Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-12-19

~ CHARLES POOLE cLeAves.

~ cHARLEe {
It was 8 o'clock-Christmas eve.
However. the tower bell tolled off the
hour with no perceptible enthusiasm.
n fact. the tone was muffled In the
coax OF snow piling thickly upon It.
store lights, reflected by thousands Of
Wnite diamonds falling. shone brighter.
6ut IN the dense storm. the rusty air,
tne streets were almost deserted and
tns wa!ks were scantily populated.
st. Clause. city missionary, leaned
against q lamp-post and sighed. The
wind pelted his SLOUGH hat. His brown
beard was white with the driven snow.
Ine day had been busy, the week
mad been busy. the year much the
same. On q final errand uptown. away
from the river front Of tenements and
his perpetual smile and to ponder the
ways Of the world. He settled back
with his hands thrust deep in the pock-
cts or his great coat. surveying the
mansions on either side Of the boule-
ward. He might. be sitting inside, q
lions for Christmas. Mill and
business men and their households were
his cordial friends and contributors.
But tonight he was not in the mood.
He stood staring at the bright lights
OF the windows and the swift forms
moving: at the darkness Of the Gracier
residence most majestice ever In its
gloom. at the mill owners' homes, and
at the whtrl Of the snow. Pembertons.
Tauntons. Carrans and Kerns-brokers.
bankers. manufacturers. merchants.
This was one gone Of st. Clauses
world. The 0ther-he sighed again.
The bell OF q passing trolley q rang
Md n Wnnnan 01fWhtaA Cha RNAnA
9 small bundle only. But az she picked
her way to the sidewalk, her house key
Tell from her grasp and sank into tho
snow. At her outcry Of. dismay, st.
Clause craned his neck and settled
back with q murmur that sounded like
b ghost Of q smile.
The m stopped ana fumbled in
the snow: gaxed after the car: walked
~arresolutely to the curbing and looked
about her.
you here. St. clause!" she said
sharply. Eve lost my key!"
The SLOUGH hat nodded silently.
Welt" she exclaimed. "You know
very we'll that the Gracier house 10
empty of servants on Christmas and
there's no n to let me In. Can you
find that key7'
SLOUGH hat shook negatively and
stout body trembled q bit with amuse-
mot I. Mrs. Gracier! It dropped
above the W grating. Didn't you
hear 1t scr-a-a-pe on the iron az It
fell through?"
why didn't you tell me?'
II have"
She drew near and peered under his
hat brim with a look compounded Of
wonder and Indignation.
What ails you tonight, st. Clause?
And Of all nights!' She checked her.
self and turned away.
O all nights" he repeated. The
deep. Slow. emphatic tones stung her.
why are you out tonight"
Cant one go out for q small neces-
sdty?" h queried Grossly. "You-you
ask such q question! How dare you.
st. Clause?"
THE truth is. I feel In q dare mood
he responded. He shook the snow from
sleeved arms. 'You always stir the
mischief in me. And tonight the sight
OF some folks makes me feel like lying
down on my job"
why don't you lie downright In
the snow?"
Someone may have to-tonight."
"Nonsense!" she returned sharply,
and swept the lighted street scene with
her gl0ved hand. Hotels, the Penn
bertons. the Tauntons-why. a hundred
doors would open to me. But / want
my home-and Of all nishts!" She
culver trembled at the close. Then
che turned upon him passionately.
sYou-you. the city missionary-after
all the money I've given to your work
you stand there knowing I've lost my
key! And you talk to me thus-as IL
We were school children again"
very true he said quietly. .I feel
like It tonight. Mr.. Gracier. And you
know it's in me-having known me
since the school days g0ne-to be quite
eumanly cross. You've lost your key.
You want 70 30 home: 70 = vacant
a s1sc : S,:s.ns. ! BY . .srvsn e or Or
think how God robbed you OF your
child: and how bleDt some others are.
'1ou want to weigh all the misery OF
your soul - Q miDer counts his gold:
and after . tragic night look out dole
fully upon b clear sky and sparkling
His frank blue eyes. under the arc
hight. were looking steadily into her
tense face. Il was only their calm
and courage that checked her rising
passion Of tears.
He paused and surveyed her rich
furs; swept the street scene with =
significant gesture and repeated:
1.-THE notes.-the Pembortons-the
T~auntons! A hundred doors open to
you. But you, want-your key!
She wondered why she did not cry
boldness mastered her. Il. was neither
nor discourtesy.. Tho Iron
tones struck with q deep. sorrowful re-
proof. They fascinated her.
He looked down at her well.clad feet.
.C0me with me. Mrs. Gracier."
He faced the Alley End. She stepped
Inside him. esRut-v
"Hush!"
The strange asperity quickened her
steps.
Bending before the whlrl Of snow.