The Yale expositor., 1913-12-18

covers on Christmas day and intrusted
the buying Of such important articles
as dinner favors To IN obviously iI-
experienced bachelor brother
Christmas "vP was frosty anI Starlit.
James Macy, coming home from his
office. smiled somewhat grimly at the
holiday prepnrnti NJ made.
Holly and cvefs -ppn' there were in
plenty. greal wr'Hth2 with massive
bows Of satin ribbon, bowl hlled
with scarlet Ions, tia blooms, and on
one table an orderly stack Of parcels
evidently sent by express. mai and
messenger 10 the popular but elusive
bachelor. for elusive he was dubbed
by matchmaking mothers
"a young lady to see you, sir" re-
marked his man impassively.
James Macy took the card.
Miss Sylvia Leigh" ran its legend.
She came TO him, looking taller than
the day In the shop. for her head was
held high.
"You will pardon my coming here
on Christmas eve and unchaperoned.
| could not leave town without seeing
you" The violet eyes had turned al
most black: the contrulto voice was
bit too even In its tones.
"I am honored." replied James Macy
gravely. and he offered her a chair,
which she declined with a wave of
her gloved hand.
1T was hard enough 20 know that
the man who bought my foolish little
paintings did II through a sense Of
pity, but to learn that he was also the
man who wrecked my mothers life
that-that was too much. have
| come to return your money and ask
the return Of my cards If you have
not already destroyed them"
"My dear girl" expostulated the
man, who had turned strangely white.
"Please do not interrupt me-. con
tinued the girl passiOnately. My
mothers brother-perhCps you remen-
Der him-Henry Johnson. is here. lie
went TO the shop and found out where
my cards had gone and Oh. IL Is
| such a miserable little f"rce 10 you. n
successful man, | thought could he
an artist They told me so mt home
Agninst uncles wishes | came hcre to
make my little fight and failed. When
you bought those things ! thought per
haps-but uncle. who wanted me to 20
home, sifted the story to the bottom
and found-you. ] am going home
with him tonight"
"AIiss Leigh. want TO beg favor
of you. This is Christmas eve, and
am q lonely. desolate man. If ever
the Christmas message of peace and
good will means anything II is tonight
and want your good will. Those
little Christmas cards you painted are
the only touch Of real Christmas that
has come into my life-and want tc
keep them-and tell you why want
to keep them. Will you be seated?
"You Say | wrecked your mothers
life. Well. then. know that hers was
not long. My season of regret and
penitence has lasted longer than you
have lived ! loved your mother. but
did not understand her went ont
into the world to make fortune, not
for myself. but for her. and ! thought
that the fortune must come first ant
loves dream aftcrward With womer
1t Is different The dream must come
first-the fortune is secondary con
sideration. Your mother tod bless
her memory thought had forgotten
that I did not care-and so shC
passed out of my life and into youl
fathers.
But she had you. had nothing
nothing but money and the memory o.
one happy summer OF her life. | neveI
expected to know what peace and hap
piness meant again until that day II
the store, when your eyes, your voice
I thought 1t was the other Sylvia. m!
Sylvia. come 10 life. And bought thos.
cards because you painted them.
"And now you come to me In anger
and take from me my one Christmas
happiness-the work or your nands
Sylvia, Sylvia. haven't paid my deb
of repentance; Can YOU not extend
forgiveness Christ mas forgiveness-tl
your mothers numeT
Sylvia turned townrd the door.
, 81 must go now. We are leaving oil
the o O'clock train. Uncle Is waiting
, for me downstairs In cab. We arr
going home"
, Home The mau echoed the wore
{ mechanically, duly.
The girl hesitated. then held out he
. hand.
a "Yes, back to dear old Hestonville
= Why don't you come too? Why don
: YOU run out tomorrow-for dinnerY
Sylvia. child. do you mean It? D.
e you understand that II l come 1t Will
: be-to see you:"
Bravely the violet eyes were raises
r TO meet the searching look in tn
, brown ones.
( rs it peace and good will for me
J. sylviaT
= "Yes-and merry Christmas II yo
r come tomorrow"
}. -~O~O~Yo~.~~O-S~~~-N~S~~~~