Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-12-30
Euening Story
THE GIFT THAT CAME BACK.
corrlne Rockwell Swain.
Copyright, 1915, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

It was early morning and the toy de-
partment of the big store was compar-
atively quiet, although Christmas was
only a week away. In his den, sur
rounded by ell that was brightest and
| best in toyland, sat Santa Claus, be-
| nign, red coated, white furred, caress-
ing thoughtfully his half yard OF snowy
beard.
AS yet, no confiding infants had been
pushed up to his chair by sympathetic
parents there to make artless pleas
for "a dolly as big as real baby" or
"a train gears with windup ingine,
so the good saint had leisure to In
dulge in certain holiday recollections
and lodgings Of his own. In other
words, Santa Claus was homesick -
not for the north pole, but for snowy
mountains and little town nestled In
their midst from which he had been an
exile for many months.
Two little cash girls sauntered by.
and gave him an appraising glance,
emboldened by his absent look.
Some Kris!" commented the vel
low haired one, suspending operations
with her chewing gum for moment.
II was noticing yesterday what
winner he was with the k1dd1es. Is 1t
old Mr.. Messer - the one that had the
job last year?"
"Nixy," the black haired maiden re-
sponded Importantly. "He's new
young man from up state somewheres.
Jimsy Smith told me- seen him leav-
ing, tn other night without his make
up, and gee! he's dandy locker
tall and dark, and the grandest shape
on him! He's really a Electrician or
something like that and Jimsy says
they're going to take him on regular
after the holidays. He likes kids, and
said he'd like this to fill up the time"
"Say, Wayne, you seem to be inter
ested in the story of his life!" giggled
Sadie, with sly nudge. But Wayne
shook her head sadly.
"Take it from me, Sadie he's not the
kind it's any use getting crazy about,
for not a girl have seen him take no
tice of in the two weeks he's been
here. Maybe he's engaged or had an
unforch nit love affair. Gee, look at
M'rie in tango collar!"
They were out of sight and hearing
by this time but Santa Claus sudden
ly pulled himself together with start,
as he realized that some one was
watching him. It was a very small
girl, with rather an old little face and
big brown eyes, and she was standing
perfectly still at short distance, look
ing at him wistfully.
"well, my dear?" Santa Claus
held out his hand, and his kindly voice
and confidential smile seemed to re-
assure the little girl, for she came
nearer and nearer and smiled back
tirnidly. you've come to tell me what
you want? Where's your mamma,
honey"
CT haven't any" she replied in
q tone Of gentle resignation, putting
her little hand into his big one. Il live
with my auntie now, but came by
myself because it's Aunt Bertha's pre-.
sent wanted to ask you about, and
she mustn't hear. asked her to wait
a minute for me around the corner OF
that big pile Of dolls
II see," Santa's rosy cheeks grew
lust little redder, for Bertha was the
name that had been in his thoughts a
moment before, and involuntarily, for
that names sake, his manner held a
special friendly interest for the plainly
dressed, thin faced little girl. well,
do YOU know what your auntie wants
me to bring her?". Santa smiled behind
his beard at the homogeneous situation,
but the child's look was gravely con-
cerned.
'That's just the trouble, Mr. Kris!
But I know there's something she
wants very much. She was crying yes
terday. and when I asked her how she
could feel bad 80 near Christmas. she
said that was Just it, and when asked
her some more questions, she 'splain-
ed that she had lovely Christmas
present last year, and she lost It, and
it was her own fault, and now she'd
never have it again. But she wouldn't
tell me what 1t was"
.Don't you remember what presents
she had last year?"
"Oh, she didn't live with us then
She's my papa's sister, you know and
he wrote and asked her to come and
take care Of me when = when mamma
died -" the brown eyes blinked brave
". "Aunt Bertha lived way up in the
mountains, with grandma and grand
pa, so of course don't know about her
Christmas presents. thought, maybe,