The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-02-03

buying a gift if none came. At nrst
II seemed dreadful to sully the pure
white Christmas time with lie. her
New England conscience never let
her call it anything else. But the re-
membrance of Martha's crucial ques'
tons nerved her She didn't care TOT
herself, but she wasn't going to nave
Fred and Neelie weighed in the nam
lily balance and found wanting
Mindful of the warning OF the con-
sumers' league she did her Christmas
shopping early So apparently. dio
everyone else The crush bewildered
her Everybody was buying madly.
Everybody seemed so rich.
Late In the afternoon OF the day
before Christmas after the last mail
delivery she went down to buy the
present that had not come. Her one
little gift from Neelie had been a
daintiy embroidered towel sent n
the middle OF the year. just because
she wanted to.
She stood at the counter, hard to
please. Everything was so overdone.
She thought she would buy scarf for
the dresser in Fred's room. the room
they would have when they came
, home How could the weary sales
woman know that she was trying -
find something that looked as n
Neele had done It? She had one
narrow escape While she was wait
ing for her package Martha came by.
We'll for two women who did their
Christmas shopping early" said Mar
that but OF course there's always
some last thing that one forgets I'd
forgotten to get anything for Eileen
Atkins baby And John its god.
father She would never have for
given me. That's what brought me
down"
Mother was less communicative.
She merely said she was sorry she
had had to come down. and how was
Eileen's baby. and would John and
Martha be sure and come to breakfast
on time in the morning; s o'clock
seemed late to father. And then
she hurried home guiltily through the
early dark with her secret.
Il saw mother downtown tonight
John. at l'ntermeyer's She looked
tired and worried wish she would
let ne do things for her. And I've
made up my mind to one thing: II
there's nothing from Fred and Neelic
I'm moi going to say one word about
It. Neither do YOU.
Lat" tNat ni.ht mother put the AS
somh'al Gifts At each plate and chair
Luctl} ~hc had \Vcie's card, undat
cd. ana She laid it in plain sight on
the ,sscr scarf. 1t might save
questions
The surprise Of opening packages
was ever, and the pleasure OF show
ing LON Ia each other had begun
when hr doorbcll rang. She locke,
arogal the table They were al
tho Md then in minute Free
wa q the room with queer littl'
bunla In his arms which he pressed
into lsrs little bundle that stirre'
: and woke, and set her trembling wit
M happiness than could well b
, l. ne. even on Christmas morning
, }ud father was kissing little won
r,.I
thinner than in her picture, and a bi
, lavel worn. and In another minut
, her new daughter was In her arms.
; You see" Fred was saying. w
inst thought we'd surprise you. and
has taken everything We could scrap
~ TO make the trip. That's why "
DIDN'T" Something In his mother
, Ice stopped him But nothing coul
top the little woman.
20. yes, that was why. You see,
> made all the baby's things mysel
and had no time or strength left
p work at Christmas gifts"
r But there Is something from yo'
q Nclie, with your card" Fred ha
. made the round Of the table and
!" and Martha met above the accusin
A card. The little woman looked pu
4 lied
n But I didn't" she began
4 Mother rose to the occasion. I'VE
dear. hut II was the only thing
a could do to make II seem as thoue
Y Won were all here"
\ copyright, 1912, by the Mcclure New
pappr Syndicate1