The Spectator., 1914-12-22

 pieces to the bells" the telephone girls, the check-room boys, his waiter and the head waiter, and the cham 6ermaid on his floor; he felt oddly disturbed.
 Carter. my boy" he told the tall, gray-haired image in the mirror, You're getting sentimental. You're thoroughly disappointed because there isn't soul in the world who can call out Merry Christmas to you, and mean it from the bottom of his heart. You're like boy with nothing in his stocking I'm ashamed of you, sir; 1 am indeed"
 Yet that didn't help matters. He wandered around the deserted hotel corridors in the morning feeling ut 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 his 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 curiously shaped parcel. rather bulky and oval He took it up to his own rooms. and opened it with funny little thrill of anticipation.
 10 " was somebody, he didn't know who it was but there was somebody who had remembered him. The last wrap per fell of. and he stood staring down at a little homemade willow basket. filled with mistletoe A card on top read, Love and Merry Christmas from Pam"
 Pam? He remembered no Pam. He opened the letter for enlighten- ment, and as he read, his heavy gray eyebrows drew closer together, and every now and then he calculated, God bless my heart and soul"
 You won't remember me at all, but I'm Pamela Grayson. and my mother was your sisters daughter, so I'm your grandniece, see? Mother died about year ago, just after we came north, and l have been here alone ever since. I didn't even know you !. were alive until cousin Florrie, of Carter's Landing, down home, wrote and told me to share this mistletoe with you. for she had gathered 1t in the old oak grove where you used to go when you were little boy. Here's wishing you merry, merry Christ mas, and l wish I knew you. because it does certainly get fearfully lone some here in New York holiday time when you haven't any one of your very own
 The telephone bell rang sharply just as the major was about to 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, my boy, but you see, l am going to have young lady guest here to dinner with me, my grandniece. sir, from Virginia. Now. instead of my joining you in your bachelor apartments, sup pensate to her for having a surely old chap for a 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 a cigar. and watched the smoke rings form overhead, and smiled up at them. He had four sis ters. Pans grandmother had been the youngest. And now somehow, they were all gone, as he thought. the way of the roses" and he was alone. He had rather lost track of all the nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grandnephews. Sentiment does not thrive in the New York at mosphere, yet as he looked at the letter, he felt an odd glow of pride. and he held the little basket of mis- tletoe out at arms length, smiling gone up to the old oak grove to gather 1t for his mother to decorate the great hall at Christmas And now this lit tie Pam
 The major rose suddenly with quick intention. Five minutes later he was on his way up to the address in the letter. Upstairs two flights he climbed and tapped at the low top door with It's modest card:
 Pamela Grayson-'
 She stood at the easel with hel back to him. big blue apron on. and she was singing,
 Oh, holy town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie. Above thy deep and dreamless sleeI
 The silent stars go by" The major stood at attention, but when she turned and caught sight o him. she gave little cry of joy.
 Uncle Bobl How did you come ~ soon to ms?'