Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-01-06

must have chafed the pride Of high
spirited girl such as his wife had been.
His own character had changed in a
measure. He could see and appreci-
ate Cornella's position.
Each Christmas week had brought
package from the twins. At first 1t
had been addressed in Corneiia's hand
writing, but afterward 1t came to Ben
jamin superscribed in round childish
characters that became frmer every
year and marked the development of
the twins education. The packages
were there ~ the nursery. on the lit
tie white beds - ten packages that
had come by mail or express and had
never been united. Old Caleb had re-
ceived orders to place them in the
nursery, and each year he had carried
them there with tear brimmed eyes
Afterward he and Hannah would laugh
and cry over their own Christmas re-
membranes that had come from the
same source.
Never by word or sign had Benjamin
Marlin recognized the receipt Of the
packages, nor had he ever sent any
gifts to his children. 1t is hard to
understand the bitterness that was so
deep welled and yet so near to tender
ness that the man was afraid to open
the packages lest he be moved to tears.
He was fearful to recognize the Christ
mas festival In any degree-there were
such painful recollections of the first
two Chrlstmases after the twins had
been born. At first he had tried run
ming away from the Christmas merry
making, but wherever his wandering
feet carried him there was the joyous
observance of the great anniversary
Benjamin Marlin couldn't 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 at the pack
ages on the beds and with sudden
impulse crossed the room and laid his
hand on one. 1t was the first one, and
Cornelia must have prompted It's send
ing. for the twins were only three
then. Cornelia must have had strong
sense Of duty, he admitted as he cut
the cords.
Inside was a small box containing a
very much soiled and laboriously con-
structed splint picture frame, undoubt-
edly the work of childish fingers. That
was from Bobby, as the attached card
Indicated Another bit of kindergarten
work was Dorothy's offerings watch
chain made Of colored beads. In the
bottom was little photograph of the
twins. Suddenly the picture frame
and the chain and the photograph were
blotted out from Benjamin Martins
eyes in mist of tears.
He went through the packages one
by one until he came to the one that
had arrived that morning. All the
gifts were of home construction-there
was one from each twin and always
their photograph, new one, in the
bottom. That was Cornelias mute
contribution. This last package be-
trayed the fact that Dorothy, a charm
ing lass of twelve now, was a clever
water colorist, while Bobby had carv-
ed an inkstand from a handsome piece
OF Cuban mahogany.
As the evening wore Oh Marlin sat
there on the white fur rug beside the
little bed, his head leaning against the
snowy counterpane, surrounded by the
tender remembrances by the children
who evidently loved their father so
devotedly 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
doorbell 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 II 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-saw them looking
wistfully at him. CorneIia, 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 heartT whispered Marlin
to his wife. Il would have reached
you In the morning"
"Can you forgive me for taking them
away from you, my husband2" she
pleaded. - am so much to 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 alco~s and rang frantically.
What you doing, honey?' demand
ed Caleb
"Pm ordering de Christmas dinner.
Of co'se. want de bigges' turkey I
can git-hella, yere, is dis de butcherf"
Caleb executed double shuttle on
the parque- floor and then stopped
abruptly. "Oh. Lordy mel rs got to
git out and find Christmas tree FOR
dem chillens and some green stuff and
holly. Well, dis am going to be
Christmas at lastv'
Willing to Divide.