The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-11-30

TnaL was Wnen the rOSesCOlOT dmDl-
lions OF youth had seethed to the sur
!. face and he had left the farm. But
the braggart assurance OF the city
para,yzed him. He was not stupid, but
he grew to underestimate himself be-
cause others did.
4 In FIVE years he returned to the farm
| for the funeral of his parents. He had
| hoped to renew some OF the barefoot
| friendships of his childhood. But
neither had the old friends the time to
pierce his shell Of difidence. So he
returned again to the bookkeeper's
desk in the city. a friendless man.
December 25th" Barton crushed
| the sheet in his hand, and threw It
into the waste basket. Then he put
on his overcoat and closed up the Of.
fce. He slipped an envelope con.
tanning a bill into the expectant hand
Of the elevator boy.
Thank you, Mr.. Barton. wish you
Merry Christmas. SIR" the boy
said formally. with no trace Of the
easy camaradie with which he had
thanked O'Connor.
Out on the street In the good-na-
tured. hurrying throngs Barton was
like q withered bit of weed borne along
on a riotous wave Of joyousness. At
the corner, where the crowd was
dense. the spire Of small Christmas
tree clutched In the arms of a big
Irishman graxed his face and cooked
his hat at an absurd angle. For a
brief moment he had been drawn into
the eddying spirit Of the street. He
Strengthened his hat and from habit
drew back his head between his
stopped shoulders.
Loosen up. We ould crouch! It's
Christmas Ave! Amt We wise to ut?"
remarked the Irishman, and strobe on.
He paused at brilliant shop win
dow. A woman With a shawl over her
head and child stood near him.
"oh, ma. don't I visit at Or
w'iskers 'ud bring me doll like that
there one!" cried the child.
Barton reached into his pocket. and
turned to the woman shyly. Tiff" he
began.
"Come, Maggie. We must be gettin'
home" said the woman taking the
child's hand. And they passed on.
Barton took his usual seat at
Henry's cafe at table partially
screened from view by a couple Of
dusty. artificial palms.
Merry. christmas -sir-soup? inquir.
ed the waiter.
"Yes-and turkey.and-and-say, John,
tx 1t up little. will you-some holly
or-or."
Eyes. sir. I'll fx 1t up right for you, .
replied John. without enthusiasm.
4 Barton began almost to wish he had
accepted O'Connor's invitation. But
no knew that he would have been but
a miserable spectator at q happy home
festival. Too. O'Connor's boisterous
efforts to put him at his ease troubled
him.
Henry's was we'll filled. He hadnr
: thought It possible that so many
should have no homes to dine in or
Christmas Eve. He scanned the faces
/ Of the men and women at the tables
J about him. The men were for the
most part flushed OF face and loud o
! speech. Before them on the tables
> stood not only the bottles Of cheal
: wine served with the table d'hote. blu
r siphons and bottles Of whiskey to cele
! brate the occasion. Barton searche,
0 the place for the face OF woman
whom he could imagine sitting up IA
I into the night to dress q doll or all
: little stocking. There was not on
among them.
o Barton smiled grimly when tn
' waiter brought In his turkey. A
!. either end OF the thick. white platte
a upon which rested thick. dark slice
/. Of meat. he had placed sparse littl
; sprigs OF holly. quite berry-less an
4 with broken leaves.
o Thank you, John" said Barto,
4 quietly.
q As he was eating his desert he o.
( the nosegay woman come In with he