Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-24
back. But I p he had to do some

"A slight girl. pale. but very pretty, was
t listening fg eagerly. She had been watching
came, and this wa partly, because the
a santa when he wasn't besieged with
y Waa lo ekkiildre N Which VAS. wasn't do very cry, often pdea
up straight enough"
Because" said the first girl. when
didn't quit doing that and get a decent
lob. he said he was most too old for any
thing else"
Ma That a%ft Nav}0n-o when her the hep pretty y gi 'lta
she went to her counter and Santa felt
under der'H his red edd flan anac eoat. aMere snss anR3a,s
said Margaret, II brought you something.
Do you ever eat these?' and Santa felt.
Fl es 'G laFge ehe r ns1ls bag Oranges 1nem hef III ha1 you
squeeze the juice out and drink it when
you get home 1t will make you feel. rest
sheer pleasure at the good deed she was
doing and Santa pressed her small hand
IN lnor appdreSeii s ion. The next day Santa
told Margaret how he had enjoyed the
oranges.
IT'S too bad you have to work in this
You see, said the girl blushing ever
SO alighntlymssahe :. vas a little loathe to talk
Christmas rush. / lave never been at
work before. I have stayed at home to
beethe ho ana sister fGr my Bat fash now a that x2 :aY fsr
ther Isn't, living l had to start oat and
earn what 1 could. So 1 began hare. I
sitfon after the rush. But the gS.is Say
that unless you know a foorwa!ger or
some one in one Of the departments to
ask for you it's pretty hard"
On Christmas eve at night--tAs last
desperate hours Of the rush Of Shoppers
Margaret came TO him on her way from
~ place. specially:. SAID SANS. He
uncle and aunt. II have no family"
us "Wanld n you r caremc are to e st ave + with
It WON'T be- much, ba atu we sls have aa = NICE NICE
warm are and . little tree" And Santa
pr9fmis { $, tried Ms not to eNgpsiar toy 6
next day at noon to join in their humble
day that the tan young man WHO came to
her fiat was the fake Santa she had asked
to Christmas dinner she showed ! con-
and made the fourth at the simple dinner
tiny fiat. Garter had brought presents for
out after dinner, was cleared away, to
show them proudly to their little neigh
eood n 9arse he a haa Sro 10 ssi her Marsarst the
you wanted to stay with Thorne & Brom-
ley after Christmas. i happen to be Mr..
Thorne's nephew. I told you Juet now
that my name was Mr.. Carter. Well, I
am Carter Thorne. I spoke to my uncle
about you this morning and he has put
you in charge q his toy department up
stairs with q sDeary OF about four times
Tears Of gratitude and surprise stood
put n MargIaret's eyes. And ycp-you.
mas dinner with us? Oh. how did I dare
to ask your
Now Carter want on, ri am guing to
ask you not to accept the position with
my uncle. I am going to ask you to mar
ry me instead, nod make me one Of the
happiest men in the world. Margaret. I
have been watching you from under my
false face every day for a week. You are
the only. girl / eyer looked at a second
time. Won't VOC try to like lne?"
Il do like 9 now" said Margaret,
simply. 81 liked you when / thought YOU
We're a poor old gan; / couldn't help It."
She drew ava fH0m him with q little gas-
ture Of .surprisA 81 d. believe ( have
been In love witt, you all the time.'