The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1914-07-18
ON ROAD OF CHEER
Salt of the Earth Doing Mans
Work in Wonderful Wom-
ans Way.
BY LILLIAN DUCEY.

something ike the ulVlne IeNeT vi
spring always stirred within DR.. Cos
grave at Christmas time. Each year,
for 1865 days, less one evening, he WAS
the staid and steady surgeon. gen
eral in his field but on Christmas eve
he sailed forth and joined the motley
throng along the blazing trail of spar
king shops
He saw her first, arms full OF bun
dies, emerging from one of the bril-
liant stores. He, himself. was on the
point of entering. but the Joy OF her
face, the light of her eyes stayed him,
However, the light was not for him.
oh, no! Coming along were two rag
ged urchins. And she fairly seized
them
'Of course you have sister at
home" her voice lifted and sang
FOR there's doll In here! And you
are brothers; | can see that. Some
Of the things are for boys, tool" She
filled their arms with bundles. Now
go right home. They are from Santa
and Merry Christmas"
DR.. Cosgrave stood and stared, az
1t dawned upon him that here was
someone employing his same unique
method OF dispensing Christmas
cheer. He hadn't known that in the
whole wild world there might be an.
other disciple of Santa other than
himself. But there she was.
He followed her into the store; but
amid the hustle he lost her. then for
got her. In truth the road OF cheer
was such fascinating one, once
started along Its trail. extraneous In
fuences held no allure.
But he saw her again. half an hour
afterwards. And there was no mis-.
taking her. Simply by the light OF
her face he would have known her.
Now she WAS leading little girl by
the hand, and in their wake came the
poorly clad mother. the CLEAN Of Joy
within her tired eyes. They we're
making their way toward Cosgrave to
where, tier on tier. were piled DOLE
without number In their cardboard
boxes.
Cosgrave, himself, was gingerly
holding doll in each arm, as he
waited for a little mite to make her
choice. And In the minutes that fol.
lowed he had much ado to keep from
talking.
This was only the beginning OF
many such encounters. Here, there
and everywhere they met, until Cos.
grave could have sworn that In the
depths OF her eyes stood a sparkle OF
understanding His own we're alight
with sparkles. Never had the road OF
cheer been 30 pleasant But II did
seem as II two such samaritans should
speak In passing. However, even
without, a bond seemed to exist be.
tween them. AS Cosgrave humor,
ously put 1t, spirit was communins
with spirit, although lips were mute,
II was a bit OF sentimentalism that
made him feel unaccountably young
and unaccountably foolish. But the
experience WAS 80 pleasant that sud
denly by hook or by crook. he de.
termined to get into conversation
with her.
why not7" he said to himself
why not?" echoed some haunting
second self.
But he was too late. When he set
out to put his determination into eff.
feet, she was not to be found.
To say that Cosgrave spent the rest
OF the time searching, Is misstating
Certain It is, however. that much OF
the Christmas spirit fell from him
At last he decided that he had played
Santa Claus enough. And It was then,
quite an hour later. that he came upon
her again as he was leaving the store
spirit
"Oh, Mr. Santa-if you please-Iust
n moment"
He gaped wiltless. for he had not
seen her until she spoke. And speech
being beyond him, he simply lifted
his hat, a purely mechanical move
ment
I'm in such a predicament." she
hurried on, blushing slightly. 1--WE
been standing here-wondering wha,
TO do" she paused "You-you were
doing what was-that Ia why"
In spite OF her unwavering snze
she was having difficulty In express
ing herself. and he rushed to the res
cue.
III can be OF service to you. com
mand me" He was on tho point OF
saying Mrs Santa, but no held the
words with set teeth.
-Ive lost my purse" she spoke
| with ASSURANCE now, as II convinced