Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-12-11

agreesbIe ~ the hotel A. he had
distributed his customary gold pieces
10 The "bell>. the Telephone girls, the
eheek-room boys his waiter and the
hsad waiter, and the chamber.naid on
his loor; be felt oddly disturbed.
Garter, my boy he told the tall,
grsy-haired image in the mirror,
"Yos're getting sentimental. You're
thoroughly disappointed because
there isn't q soul in the world who
can call out Merry Christmas to
you, and mean il from the bottom Of
his heart. You're like a boy with
nothing in his stocking. I'm ashamed
Of you, sir; am indeed"
Yet that didn't help matters. lie
wandered around the deserted hotel
corridors in the morning feeling ui :
terly lost. Nearly every one seemed
to be going out to dinner to some
place where he was urgently desired.
-Four times he strolled over to the
desk and looked casually up at hi-
box, but there were no mail and no
presents for Maj. Robert Lee Carter.
The last time he had really de-
cided to give up and ring up some
business associate TO take dinner with
him at the hotel. But he saw a let
ter in his box, and the clerk handed
him a euriously shaped parcel. rather
bulky and oval. He took il up to his
own rooms, and opened it with a
funny little thrill Of anticipation.
BY George, he was wrong. There
was somebody, be didn't know who
it was, but there wa- somebody who
had remembered him. The last wrap
per fell Of. aud he stood staring
down at a little homemade willow
basket. filed with mistletoe. A card
on top read, Love and Merry
Christmas from Pam"
PANT lie remembered no Pam.
He opened the letter for enlighien-
mcni. and n he read. hi heavy gray
eyebrows drew closer together, and
every now and then he CALCULATED.
God bless my heart and souI.'
You won't remember me at all. but
I'm Pamela Grayson. and my mother
was your sisters daughter, 80 lin
your grandniece, seef Mother died
about year ago, just after We came
north, and ! have been here alone
ever since. ! didn't even know you
were alive until cousin Florrie. of
Carriers Landing, down home. wrote
and told me to share this mistletoe
with you, for she had gathered il in
the old oak grove where you used to
20 when you were little boy. Here's
wishing you merry, merry Christ
mas, and ] wish knew you, because
II does certainly gel fearfuuy lone
some here in New York holiday time
when you haven't any one of your
very own"
The telephone bell rang sharply
just Is the major was about Ia say
God bless my heart and soul'' once
again. But he lifted the receiver. and
smiled at the voice that answered his
hail.
Delighted, Ralph, delighted. nv
boy, but you see, am going to have
a young lady guest here to dinner
with me. my grandniece, sir. from
Virginia. Now. instead Of my joining
you in your bachelor apartments.
supposing you join us, aud try and
compensate to her for having a sur
ly old chap for dinner partner.
Names Miss Pamela Grayson. Come
right down"
Then he smiled. and kept on smil-
ing in the oldest, happiest way. And
he leaned back in his deep leather
chair, and lit cigar. and watched the
smoke rings form overhead. and
smiled up at them. He had four SIS
tiers. PANS grandmother had been
the youngest. And now somehow.
they were all gone. "a he thought,
"the way Of the roses" and he wa
alone. lie had rather lost track of
oil the nieces and nephews and grand
nieces and grandnephews. Sentiment
does not thrive in the New York at
yet as he looked at The .
letter, he felt an odd glow If pride.
and he held the little basket of mis- /
tletoe out at arms length. smiling
retrospectively. Many time he had
gone up to the old oak grove to gath
err il for his mother to decorate the
great hall at Christmas. And now
this little Pam
The major rose suddenly with
,uick intention. Five minutes later
ie was on his way up to the address
u the letter. Upstairs two flight
le climbed. and tapped at the low ,
OPP door with its modest card: