The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-12-23


The coachman carried both children
down the icy steps and they bore
themselves with becoming modesty, as
IL accustomed to such care, while the
orphans in the front ward watched
enVious.y, and one Of them opened the
window wide enough to call down:
"Aw, Tommy's coming back any.
how" as salve to their slighted 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 gingham 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 a sneeze,
jumped up beside her and laid his
head affectionately on her arm.
What picture" sighed Miss Mat.
tie.
Don't spoil the child" rejoined her
sister with glance at small Thomas,
who seemed rather out OF it. Come,
It's time for the tree"
N,li TO
the portieres and revealed a tree, gilt.
tering with tlnsel and heaped around
with various ribbon-tied packages.
There was satisfying smallness,
coZy portion for two" feeling about
this fat little tree, in contrast to the
usual spindly, sparsely trimmed ever
green IT 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.
lence Lily hugged real dolly. and
Thomas fell upon a toy horse. Be.
ing or an investigating turn of mind,
IL was soon minus saddle and bride
ana the tail was about to follow when
MISS Pris created diversion by light.
Ing the tree 80 that he might see Il
In all Its glory before he went back.
The early winter twilight began to
shadow the room as she rang for tea.
Then thoughtfully she hung Toms
coat by the fire to warm in prepara.
ton for his cold ride.
The tea-wagon appeared. In honor
OF the day 1t bore the Martha Wash.
ington set of colonial tradition.
cherished heirloom whose egg.shell
fragility had been guarded from de-
strhction through five careful gen.
erations. Besides the usual tea sery.
ice, there was pitcher OF milk and
thin slices Of bread, spread with rasp
berry jam, and a plate heaped with
bananas.
1t was wheeled into place before
Miss Matte, whose transparent hands
had barely tilted the teapot, when with
a whoop OF Joy the riotous Thomas
made descent. Needless Of his sis.
ter's warning cry and poor Miss Mat.
ties Mortified gasp, he grasped the
handle OF this novel pushcart, shout.
ing:
Bananas! Bananas!"
The peculiar fatality which Dursues
small boys in drawing-room swoop.
Su uOhh upOii mere WdB Il CRASH
and a tinkle of silver as the wheels
met the edge OF a heavy rug, and
Tom, the devastator, sat amid the
ruins.
"Oh, Miss-Priscilla-red- headed! Miss.
Observation-Disclosures! didn't
mean to break 1t; don't send Lily
back to the 'slum cause Use bad. and
be my Muvvers, too" he concluded
breathlessly.
1t was Miss Pris who picked him
out OF the debris, and as his short
arms met around her neck and his
tearstreaked face went down on her
shoulder, she looked across at Miss
Matte and as one who has at length
arrived at happy decision, she an
nounced:
you take the girl-the boy is
mine"
Copyright, 1912 hy Western Newsnaper