Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-14

observance of the great anniversary.
benjamin Marlin cou. Int run away
from, Christmas-it was everywhere.
So he fixed the habit of shutting him
self in his, own house during those
holidays.
Now he looked longingly t the pack
ages on the beds and vii a sudden
impulse crossed the room ana laid his
hand on one 1t was The first one. and
Cornelia must have prompted its send
ing. for the twins were only three
then Cornelia must have had a strong
sense of duty, he admitted as be cut
the cords
Inside was n small box containing a
very much soiled and laboriously con
structed Splint picture frame. undoubt-
eddy the work OF childish finger That
was from Bobby, as the attached card
indicated. Another bit of kindergarten
work was Dorothy's Onering-a watch
chain made Of colored beads. In the
bottom was Il little photograph Of the
twins. Suddenly the picture frame
and the chain and the photograph were
blotted out from Benjamin Martins
eyes in n mist Of tears.
He went through the packages one
by one until he came TO the one thar
had arrived that morning. All the
gifts were of home construction-there
was one from each twin and always
their photograph. n new one. I'm the
bottom. That was Cornelia's mute
contribution This last package be-
trayed the fact that Dorothy, charm
water colorist. while Bobby had cary
ed an inkstand from a handsome piece
of Cuban mahogany.
As the evening wore on Marlin sat
there on the white fur rug beside the
little bed his head leaning against the
snowy Counterpart, surrounded by the
tender remembrances by the children
who evidently loved their father so
devotedIy The last six packages had
contained letters from the twins thank
ing him warmly for the lovely presents
he had sent them and begging him to
write to them.
1t was this last straw that almost
broke Martins proud heart. He had
never sent the children a gift. 1t
must have been Cornelia who had
done that in his name and thus kept
his memory fresh in their loving
hearts.
He did not hear the ringing of the
doorbeIl nor the excited voices Of Ca
leb and Hannah lifted in delighted
surprise. He did not note the hush
that followed and then the soft foot
falls Of several persons on the car
peted stairs. Hannah's pass key turn
ed in the door Of the. adjoining room.
and then, as if attracted by the light
the footsteps approached the open
doorway and paused.
Then Benjamin Marlin looked up and
saw his wife and children for the first
time in ten years-sew them looking
wistfully ut him. CoTnelia. more beau
tiful than ever, with the proud, spirited
eyes humbled in appeal to his; the
eager loving faces of his own children
turned to his in joyous expectation.
Can you forgive me for not coming
to you, dear hearth whispered Marlin
to his wife. Il would have reached
you in the morning"
Can you forgive me for taking them
away from you. my hUsbandF she
pleaded. II am so much 10 blame"
The door closed softly behind Han
nah and her husband. and they tip
toed down the stairs with awed and
happy faces. When they reached the
bottom Hannah numbered into the tele-
phone alcov and rang frantica!ly.
What Y -oinG, honeyT' demand
ed Caleb.
I'm ord ing de Christmas dinner,
OF cO'Sp / want de birgpS' turkey ]
can git-hella. yerc. IS dis de butcher?"
Caleb executed a double shuttle on
the parquet floor and then stopped
abruptly. oh. Lordy me, Is got to
git out and find n Christmas tree for
dem chillens and some green : If and
holly. Well. dis am going 70 be a
Christmas ut LAST