The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-21
The EDening Story
The Gift That Came Back.
(Corrlnne rockwell Swain.)

SURF ounded by all that was brightest
and best in tayiand, sat Santa Claus,
| benign, red coated, white furred, ca
ressing thoughtfully his half-yard of
snowy beard.
AS yet, no confiding infants had
been pushed up to his chair by SYM
| pathetic parents, there to make art
| less pleas for "a dolly as big as a real
baby or train gears with a wind
up ingine," so the good saint had leis-
ure to indulge in certain holiday recol-
lections and 1ongings of his own. In
other words, Santa Claus was home
sick-not for the north pole, but for
snowy mountains and a little town nes-
tied 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 Krist" commented the yell
w-haired one, suspending operations
with the chewing gum for a moment
81 was noticing yesterday what win
ner he was with the kiddies. Is it
old Mr.. Messer-the one that had the
job last year %
Milky the black-haired maiden re-
sponded Importantly. Hes a new
young man from up state somewheres,
Jimmy Smith told me. 1 seen him
makeup, and gee! he's a dandy look
er-tan and dark, and the grandest
shape on him! He's really a lee
trician or something like that, and
regular after the holidays. He likes
kids and said he'd like this to fill up
the time
Say, Mayme, you seem to be inter
ested in the whole story of his life
giggled Sadie, with a sly nudge. But
Mayme shook her black head sadly.
Take it from me, SADIE, he's not
the kind it's any use getting crazy
about, for not a girl have L seen him
take notice of in the two weeks he's
been here. Maybe he's engaged or had
an unfoch'nit love affair. Gee, look
at Mrie in tango collar"'
They were out of sight and hearing
by this time, but Santa Claus sudden
ly pulled himself together with a start,
Ias he realized that some one was
watching him. 1t was a very small
girl, with rather an old little face and
big brown eyes, and she was standing
perfectly still at a short distance
watching him wistfully.
; We'll, my dear?" Santa Claus held
out his hand, and his kindly voice and
confidential smile seemed to reasslre
the little girl, for she came nearer and
nearer and smiled back timidly.
you've come to tell me what you
want? Where's your mamma, hon
ey?'S
Tt haven't any," she replied in
tone of gentle resignation, putting
her little hand into his big one. 81
live with my auntie now, but I came
by myself, because it's Aunt Bertha's
present 1 wanted to ask you about
and she mustn't hear. 1 asked her to
wait a minute for me around the cor
ner of that big pile of dolls
i,st f;t+1e 'a Iadda rosy s c Rh grew
the name that had been in his
thoughts a moment before, and in
voluntarily, for that names sake, his
manner held q special friendly inter-
est for the plainly-dressed, thin-faced
little girl. We'll, do you know what
your auntie wants me to bring hero
Santa smiled behind his beard at the
incongruous situation, but the child's
look was gravely concerned.
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 |
said that was just it, and when 1
asked her some more questions, she
'splained that she had a lovely Christ
mas 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 it 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 |
AXE care of me when-when mamma |
died the brown eyes blinked brave |
ly. aunt Bertha lived way up in the |
with grandma and grandpa, |
SO of course 1 don't know about her |
Christmas presents. 1 thought, may
be, as you're "a sort of n fairy, you |
would know how to find out. on, Mr.. |
Kris-are you cross at me? Have |
said anything is-disrespectful?
-'No-no, girliei'' Santa Claus had |
bent his head quickly, but his voice
was well controlled. Maybe 1 can |
help you find out keep good many |
records, you know, even about grown |
ups presents. Only you must tell me
your auntie's name and where she |
lives so L can be sure whether [ have
the right lady in my big book
Her name is Miss Bertha Crom-
WE'LL said the little girl, Frightening,
land she's very, very pretty, with |
great big gray eyes and lovely pink
cheeks and goldy, fairy princessy hair
when she lets it down. And 1 do want
to have her all happy agaln-she says
would only come back. I 'spect it
was careless of her to lose it, for she
says she didn't know. how she'd miss
it or what she was losing. or she'd
never have let it go-and now she
doesn't know where it isi' Santa's
hand trembled a little, as he held a
pencil poised above a notebook.
And where does she liver he ask
ed, with his heart humping under
the scarlet coat in a manner i'll befit-
ting his age and dignity. The little
nized as small street in a section
Of the city near his own modest lodg-
ing. He wrote it down, and turned
to the child with a reassuring smile,
which warmed her little heart
Now, don't you worry any more
about it, he charged her. Il feel sure
hat we're going to find out what that