The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-12-18

in the city, and ! sometimes sleep
there. when work late. And now
want to ask very special favor og
you" / continued, taking little
sealed packet from my pocket: here's
g little box that yours to take 20 Ess;
with my compliments-the comp1i-
ments OF the season, you understand
land tell her / sent It, with particus
ler directions that she shouldn't break
1t open till Christmas morning-not
till Chri1tmas morning; understand,
Then you tell her that would like
very much to come and see her. and
" she snys all right-cnd you must
give me good 'send-off, and she'lE
say all right II 'Jamesy' says all right
then come back here, say two hours,
from n2w, or three hours. or tonight
anyway, and we'll 60 down and SEQ
SiR together-what do you say?"
The boy nodded ,dubiously. "Hon-
est-must do all that. sure enough?y
"Will you?" said /; that's VIA.
want to know" and pushed bacl1
lthe dusky little face and looked into
the bewildered eyes.
"Solid?" he queried, gravely.
Solid" I repeated, handing him
the box. "Will you Gomez" !
IVY, course will. ou'y. was list
a.thinkin--" t
Just thinking what?" said I, as
the little fellow paused abruptly and
shook the box buspiciously at his
ear. Just thi1kiug what? p" I repeat
ed; flor / must go now: good.by.--
Just thinking what?" s4t' =
"Oh. nothin'."> the boy. backing
on and staring at mo in q phase of
wonder akin to awe.-"Nothin', Only T
was list a-thinkin' that you was a lit
tie the curiousest rooster ever see.'.!
Thgee hours. later. as I sat alone.
he came In upon me tipidly to Say ha
had not been home yet, having run
acrost the old man jist a.hllin',r and
had to git him corralled fore he
dropped down som'er's in the snow:..
but I'm a-gittin' long bully with him
now" he added with deep sigh Of
relief, :" cause he's so full he'll haf to-
let 30 purity soon. Say you'll ba
here?"
nodded silently, and he was gone.
The merry peals OF laughter rang
up from the streets like mockery. The
tingling OF bells, tho clatter and con,
fusion OF the swarming thoruughfares.
hung up to me not; one glad murmur
Of delight; the faint and far-oR blar.
Ing of q dreamy waltz, blown breeze
like over the drowsy ear. Of night, had
sounded sweeter to me had stood
amidat the band, with every below.
Ing horn about my ears, and the drunns
and clashing scymbals bowling mad
couldn't work, Il. couidn' t i read;.,I
couldn't rest; could only pace about.
l; heard the clock strike ten, ana
strike 1t hard: I heard It strike eleven.
yiciously; /: and twelve It, held out at
arms length, and: struck It full. be.
tween the eyes. and let 1t drop-stene,
dead. OIL saW. the blood ,oo1e; from
tts ears. and saw the. white foam
Hees. pom its lipsi.2 Il was alcns-
sione! ,ss,:.si 81, -.
ssIt was three O'Clock before the hoy
returned. f: KS .,i...4..
aBeen a long while" be began, ..ihut
f:had fearful tine with the old man:
and he went on 80 when did cit him
tnrfswas most .afaafd II lsag. lii:
but ha kind o. vent to- sleep, at, last,
and Molly she. come over to see how
Sis. Was a-gittin, & and Sis saids sshA,d
Ike 70 see yon Il ynn'd come nov; yer
know. while they Amt no racket, goin'
on. ". y ! = ", 81. &c &. &c, ~
Come. then, !" said l., buttoning my
coat closely at the throass, liam
ready. and; q moment later we had
stepped 7:Einto the frosty night We