The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-12-17
A Christmas
Miracle
BY LANNlE HAYNES MARTIN.

Preston. but John Spencer did
resent being told so often and
officiously by AIMS people that he was
not good enough for her. They only
augmented his determination to get
Ann. And SO John just picked up his
bride and his lawbooks and carried
them Of to the west.
The travel across from Virginia. the
opening of a law Office. the establish
Ing OF a new home. even though n very
simple one. made money evaporate
very rapidly. And. although no legal
business had as yet found it's way TO
Johns office. he was always busy get
ting read up or Strengthened out or set
tied down.. Ann was extremely lonely
and homesick. She cried a good part
OF the time when John wasn't there.
John was making such a fight! But
just now they were having house
parties back at home. and peaches
were ripe. And here the land was as
hot and dry as a desert. The dust got
In her throat and, worse still, in her
eyes. First there came horrible. dis
figuring smoked glasses. then a green
eye shade. then a darkened room and
pain. constant pain. and then there
came a specialist. He pronounced it a
very serious case Of eye trouble and
said n might lose her sight entirely.
Her eye were kept bandaged all the
time.
For three months she had been in a
darkened room. John Spencer read to
her. dressed her. fed her and cared
for her AS IL she were a baby. In
those three months his hair had turned
gray. Never had she spoken to him OF
h ones back home. But "a Christmas
time grew nearer and nearer she would
ask every day with such a pathetic
Quaver In her voice. ANY letters.
John? ?"
It was like a sword stab in his heart.
He knew she was looking for a Christ
mas box. and he knew none would
come. He knew them all. especially
her uncle James. who had intended
making her his heiress before she had
disgraced the family by marrying
poor white trash" and her two proud.
cold. m%ercenary sisters. Her parents
had died when she was very young.
One day when Ann had asked her
little quavering question John Spencer
ground his teeth and said to himself,
She's got to hare that box" The next
day he was later than usual getting In
from town. and the next day after. al
though 1t was more than two weeks be-
fore Christmas. an expressman brought
a box and set II on the porch. Ann had
heard him drive up and set something
down and was ali excitement when
John arrived.
"Why. here's nm express package"
he shouted out as he stepped upon the
porch. Then he bought the box into
her DON and began prying Off the lid.
Mrs. Ann Preston Spencer" he said
as the boards creaked of. And 1t says
from Virginia." he continued.
"Oh. OH" she cried in delight.
First he took out an envelope and
read. ITO Ann with love. from Uncle
James. Inside is 800"
".Just what he always gave me at
Christmas." cried Ann. ".And wasn't
II dear Of him.. John did not reply.
He was unfolding a fimsy. gaudy.
rose colored silk negligee trimmed In
. rse. machine stitched lace. Here
il a pink silk evening dress" he said.
and the card says From Cousin Har-
riet.'"
.Oh. how perfectly lovely Of her!"
exclaimed Ann. do lot me feel it."
And then there were alleged hand
made and embroidered things marked
from. Cousin Lucy and Aunt Juliet and
some really lovely table linsn which
had her two sisters cards on Il.
Ann was like 4 different person. and
when the specialist came next time he
saii there really was some hope for
her eyes now.
A neighhor woman. Mrs. Green. tool
caro- Of her while John WAS WAY In
town. and when she anne in the next
incoming after the box arrived Ann
had her get ont all the things.
The cards were all pinned on them.
Somehow the handwriting looked
strangely familiar to Mrs. Green. John
Spencer had written a contract for her
when she had sold some land. She
turned n " the cards I'VE On the
other side. IN big black type. was John
Spencer. Attorney At Law 1t didn't
take the condolences that Mrs. Spencer
WIZ now pouring out to make Mrs.
Green understand It all.
Then Mrs. Green went home and had
4 good cry and sent a special delivery
letter to Virginia, such a letter a. had
yrObably never found is way into
that state before. She tried to pic
ture John Spencer as his friends and
neighbors Jaw him, al they had learn
e.f to know him-his strength and cOur-
age and tcnderness-day by day as he
cared for his helpless, stricken wife.
she was tactful enough not to mention
any knowledge Of a family estrange-
Harnt. He had just done this thought
fui. delicate thing because his wife had
sighed for something from home. and
N. tried 10 satisfy her every wish and
wdhim. When they heard about It they
mild hn cniy too glad to make that