Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-31
By Carolyn
BeeCher
ONE WOMAN'S
STORY
CHAPTER LAIV.
4 BOUT o'clock Christmas morn
\ ing 1 heard Bruce calling, and l

~ ing 1 heard Bruce calling, and
walked Robert.
Run and call the boys" l told him.
Il wouldn't have them miss seeing
Bruce when he catches his first glimpse
of the tree for anything"
1 was hurridly dressing while l talk
Sd Robert was out of bed in a minute,
fully as excited as 1 was.
III have them down in jiffy. Don't
let him down until we come" and, in
slippers and bathrobe. he went up two
steps at a time TO tn room where my
two brothers were sleeping.
Get up, you fellows" | heard him
calling. Don't wait to dress. Put on
a bathrobe. The kid is waiting to go
downstairs"
In a moment the three came tumbling
down. all anxious to see how Bruce,
Jr would behave when he saw the
tree which had been fixed up for him.
His father met the little fellow on the
stairs and swung him TO his shoulder,
while 1 followed with my girl baby,
VINO had been awakened by the noise.
All we grown-ups stood outside the
door, while Bruce, Jr., turned the knob
in the greatest expectancy. He gave
one whoop, then without looking toward
us, seized the drum and commenced to
march around the room. beating it with
all his strength. All our combined ef-
forts could not make him lay it down,
until Phillip showed him a horn, which
he footed to attract his attention. So
il went from one nerve splitting noise
TO another until in self-defense We all
went back upstairs and left Bruce and
Matilda in sole possession.
We dressed and by the time break
fast was ready he had become little
tired. and we coaXed him out of the
room long enough to distribute the
gifts for ourselves and the servants.
I had given Robert a monogrammed
shaving set, and he presented me with
a china cabinet don't mean IL was on
the tree-but the receipted bill for one
TO hold my new dishes. We gave both
the boys and the servants appropriate
gifts. and IL was a very jolly party
which sat down TO the breakfast table.
Bruce, Jr. insisted upon bringing his
drum, and upon his promise not to beat
il until we had finished breakfast, was
allowed to do so.
After breakfast Robert and my
brothers walked over 10. the lot we had
bought. while I helped the maids pre-
pare our Christmas dinner. While
worked l thought of Robert. How l
wished he might always be as he was
when with Bruce Hy brother seemed
ert. all that made him attractive. Once
I thought, and with a distinct shock,
that but for meeting him with Bruce,
in his compauionship. under mis- in
fluence, might never have married
him. But the children were insistenly
calling me, and l forgot to be critical
while sharing their pleasure.
Myrtle and Ned came early and
brought us all gifts. and we in turn
gave them the trifiing remembrances we
had provided for them. We could only
Civ. them simple things which showed
our friendship, instead of anything o.
value.
II was nearly dinner time when Tim
MuIhany and his wife arrived with
arms full of gifts for all of us, not eX-
ceDting my brothers whom they had
never met, but whom they knew were
10 be of our party. Dear little Mrs.
Mulhany fairly beamed when Bruce In
his kindliest way told her that no gift
he could have received would have
pleas ed him as did the beautiful calen-
dar she had given him, and Philip won
her heart when he told -,er that KIP
ling was his favorite author. and that
the pocket edition of his favorite story
was the very thing he had wished FOR,
but which no one thought to give him.
After all. Christmas is for children"
Mrs Mulhany said as she looked at
them. As always when this little. unas-
suming woman spoke yo>, felt her wis
DOM her goodness.
We were very gay at dinner. Ma
;ilda and Norah had surpassed them
selves, and I was pleased and BATTERED
at the compliments l had received. Al
ter we had fingered over our dessert for
an almost unconscionable time Myrtle
proposed some music. So We adjourned
to the living room, where i played Tor
them. and then we all sang college
songs. even Robert joining us. Tim
beat time with his foot and Mrs Null
hany hummed the tune in a soft. quaver-
ing voice. At midnight our party broke
up and we all declared that our Christ
mas day had been very happy one
When Robert ard / were alone he
spoke OF IL. and said:
such days come nut seldom, Mar
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. happy days in which
there is no cloud"
Il am very glad YOU enjoyed IT," re-
turned: the children. too, went 10 bed
very happily"
Aren't you happy, too. Margaret"
he asked. without looking at me.
"Of course I laughingly answered.
WHY shouldn't I be-" All the time
7 wished he would take me in his arms
and tell me that he loved me. That
would have meant more 20 me than all
nv gifts. more than anything else in the
world.
COTTON MARKET OPINIONS
IenkS Gwrnne Co: We do not look for