The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-18

In the city, and sometimes sleep
there, when work late. And now
want to ask very special favor Of
you," continued. taking a little
sealed packet from my pocket: here's
little box that you're to take to Sis
with my compliments-the comph-
nnents OF the season, you understand
and tell her sent 1t. with particu'
Lar directions that she shouldn't break
IL open till Christmas morning-not
till Christmas morning. understand
Then you tell her that l would like
very much TO come and see her, and
II she says all right-and you must
give me a good 'send-off, and she'll
say all right II 'Jamesy' says all right
then come back here, say two hours
from now. or three hours. or tonight.
anyway, and we'll 60 down and see
Sis together-what do you say?"
The boy nodded obviously. Hon
est-must do all that, sure enough?"
"Will your" said I; that's what .
want to know" and pushed back
the dusky little face and looked into
the bewildered eyes.
OOAAo' hO AtCAAC2t 6Ao'OsJ'
Solid" 1 repeated, handing him
the box. "Will you Gomez"
"W'y. course will. on'y was list
a.thinkin'-"
Just thinking what?" said ], as
the little fellow paused abruptly and.
shook the box suspiciously at his
ear. "Just thinking what?" repeat
ed; "for I must go now; good.by.-
just thinking what?"
| "Oh. nothin'," said the boy. backing
OF and staring at me In a phase :f
wonder akin to awe.-"Nothin'. ony +
was list a-thinkin' that you was lit
tie the curiousest rooster / ever see."
Three hours later, as / sat alones
he came in upon me timidly to say The
had not been home vet, having "run
acrost the old man jist Elm, and
had to git him corralled 'fore he
dropped down som'er's in the SHOWS
but I'm a-gittin' long bully. with him
.now," he added with q deep sigh OF
relief, "'cause he's 30 full he'll haf to
| let go purity soon. Say you'll be
here?" :.
I nodded silently. and he was gone.
The merry peals of laughter rang
up from the streets like mockery. The
.jingling Of bells, the clatter and con-
fusion of the swarming thorcughfares,
flung up to me not one glad murmur
OF delight; the faint and far-off blars
ing OF dreamy waltz, blown breeze.
like over the drowsy ear OF night, had
sounded sweeter to me had stood
amidst the band, with every below,
ing horn about my ears, and the drums
and clashing cymbais bowling mad.
I couldn't work, couldn't read, I
couldn't rest; could only pace about.
heard the clock strike ten, and
strike IL hGrd: Iheard 1t strike eleven,
vfciously; and twelve 1t held out at
| arms length, and struck it full be-
tween. the eyes, and let 1t drop-stone
dead. o I Baw the blood ooze from
its ears. and saw the white foam
freeze upon its lips! was alone
aionel
It was three O'clock before the boy
returned.
"Been a long WHILE" he began, but
had fearful time with the old man,
and he went on 30 when 1 did git him
In / was most afeard to leave him;
but he kind o went to sleep at last,
and Molly she come over to see how
Sis was a-gittin'; and Sis said she'd
Ike 20 see -ou !e:you'i scme nov, you
know, while they. amt no racket goin
on" @
Come. them" safe I, buttoning my
coat closely at the throat, "I am
ready" and q moment later we had
stepped into the frosty night. We
~ S>SS~stWL.@ I'd.
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