Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-21
A Christmas
Morning
On Which Il Bride Gives Her
Husband q Present
BY Martin Stringfeilow
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

81 am sorry, Ella, that we are not
| able to celebrate this our first Christ
mas together" said Tom Wentworth
to bis bride. but the fact neverthe-
less remains true"
And why not?" asked the young
wife, with surprise written on every
! iire of her face.
II at ne tell you" He took both her
hapas In bis and drew her down on to
a sect beside him. Il have something
to irpGrt that have kept to myself
for years. You know Shuster|
Eyes, | know the old curmudgeon."
well, ] All Indebted to him to the
amount Of $1,000"
why. Tom! And you never told
mer'
II told you before we were married
that had barely enough income from
my own profession to procure for US
tho nscessar.es of life. with not cent
fer pleasures. The celebration OF
Christmas comes under the latter
head. You remember that when l fin
ishad MY four years at college my IA
Their failed and | had not the where
within! to attain my profession. Then
suddenly | told you that l had obtain.
ed the means. but was pledged to tell
uo one whence | received it."
nyz., mammalian fhafb
"Cpe day while | was lamenting my
hard fate In being obliged to go into
business after expecting to become
lawyer / met old Shuster on the street.
Sinister, as you know, lends money at
a high rate of interest. He asked me
what proposed to do now that had
been graduated. was full OF my dis
appointment and told him about 1t.
To nv surprise. he offered to lend me
the money required to study for my
profession.
But said. you only lend money
on security, and have no security
"I want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he re-
piled, 4 know when 1t is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
But you will require a high rate
of interest.
mot In this case. Six per cent will
do
~-"He agreed to furnish the money as
| needed it and declined to take any
notes for the amounts loaned. Dor
rowed a little over three hundred q
year from him for three years. earn
ing myself as much besides. On get
ting my degree ! insisted on giving
him two notes Of $500 each. one note
to be paid each year. Now. you know
that my salary With Busby and Busby
is $1,000 a year. OF this amount $500
must go to Shuster, leaving Us $1,000
on which to live; consequently for two
years fSe have absolutely nothing for
| pleasures"
While the husband was speaking the
wife drew closer and closer to him
and when he had finished looked up
into his face ard said:
81 will help you all / can in the mat
ter OF giving up pleasures till the debt
! Is paid"
Il knew you would, sweetheart. You
see. shall not only wish to show my,
self worthy Of Shusters confidence
Fills confidence|
"Ies DID be not prove it in lend
ing me the money on my bare prom.
isa &c rsnay h!m?"
"ot, tertai1ly-yes. I suppose So"
"NFell, then, it is understood that we
give no presents on Christmas. We
can tell every one beforehand that
we intend to make nothing of Christ,
mas tbs year. and next year We'll tell
them tlin same"
mo, we won't"
"But dear. shall have another
note
Never mind next year. will agree
to Ill you suggest for this one except
orc thing. There shall be one gift be
tween us. and only one. That will be
frc;n me to you"
well. be 1t as you wish. But let II
be some trifling article made with your
own hands. shall prize 1t all the
more If you make it yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous to
Tom Wentworth's departure for his Of
Gee. With the last words he kissed his
bride and went out She appeared at
q window. and he threw her kiss.
Unknown TO her husband. Ella Went.
worth made such preparations for
Christmas as she chose to uake. She
was the financial manager of house
mold expenses and was not required
10 make an accounting. AS to the sub
ject Of her conversation with her bus
band. 1t must be confessed that she vic
lated luis wishes She purchased such
gifts as she would have boughr had be
not signified a desire that she should
not do So But she maintained abSo
lutte secrecy In these matters. bringing
home the articles herself when she
knew Tom wns al the office and stor'
ing them away where, he would not
stumble upon them. She provided for
an ella borate breakfast for Christmas
morning. inviting every one OF her
own and BIER husbands families 10 join
them on the occasion
Tom saw Christmas approach with
something of dispIeasure-that is. the
Christ mas OF his own household. HoIi
days we do not ce!ehrat" ourselves ART
not only irkS0me bal 1T times unDleas