Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-12-15

The last moment some forgotten article
and were hurrying hither and thither
TO supply the deficiency. There were
lovers who had but lately plighted
their troth carrying home gifts.
Big Jim could not escape the hurry,
the laughter. the package laden throng.
He hated the bedizened windows, the
greetings. even the strings of turkeys
and chickens in the market windows.
He hated Christmas time And. worst
of all he hated the word home. And
it was being rubbed in. Why NOT let
bygones be? For two years he had
not even heard of his mother, and
then she had written that Mariana had
married John Foster. That was natu-
raj. of course. John had stayed by his
job. and John was not dependent on
cards mainly for Il living.
Big lin, with his hands i'm his pock.
cts. fingered the roll Of bills ana the
loose money. over $500. He had been
lucky last night, but tonight. like as
not, shorty or some one would got 1t
away from him. lie turned down a
side street and cursed beneath his
breath as Il little Italian with Il basket
ON his shoulder proffered him small
plaster Christ. He thrust out his chin
sapS passed Charley's place. for he had
already reached his limit in drinks
That chin kept him from passing his
set limit In anything. He was no
weakling. lie kept his word and was
had II! choice. not through lack Of
wlil.
The YerA slrighbclis .iuglHd home"
and lie hated to think of himself in
that connections tte would have gone
10 hin boarding house. but no one,
save perhaps Shorty. who had de-
sefted his wife, would he there-th they
alt had wives or kids or mothers or
some girl to make merry with 80 he
Sihd to, if only once year. Then into
The city clang"r came the beat oc n
drum and singing and stwmmiug-
the Salvation Army. In lhai" march
they stopped near him EH ccGld catch
the words Of TIE high. oo4r5n 'r"or.
Come ZONE, Come homct
Why cont you an come home
The son" finished he cau-h, words
of tie haranguc begun by Young
glrI with a clear voice
J"Yes, come home! Come barL TO
Eour real selves Quiz yop. sin. your
drnkin' an gamlln' an be decent,
boys! 1t pays! II pays. girls, Go
home to your mothers. Sin amt pleas
nre, an IT costs dear in tears an hu-
man miserZ!- Come home lie SUNK
away disgustedly. II seemed there was
no escape
1t was too early to play poker We'll.
lie could 20 to the postoilice at least
for his mail But here, too, was Christ
nas-hurrying crowds, laughter. And,
escaping n bcvy of young girls, he ran
into and nearly knocked over a shabby
old woman, sweet faced, wstful eyed,
with trembling mittcned hands. He
put her on her feet again almost ten
derly. apologzlng but she peered up
into his face-a kind face with good
eyes In spite of all
81 was vaitn' for my girl" she he.
gan with the volubility of lonely age.
II ain't heard from her in a year, my
Molly She would he sure to come for
letters Christmas time, wouldn't she,
think? P'raps you know her. Mary
Shane?" she asked eagerly. not mind.
ing his shake of the head shes pret-
ty. Is Molly, with big blue eyes an
curly yellow hair, an little like doll
Do you s'pose somethin's happened
her? She might-just forget to write
mightn't she? They said she hadn'
worked to the store for six months
DO you s'pose r. she's 49, dead?" TIL
cracked old voice was a mere whisper
The young mans heart softened.
''Tll tell you," he answered, Il expec
she'sSlll right married and safe, like
". heIn~ 90 n-s,+v...:,a ccnd-. Th