Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1912-12-21
MES HOWARD BUTLER.


~ ~ erwise devoted to
- religious exercises.
The two children sat on the edge
of their chairs in the bleak asylum
parlor, where three holly wreaths in
the curtainless windows proclaimed
that it was Christmas. Both were
dressed in the institutional blue and
white check, and there was a red
shiningness about their faces which
told of the recent and vigorous -ap-
plication Of soap and water. Lily was
cream and roses with appealing long
dashed eyes that would have secured
her home many times over II she
had been willing to go alone. No
one wants to adopt boy. Even the
blonde ones were unclaimed, 80 what
chances had Thomas, brown as to
hair and eyes and skin, although any
thing but somber in effect? The over
worked Matron had reluctantly given
up the idea of placing the two chill
dren together. A desirable home had
been found for the girl with two prim
maiden ladies and little brother he'd
to remain behind. So ths tiny folks
were to spend their last Christmas
together with Lily's new guardians.
Sister will come every Saturday
to see Brother" said the little girl
who accepted the coming separation
with a child's strange fatality, al
though her heart was aching.
Yes" assented Brother noncom-
mittally. He was less concerned with
future happiness than with the pleas
ing prospect of day in new surround
ings.
A carriage drawn by fat slug OF
horse drew up to the curbing, two
ladies' got out and cautiously ascend
ed the slippery steps.
"Miss-Priscilla.re and Mss
Observation-Disclosures" announced
Thomas, who had his own way OF
characterizing people. :,
Tommy! Tommy! Don't call them
that" walled Lily; "say Miss Pris-
ella and Miss Matte or maybe they
won't want me-"
At this awful thought even Thomas
was abashed, 20 II was the shy little
Lily alone who slipped from her chair
and offered her hand to the two ladies
as they entered the room followed by
the Matron. Miss Priscilla shook
hands in a matter of fact way, but
Miss Matte bent to kiss the children
as she helped them on with their
wraps and gathered up the meager
parcel that contained Lily's personal
belongings.
Shall we so now, Sister," she
ventured. The dominant chord of her
existence had always tinkled soft
accompaniment to the leitmotif of the
decisive Miss Pris.
YES" assented the latter positive
ly, land we will return the boy pre-
cisely at five" she added to the Ma
iron, who had been lowering over Lily
with good-byes and admOuitions.
The coachman carriod both Children
down the icy stops and they bore
themselves with becoming modesty, as
If accustomed to such care, while the
orphans in the front ward watched
enviously, and one of them opened the
window wide enough to call down.
Jaw, Tommys coming back any.
how" as a salve to their sighted con-
dition.
When the big house was reached
there was delightful holiday smell
in the air of evergreens, oranges and
freshly burning driftwood. Lily was
taken upstairs to come down later,
her blonde beauty radiant in the white
lawn and blue ribbons In which Miss
Matte had dressed her. With a
child's adaptability she seemed to fit
In perfectly with her surroundings in
contrast to Thomas In his coarse
blue Bingham and heavy shoes. She
would bring the spirit of youth to a
house, long accustomed to the deco
rous ways of sober middle age A
black and white Japanese spaniel,
with nose so short that he seemed
always on the point of sneeze.
jumped up beside her and laid his
head affectionately on her arm.
What q picture" sighed Miss Mat.
tie.
Don't spoil the child" rejoined her
sister, with a glance at small Thomas.
who seemed rather out OF it. Come.
it's time for the tree"
A white-capped maid showed aside
the portieres and revealed tree, gilt
tering with tinsel and heaped around
with various ribbon-tied packages.
There was satisfying smallness,
coy portion for two" feeling about
this fat little tree, In contrast to the
usual spindly, sparsely trimmed ever.
green at the Asylum, which was so
large that 1t never seemed to belong
to anyone but the Board of Directors.
After a moment OF rapturous ST.