The chronicle=news., 1912-12-24

.
MI No quietly. ~rm afraid
l@,9AR you won't IKE my.
HSJSuS Christmas present.
H this year. J."
- Never mind. fA-
thsr." Interrupted
ihs smilinG girl. 1T II has one dia-
s.ood less that you wished. Ill survive
the dock
IT II were only that. Paula. L
have always respected your common
senss too highly to deceive you about
business matters. so ! Will not con-
csal from you that shs- Casten deal
| vent against me. and ! am psnniless.
Every Newspaper In town will have
the details within few days. ! am
an old man and do not care. but natu.
rally my kesuest rsGrst Is for you.
though nobody eau say that your old
possessed for what he knew to b
right and just"
Paula covered her eyes with her
hand. while the father watched her
anxiously.
Don't take II hard. aearte." he
begsed. We'll not starvs. though II
will be = struggle for . while
Father" she said calmly. Il am
not taking II hard: was only won.
derinG how much We could sesaps to-
sether to coatinua aghtine. Men like
Caster have no right on this earth.
I'm ashamed to admit Il. but a. far a.
I am concerned. I'm glad. truly Slad.
It's Q blow for you. bat don't worry
about me. You know always desired
to make my own way. bot IT'S next to
impossible for rich mans daughters.
Then when ] had 10 take mothers
place. my hands were too full. All !
care about 10 that We get enough to
20 after Caster. There's Christmas
party at Barham's tonight. but I'd
rather stay here and talk things over
with you"
'Poliis girl. you have no idea how
you have lishtened my worry" said
Mr.. Mercer huskily. II know you'd
rather not. but BY all means 20 to
your party. It's most important that
tho true state Of affairs 10 not sus.
pccted until absolutely necessary. I'll
spend the evening across the street
with Judge simms. When your moth.
er was alive. tho judge and his wife
and she and ! never failed to celc-
brats Christmas eve together. and
they'd bs hurt II I stayed away"
Paula kissed him abssntiy and ran
upstairs to dress. She was far from
underestimatinE the disaster. and the
suddsnness Of It startled her.
ITS one thing to talk about earn.
Ing your living and another thing to
do IT," she told herself. You are .
success 70 far because you are your
fathers daughter. It'll mean hard
work. Sun. work overcomes heart.
aches and teaches one to forset!"
She brushed the powdsr.puR across
her nose. and descended. Al the door
Of the library stood Mr.. Mercer.
II forgot TO tell you. Paula. that I
found II necessary to put Dr. Grant
n possession Of the facts"
Paula turned away at mention Of
the young physician. and started tow.
ards the door.
Goodnight. dearie-havs = jolly
time!" called her father.
Paula swept into the waiting auto
mobile and settling down for the long
drive into the suburbs. rapidly evolved
numerous plans. meanwhile noting tho
Christmas Sayety on all sides. The
air rang with the excited chatter Of
children returning from belated shop.
Ding Or sightseeing tours. and min.
E1sd with their merry voices were the
subdusd conversations Of their elders.
The sparkling snow. sleishbells.
Arisht lights and holiday decorations
struck q sympathetic note in her
heart. The huge motor purred softly.
and ~ Paula rsachsd up to arrange
the rich red ribbons which held holly.
wrsaths against the glass doors and
windows. her consciencs smots her
because Of her real sladness.
I'm forgetting what II means to
boor father" she soliloquized. "lts
40 fun for man Of his aSs to start
all over again"
A quick stop threw her on the floor.
and By the time she had rsgained her
rest and Jumped out to Investigate.
he chauffeur was lifting . PROSTATE
body from Aepsath the wheels. Ar
Awsd crowd gathered swiftly. Tho
chauffeur was sxoneratsd from blame.
~ several men had seen the little
Aswsboy run in froat Of the autonao.
bile and slip and fall oa the snowy
street.
That's Tim Bro~n-he lives in
Ross alley-just over tAsrs. na'am."
volunteered another whitSfaced
nswsy. stopping 10 peok uD the acat-
tered papers. 45 ...
TIL take HIN home" a.nov.esa
Psu1a hraSst1. 4.- .,o, ..,