The Cairo bulletin., 1910-12-02
HIS CHRISTMAS,
PRESENT
BY MARK WHIITTEMORE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

thirty-tWo. Ihey nad reached the age
where childless married people begin
to try to supply the deficiency by pets.
Henry Trayne, who was profess
sional chemist and mining engineer,
was offered every inducement to go to
the Pacific coast and direct the opera
lions OF mine Besides his salary,
he was offered some stock of the com
pany, For a long time he declined,
not caring to break up his home on an
uncertainty-fo the mine might prove
worthless or to leave his wife while
the experiment was being made, but
"the WOLF was prowling about the
door, and at last the couple made up
their minds to bear the separation.
Henry was obliged to make pre-
liminary trip to distant city where
the capitalists who were to employ
him lived in order to talk matters over
and become posted as to his work.
During this absence, which lasted a
month, Laura had taste of what she
was to endure during the longer sepa-
ration. When her husband returned
the couple were enraptured at the re-
union, being like young couple In
their honeymoon, except that the long
er separation stared them In the face.
When the March winds were blow
ing Henry babe his wife sorrowful
adieu and went to the field OF his OPP
eratons. During the first month OF
absence Laura wrote him every day
"Chlmmy" dhe dog, dear boy, misses
you very much. The day you left he
whined and fretted and ran about pin-
ing for his dear papa. Toddle' (the
parrot said yesterday, oh, Henry.
how can live without you? wonder
II the dear girl got that from me-"
Had the letters fallen into the hands
Of strangers they would have supposed
the writer to be referring to beloved
children. However, after few weeks
possibly Laura was becoming more
accustomed to her husbands absence
and did not need to lavish so much
love ON CHIMNEY and Toddle--the let.
tiers assumed a more practical tone.
Laura hoped the venture would be
successful They were getting on
toward old age and nothing laid up.
1t would be nice II In addition to
Henry's salary the shares that had
been given him would become yaln-
able. Then they would not have to
worry about the future. In one OF her
letters she asked Henry IL there were
good schools In the district where the
mines were located Henry wrote back
that he hadn't taken any interest IN
the schools, for IL they made the place
permanent home, not having any
children Of their own, 1t wouldn't
make any difference. To which Laura
replied that she thought Toddle could
be taught to read, and she wouldn't
like to take her where such thing
would be impossible If desired. Henry
who had got used to being separated
from his pets, thought this absurd.
Six months passed, and no immedi
ate prospect of Henry's getting home
/ October came, and there was rich
strike in the mine The success OF the
enterprise was secured, but still Henry
could not get away. In December ht
left everything to go home and spend
Christmas with his wife and Chimms
! and Todde.
/ He arrived on Christmas morning
As he ran up the steps of his house
lie noticed an auto standing before thu
door and In the hall met the family
I physician, who was giving some in
struetions to trained nurse. Henry
in terror, begged to be informed as t,
the reason for their being there
The crisis is passed." said the doc
tor Don't worry. Nurse. go up anC
prepare Mrs. Trayne to meet her hus
band. We don't want to startle her"
The nurse went upstairs and in
few minutes called out that Ms
Trayne might come up. Henry wa
SO anxious that he had not RESPONDED
to Chimmy's greetings and when tn,
dog got in his way as he was hurryinl
upstairs gave him a push that sen
him away yelping. When the cage
husband reached his wifes door h,
was astonished to see placard on /
bearing the words:
MERRY Christmas from Harry"
Too anxious to give way to wonde
as to what II meant, he opened tn
door softly and entered the room
There lay Laura, with the tiniest hi
Of baby on her arm, and the mothe
had a happy smile Of welcome on he
face.
"A Christmas present for you, Hen
ry" said Laura.
The nurse, who took position to SO
the husbands face at the moment O
his surprise, told the doctor that I'll
looked as If he had had pitcher G
Joy poured over him" He stood for
moment enraptured at what he saw
then took his wife and their child l
one embrace
Now | KNOW" he said, "why yo
were lnquiring about the schools an
were giving me that nonsense abot
teaching Toddle to read. But VIII
didn't you let me known
II wanted to surprise you. An
when l learned that you were to CON
at this time | hoped my Christina
gift would be here ready for you. TIL
doctor delivered 1t without wrapps
or address this morning at o'clock