The Spectator., 1914-12-25

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 NN Christmas eve, Ted Bev-
 A erly received this letter M6 from Amy Saunders-the M~ one girl in the world. as Mk far as Ted was concerned: H Dear Ted: If you can : O manage to come on to Nov York for Christmas and have tho courage to break the aews to brother Bob, all right. l haxent even been able to explain that wo aro engaged, much less that we WUre about to be married. but as long as Meg and Bob really like you they can't object. Come in the morning If you can manage, and stop on your way from the station and ask old Doctor Good to drop in for the great event in the sfternoon--that will be better than going to his house. tried 0 explain to Meg. but you know how s1citabls she is. and with Christmas coming, and the children's presents. anA setting . fake Santa Claus for tAem, she just hasn't time to listen, end brother Bob is such tease haveu't the nerve to tell him"
 ''0reat hat!" gssped Ted. jumping up from the dining table, where he haA been reading his last letter from Any over his solitary meal. Hastily paying the waiter. he darted with all opeod through the hotel corridor. up o his room. He had written to Amy 0sking if she couldn't manage to be married during the holidays. but he hadn't supposed she would consent. Now there was no time to be lost, for New York was fourteen hours away.
 Ted rang for 6 messenger boy, tele- DAoned to the once. and when the nssssngsr boy arrived was throwing his necessary belongings into suit ooooL
 Say. boy" he said to the liveried nsssenger. 'I want you to go out and buy a-a wedding ring. Tomorrow balng Christmas the stores will be closed and I can't get 1t then. All the stores are open tonight, And bring 1t to tho w. q P. railroad sta ton on the eastbound platform. Here's . dollar for you if you get 1t there by the eightthree-andb be sure and buy the best one the jeweler has"
 What size, sir?" asked the boy. srinning.
 That's so-they come in different sisss," responded Ted. excitedly wad- ling . handful of cravats into his ssitcass. "Oh. medium size. any size. . oaly hurry. And if you have time. ct some jumping monkeys, and toy balloens. and tin Kitchens and things anything kids will like." he said. landing the boy two ten-dollar bills.
 Tho next morning. after night in . sleeping car. Ted Beverly was still breathless as he hurried-laden with half-wrapped tin kitchens and various other toys and ssuit case-from his tAxi up the unpretentious brownstone trent of the homo of his friend Bob 0Anndofs. Bob was Amys brother anl Amy lived with him and Bob's viii. Meg. and little Robbie and Peggy.
 Nrs. Saunders-Meg-met him at the door.
 "How do you do!" she said in the most matter-oe.fact tone. just as if she had seen him the day before. Do come In out of the cold. Bob will be co glad you've come. If those per esctly lovely things are for my chill 1rso do let me hide them behind the plano. Oh. by the way" she added whispering. you have just come in the. was almost distracted. You always were SO obliging. Bob often OAys that there wasn't . man in col lege who would help c friend out of . tight place the way you would. l expected tho butcher boy would do it., Ut he's gone to one of those awful baseecues-whatsver that is-and AAA offered him @1 to do it. Now 'hstsn-Oh. here comes Amy and the ,eAil1reo. and ! told her to be sure to keep them out for two hours. l wonder why she came back So soon. Co0e. hurry upstairs before they see yos. and bring your suitcase. please |" Ted. although he didn't know whether 10 was intended to get the butcher ooy away from . barbecue or simply = soncsal his presence from the chil. lDoo. 1Dllowed his hostess up to a t41go stosy gusst room.
 Nov. I will tell you said Meg, closing the door and locking 1t be- o1Dd her. See. I brought your hat and gloves because I knew the chil 1Foa would suspect something if they CIV them. was expecting the butch ss's boy-hs's just about your build Q play Santa for the children. What you have to do is to drees up in these tAlags-thls rsd suit It's very thin, ! made 1t mysslf out of red cotton A1AAA e ! thi1k xop c&n slip t