Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-07-05
cents to last until next pay day | won-
der what one ought to doT

stairs Of Mrs. RamseIl's gloomy house,
whistled through the hall. He started
down the stairs and Honora heard O
ripping sound. a sharp exclamation
and the thud OF q heavy fall. Then all
was quiet for moment.
By the time she had reached the foot
of the stairs there was an excited gath
ering of women about the prostrate
form of the "happy man."
Mrs. RamselI was loud in her lamen-
tations. LAS if didn't have enough OH
my hands tonight" she walled. with
| out him falling downstairs and killing
| himself"
ut might be cheaper If you'd put a
new carpet on those stairs, Mrs Ram
SELL" said a bleached looking WOMAN
In red silk waist.
THAT carpet was new last spring
retorted Mrs Ramsel. quick In defense
of the tattered furnishing of the third
floor. HE oughter looked where he
was going"
Has any one sent for a doctor"
| asked uon0ra quietly.
mo. Mary. you telephone to the hos
| pitaI for an ambulance" screamed
| Mrs. Ramsell over the baniSters to the
floor below.
why not send for DOCTOR" urged
Honora. bending over the unconscious
man. She had noted his evident re-
finement, and the quality Of his cloth
ing indicated that he must have known
better days, although his presence in
the cheap boarding house was Il ms
terry. He has 4 room. Perhaps -,
would prefer to be taken care OF here. ,
who's going to pay a dollar foT
doctor?" demanded Mrs. kan.S"ii
shrilly How do l know I'll ever ;>et
1t back from him."
''rll take the risk" said Honora im-
patiently. and Mary was directed 10
telephone for the nearest physician.
Mr.. Ramsell was rooted out of soma
lower basement retreat, and. together
with the stout armed Mary and the
lesser efforts Of Honora and a pale
faced youth from the third floor front
room, the still form Of the no longer
happy man" was conveyed to his
room on the floor above and laid on the
bed
After that Mrs. Ramsell announced
that she left the case In the hands OF
Miss Burr, who didn't seem to mind
meddling in other folks AFFAIRS" she
acidly remarked, and at once disap-
peared to attend to the Interrupted
supper The other boarders scattered
to forget the affair in the more abb
sorbing topic Of approaching Christ
mas, and Honora was left alone with
Paul Davis.
The doctor arrived five minutes aft.
erward and announced that the pa
tient was merely stunned and would
recover under the application Of GER
tain restoratives. which. with Honora's
help, he proceeded to employ. Their
efforts were rewarded by the opening
of q pair Of dark eyes, followed by r
prolonged stare and dazed questioning.
Its miracle that your husband did
not break his neck said the doctor
genially as he pocketed his fee and
hastened away, for it was Christmas
eve, and he was in hurry.
Honora blushed crimson and look
Of concern came into Paul Davis face.
I'm under the greatest obligation to
you," he said frankly, land am sorry
to have been the cause Of any embar-
rassment Please tell me who you are
so that I can realize the situation.
The doctor has ordered nle to keep in
bed till morning. and I feel dizzy
enough to never get up!"
Honora told him briefly that she was
his neighbor on the same floor aid that
as she had more leisure than any Of
the other boarders she had merely
undertaken to look out for him until
the doctor came. The others had so
many things To do Tomorrow will be
Christmas, you know" she ended.
It's Christmas for you, too. isn't it"
he asked sharply.
ut used to be. but it isn't any more"
she said sadly.
The pale faced young man thtHst his
head in the door to say that lie you'd
sit up all night with Mr.. Davis. and
so Honora. with warm hand clasp
from the "happy man" who looked es-
pecially, happy whenever he glanced at
her charming face. went back TO her
little room to face Christmas alone.
Morning brought II delightful sur
prise From her door handle there
hung all sorts OF gifts perhaps pur-
chased in haste that morning. but Sc
lected with taste. lust the presents
that Honora could accept too. y big
box of roses and II glorious pottpd uza-
lea. Il FIVE pound box OF candy. bas-
ket OF fruit. Il book and IN envelope
containing couple of matinee tickets.
This should keep you busy "n Christ
mas day" was srribhlrd on Il blank
card. for the donor waS anonymous.
but. of course. Honoru knew who it
was
1t was happy Christmas for Homo
ra. after all The dollar she had emp
tied from her Scanty purse to pay to
the doctor brought her the happiness
of her life 1t developed that Paul Da-
Wis WAS newspaper man temporarily
ont Of situation. and on Christmas
eve he had been appointed to the staff
nf great New York daily aud. as he
explained aftrrward tn IIunora. was
"on Easy street" But he did not leave
Mrs. RamSrlI's shabby. hoart!ng house.
which had been refuge for him while
OIt of Mnrk LiLs-Stlrel on tllnre md