Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-25

family, The lining room nae been Sc
lected for these. gifts becalse there
were in il d YER. large open fireplace
and an ample chimney through which
Santa Claus could get his fat body.
Besides. Mrs. Wardeld intended that
the family Christmas should begin at
breakfast time. II was then that the
gifts would be distributed. and it
would be impossible for her to conceal
any longer her plan for the celebration
of the day.
Christmas morning opened bright
and crisp. The Warfeld children were
up. as usual, ut daylight pulling down
their stockings and diving into them.
Their mother Joined them and forbade
their opening any of the packages ex-
cept those that Santa Claus had
brought. A bright fire blazed and
cracked and snapped on the hearth,
joining in the festivities and adding to
the children's happiness.
why. mamma" said one. Il thought
we were not going to have this kind
of II Christmas this year
Il didn't say that. l said that mad
an especial plan for this years Christ
mas
What Is it,.
Wait"
Mr.. Warield came down and in the
merry scene forgot for the moment
the troubles in which the merrymak-
ers were equally interested, though
they were ignorant of them. He per-
mitted little Billy to show him his
jumping jack and consented to pull
the string that worked its arms and
legs. He was Obliged to kiss Molly's
doll and take notice Of how it closed
its eyes wheA 1t lay on Its back. Mrs.
Warfield was as CHEEKY as the chill
dren.
"She doesn't know the worst" said
her husband to himself, "or she could
not keep up this way"
The thought brought back the gloom
to his face. but his wife kissed 1t
away with a smile.
Then his eyes took in the numerous
bundles she had stacked about the
fireplace. and he could not refrain
from giving her a look as much as to
say, why did you go to such ex-
pense?" But she gave him another
kiss, and the children were constantly
forcing him to inspect more gifts. And
so 1t was that he got through this
Christmas ordeal, with trouble at the
door, better than might have been ex-
pected.
When the children had emptied their
stockings all sat down to breakfast.
Thus far it seemed that no gift had
been provided for papa. After he had
asked the divine blessing he said to his
wife;
Il am glad. my dear. that you have
acceded to my wishes i'll u respect
you have netinhieted n charlottesville
upon me"
Lift your plate" was the reply.
. Warield did as he was hidden and
revealed an envelope addressed to him.
Opening it. he took out a check payable
to his wife and indorsed to him for
$11,655.
whats this?"
stamford Bros check to me for roy
atty on "A Mystery of a Mirror"
Warield looked at his wife inquir-
ingly. He evidently did not under
stand.
81 wrote the novel; she continued,
land sent 1t to You anonymously. l
received it back with a printed n%navail-
able card. | sent it to other publish
ers. and they all declined ii. Finally
Stanford Bros. consented to bring 1t
out. They are Il new firm and have
adopted n new plan of judging of man
uscripts. They circulate them among
a large number of persons such as may
be expected to read them when pub.
lished. Nearly all these approved
They published the book on the usual
terms. This Is my first remittance,
but | understand from them that the
book is still selling and will sell for
some time"
There was so much of modification
mingled with this announcement that
the authoress arose from the table and
put her arms about her husbands
neck. Then at a sign from her the
children followed her example, each
giving him Il hug and a kiss and all
crying:
"Glad you got your Christmas gift,
papar'
When he had been duly Rugged and
kissed into a frame of mind acceptable
to his wife and children he took up the
check again. looked at its face, turned
it over and looked at its back and said:
what do you propose l shall do
with it. sweetheart"
"Whateyer you think best
81 shall do whatever you think best"
"What use should be made of it is
for future consideration. For the pres
ent it is enough for us to know that
/ have the wherewithal to give the
children a merry Christmas, and. as for
you and me. well. we know that we
have a new start."