The Washington herald., 1913-12-23
DAILY SHORT STORY

sort He had said that she was prob
ably right, and that he wasn't the sort
of chap to make her 80 happy that she
didn't care for anything else in life And
he had sailed for Egypt, Mrs Battersea
had said.
She had heard il in town first among
the studio crowd and had not quite be-
lieved it. He had taken refuge over at
the tiny. gray shingled house on the strip
Of shore under the Palisades where he
worked all summer long. She knew the
way over. and so she had gone to find
him, but instead there had only been the
little vacant house, and she had wanted
to stay there among all his little private
belongings.
The day before Christmas all her reso-
lutions wayered. Far down the Hudson
at night she could watch the lights OF
New York glowing in the gray mists,
and they called her back. But Mrs. Bat
tersea declared she had caught a cold
sitting up In the draughty studio. and
must be dosed with various things. and
not allowed to cross the river with the
water in long, dull gunmetal waves run
ming high under the keen wind.
On Christmas Eve she lay wrapped in
her steamer rug on the old couch drawn
up before the fire when she heard Joe
talking to somebody in the little outside
entryway.
You see, mother thought you'd gone
for good. and she'h had a chance to let it.
and there amt a bit OF harm done to 1t:
but the lady's kinder dwindling away.
mother says, and you mustn't startle her.
She's in yonder."
Sybil sat up, her hair falling loosely
around her shoulders, her big brown eyes
full of wonderment. And then the door
opened and she was the tall. familiar
form Of Bob.
Didn't expect Santa Claus. did you,
little girl?" he said, slipping out OF his
coat 1t fell on the floor and Joe took
one look in through the window and fled.
For Bob Stanton had calmly reached
down and lifted the girl on the lounge
in his arms, rug and all.
1t was nearly an hour later when Mrs.
Battersea and Joe led the way down to
the boat landing with lanterns Joe had
been signaling across to the ferry, and
the little rlotorboat was waiting for
them.
Wen be married tonight, Mrs. Bat
tersea," Bob said. And Joe had better
kept up the fires, for we'll be back
home"
Land alive, and here We thought
you'd gone to Egypt" sighed Mrs Bat
tersea admiringly.
II started" Bob smiled back to her.
''Oh. yes. 1 did 1 packed my steamer
trunk and got as far as Hoboken. and
I changed my mind, because I'd let
something behind, and came back to
find it,"
Painting things" asked Joe. Curl
ously.
mo. Joe, just a heart" Bob returned.
and in the darkness his arm stole around
Sybil as they climbed into the motor
boat. Across the river lay the long neck
lace OF lights that marked Riverside
Drive. Beyond. the lights of the city
CLEANED like fallen stars. They stood
watching it all as the boat crossed the
river. SybiI leaning her head back on
his shoulder.
It's Christmas Eve, love OF mine. ami
I've reached out and taken you for my
own without by your leave or even
please. Do you know how found out
you were at the old studio?"
Mrs. Battersea?"
NO. 1 was dead lonesome, and came
down to the ferry Just to look across,
and 1 saw your light in my window. and
the ferryman told me Of the girl he had
taken over with a trunk and a type
writer, a girl with gray fur cap and light
hair all blowy, he said It's blowing
across my eyes this minute"
Sybl looked at the ferryman sitting
mCtionless as a statue at the steering
wheel. He did not even seem to see
them.
Wasn't he an old dariing?" she said,
with a little restful sigh Of content
Hes a regular Santa Claus bringing me
my Christmas present tonight"