive or dead.
But there had been sequel to tho
terrible tragedy. Less than year
ago her father had died. On his death
bed he had confessed that he was the
real slayer Of his arch-enemy, Duke:
that in the madness Of evaporation
he had struck. the blow that made
him homicide; that his son-in-law.
Jack Lathrop, had been the only w.t.
ness to his rash act, and that Jack
noble. quixotic Jack-to save his
wife's father, had deliberately diverted
suspicion to himself by disappearing
from the community!
Christmas dawned on snow-coverel
Garth, but 1t brought no peace 20
Doris Lathrop's heart. She sat 1T the
breakfast table with the other mem
bers of the family, silent and distract.
Die did not even notice when Billy
slipped down from the table and soft.
~ stole out Of the room.
where 10 Billyt' some one sudden.
" asked.
- His mother started up and threw*a
startled glance around the room. The
boy had disappeared ~ =
II heard some one. open tie front
door q minute ago., said her brother.
"'The little rascal couldn't have, zone
outdoors this cold morning?"s.
|. Doris stepped Into the hall. The
front door was wide open. She hasten
ed forward: to look out, and who
should she see but Billy coming up
the walk, leading by the hand q tail,
trampish- looking stranger with 4
bushy gray beard, and dragging be-
hind him magnificent new sled! -.
Here he is, mammal" cried Billy,
in great glee. This is the messenger
from Santa Claus See the sled he
brought me. Now, mamma, I didn't
lib: did II" >>.+v. .
+ Doris fell back in dismay. Billy and
his new-found friend came up the
steps and into the house.
=! IT couldn't help it, ma'am," said the
stranger, ologeticatiy,. as he took on
his disreputable hat The child In.
sisted on my comtngto the house, ana
IL just couldn't resist . y 40:
s.. Doris caves piercing scream. !.
Il z..Jack! jack she scflleda out Wildly,
- know 10 I & TINT
voice re
she snate si -: 81, as4.yi bs.ra
from ll,a.a 100 I .sl,la1ha I'll
sJacl Z, J. 4 ~, q
~ 9 4 g, -. s. q :