The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-12-21
THE or
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

puttlng on his oyercoat he went o,,t ~
was, however, toward the old mill that he
aleeeea ms Footsteps, and not toward the
enI.Hehtiy genteel locality of Leslie road.
mere was a piano in the small sitting
room OF which Jervis became the owner,
~ was a very ancient affair. Jeryts was
iohu OF music, and frequently strummed
Maitzes for his own amusement. Ono
1ss:iioon-it was about three weeks after
~ had taken up his abode in the house by
lne inlil-time was hanging exceedingly
YEARLY on his hands.
lie had a nasty cold. for one thing
"hich made him cross and irritable: for
another. the rain had never ceased to fall
all day. -
"hen Mrs. Broughton came in with his
.ea thihgs, his patience had worn quite
~threadbare.
ne reVlled the weather, the season, the
Inmate IN general and his own stupidity
lor returning home at such a time of the
year Ihen, calming down a little. he in
CURED whether Miss B~roughton could lend
mn some music to amuse himself with.
me widow smiled. and, departing, pres
ehtiy returned with a great pile, which
sue put down on the table beside him..
1erVls thanked her. and began to turn
Tue music over sheet after sheet.
Your daughter is musicale" he re-
marked.
me sad-faced little woman frightened
up.
oh, yes" she replied, smiling. "Madge
USED to sing and play beautifully BEFORE
ehe broke off suddenly and the smile
disappeared. Jervis waited for her to COM
plete the sentence, but she made no at
tempt to do so-only finished setting the
TAME and hurried away.
AS ne drank his tea. Jervis continued to
turn over the pile Of music with careless
fingers.
FIRST came old scale books and ~sonatas
by Mozart and Beethoven, Pieces that
mad been approved at the Ladies' Semi
nary of which Margaret Broughton had
oeen a pupil In her girlhood. Then came
music of a later date, waltzes, operas and
songs. Some of these had her name or
the name of a giver scrawled in the cor
ner. jeryls' eyes rested on a torn and fad
ed copy of MARY Of Argyle" In the top
rlght-hand corner of which was written in
a four.shing hand: "Madge, from Fred
Crowther."
"Whew!" whtstled Jervis, as his hand
rested on the song; that's the very ticket!
Funny 1 did not remember before; but
Good Lord! how she has changed.
Yes. l am certain she is the same girl
fred was engaged to when we
were at Blal1eley's together. Now I am
beginning to remember things"
He leaned his head on his hands to as
sist the process.
Now, what was It that happened? Her
father got into some sort of a mess, lost
his money or something, and shot him.
self. Yes. that was 1t, and Fred broke
with the girl. He always was a beastly
cad, hat fellow"
A gentle tap disturbed his revivlng mem
cries. 1t was Margaret herself who had
come to remove the tea things.
Jervis watched her a few minutes In ST.
ience as she piled the china on to her
tray.
Il have borrowed your music" he said
at last breaking the silence.
she looked up with a smile that recalled
to him the merry-faced girl whose por-
trait had stood on Fred Crowther's table
years ago.
o are very welcome to 1t but I am
afraid it is all rather out of date"
Il wish you would sing me something"
said the young mar. inlpulsively. II am
aWfullE fond of music, and it is pretty
slow here by myself. l am sure Mrs.
Broughton would enjoy hearing you, too.'
Il am afraid l am very much out Of
practice" faltered Margaret.
O course, because | have deprived you
of your piano all the time. Do practice
a little tonight. ! assure you II would be
a most charitable action"
That evening Margaret Broughton sang
not one but many songs to Jervis Chand-
ler's somewhat cratic accompaniment. 1t
suddenly struck Jervis when mother and
daughter. had retired that 1t was a long
time-a very long time-since he had spent
so pleasant an evening,
He sat longer than usual ever his last
pipe, thinking and humminE occasional
snatches' of the songs she had sung to
him. 1t was a little after midnight when
he was startled by a hurried knock and
the opening of his door. Margaret Brough-
ton stood on the threshold with pale face
and frightened eyes.
MY mother is taken ~ she gasped.
Would you go for the doctor? I dare not
leave her alone"
Jervis bounded frum his chair and was
away almost before she had finished
speaking. his cold entirely forgotten. For
some days the patient little woman, with
the pathetic face, fingered, but the doctor
held out little hope Of recovery.
Thoroughly run down. Not a ha'p'orth
Of strength IN her whole body" he said,
gruffly.
Jervis overheard this remark from his
sitting room, and saw the hot tears that
rushed to Margaret's eyes as she turned
back to the sickroom. after seeing the doc
tor out.
Don't you heed that fellow" he said,
following her. with awkward sympathy.
They always talk like that: it's profess
sional, and shows how clever they are
after their patient is well again"
But Margaret refused to be comforted
aud JervIs returned to his own sanctum.
He took up a book and tried to read, but
his thoughts would not follow the story,
and he soon put 1t down again.
Now 7 wonder what will become of that
little girl when her mother goes" he
thought. II suppose she will take a gov
erness' post and slave over other folks'
kids TIL the end Of her days. Oh, hang
that beast Crowther!"
The old woman who had come to help
Margaret came In with a scuttle of Goals
at This moment and caused a diversion.
How is Mrs. Broughton now?" he
asked.
"Just the same, sir. Lies as still as still,
and hardly ever speaks. only follows Miss
Margaret about with her eyes. I'm think
ing it's the thoughts Of leavin' the young
lady all by herself that's frettin' her. poor
soul"
Jervis scowIed ut the fire.
D you think she could see me-, Just for
a minute, you know? I'd be careful not to
upset her, and perhaps L could relieve her
mind a little" he said.
III