Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-02
him away from the mouse.

him away from the house.
Tom came home late Christmas eve.
heaving a sigh as he turned his latch
key. Ella was waiting for him up
stairs and, instead of reechoing his
sigh. received him with a smile
What a treasure you are. sweet
heart" he said. embracing her, ito give
up so much for me''
There was a twinge of conscience on
the wife's part at this undeserved en-
comium, but she threw It of and be-
gan to speak OF other subjects. We
are but human, and It is not best to
put too great q strain on one another.
To deny a woman or a child all partic-
ipation in celebrating Christmas is as
signing task without giving adequate
strength for Its performance Tom lay
awake that night brooding over having
to deny his young wife what he knew
she so eagerly desired and awoke late
the next morning. Ella had dressed
and gone below. Tom arose and was
completing his toilet when he heard
voices downstairs. Since the pair kept
no servant he was surprised. Going
downstairs he was astonished to see
Ills ulCJucI anu AulhSk anu AA5
ter. while his wife's parents were just
coming in at the front door.
Merry Christmas!" all shouted at
once.
Tom looked at Ella with a half as.
tonished. half reproachful glance,
which melted into a smile under the
ringing salutation.
Then came others Of both families.
every one bringing a package Tom
was surprised to see the breakfast TIA
BILE drawn out to thrice its usual
length. with card bearing a name on
each plate, packages piling up on each
card. Ella In passing him took his
hand and gave ii a squeeze, looking
into his eyes with an expression which
might mean almost anything, but
which Tom took as pleading for for
giveness. Then the breakfast was
brought In and all sat down to the ia
! bic
Neither Tom nor Ella made any ref
erence during the meal to Elias viola
| ton OF her agreement ms to celebrat-
ing Christmas But Tom did not act
disagreeably about it, after the first
! few moments entering into the spirit
! of Christmas with a hearty good will.
Ella was unusually merry, showing no
trace of fear at scolding after the
celebration was over. When breakfast
was finished 1t was agreed that the
presents should be handed to the
brides father, who would read aloud
the names of the donor and receiver
written on them and hand them to the
latter to be opened.
And so the process began, the minor
articles being first distributed. Even
though the gifts are trifling there is
something delightful in the expecta-
ton attending these Christmas dis
tributions A name was read and the
package handed to the receiver, who,
with q smile for the donor, opened 1t
and, no matter how unimportant the
gift, expressed unbounded delight
Half an hour was taken up before the
! last present came up to be delivered.
ELLA TO Tom" was read out in
sonCrous voice.
Tom. seeing a little package no
heavier than an ordinary letter, felt
relieved. thinking that Ella had kept
her word ut least in this one item,
giving him some trihe-a bookmark,
perhaps-that she had made with her
needle. The package was handed to
him amid silence, all eyes turned upon
him to discover what her gift would
be- He broke the string and took out
two bits of rectangular paper 1t grad
ually dawned upon him that they were
the two notes for $500 each he had
made to Shuster. On their face was
stamped IN large red letters the word
Cancelled"
Tom looked up at Ella, whose eyes
were dancing with delight. For few
moments he did not seem to under
stand the matter or at least did not
know what to do. Then he arose from
his seat and, going to her, took her in
his arms amid united shout of "Mer-
nv Christmasp' from the others, who by
this time had gained an inkling of the
meaning of the brides gift
Calls for an explanation coming from
all sides. it was given by the brides
father:
about the time Tom was gradu-
ated from college and needed money
for his studies for a profession Ella
received a legacy of about $1,000. She
desired to give 1t to Tom for educa-
tional purposes, but feared he would
not accept it She went to Shuster, a
money lender, and hired him to propose
to furnish Tom with the required
means at a moderate interest, and It
was through Shuster that Ella lent
Tom the money, the notes for which
, on this blessed Christmas morning she
as his wife cancels"
All leaned forward to catch every
word Of this brief explanation. When
1t was finished every one felt moved
to say something. yet no one seemed
TO know what TO say. The silence was
broken by Elias little brother, aged
six. who wildly shouted Merry Christ
, mas!'
The words were not so irrelevant as
. they seemed. since 1t was on the first
Christmas morning that the great les
? son of self sacrifice was announced to
, the world