Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-12-02


eyes.
ITS Merry Christmas
time" Connie said to her old yellow
cat. "Who ever heard of Christmas
without the Merry? SO cheer up,
PrOwier, and let's join in the game"
At the little 'Shoppe" just around
the corner she stood longest of all.
And all at once into Comics bright
eyes came speculative light. The
window was full OF small framed pic
mas spirit. There were the usual
night-clad children looking up broad
chimneys, there were landscapes of
snowy fields with distant windows
Hlight-C0nnie studied them all she
was seeing in vision the winding hill
road of the place where she had spent
her last summer vacation; the church
with its swayng bell in the steeple,
the queer little bridge over the deep
and beautiful Stream--a bridge with
seats along its sides where countless
lovers had sat and courted. The old
lady who had been Comics volunteer
hostess told her, With the pink coming
and going in her withered cheeks,
about the lovers For ii was there
that her own husband had asked, and
had been anSWered-his question. The
way that Connie had CHANGED to visit
this beautiful country place end to
meet there the, dear old lady was quite
remarkable chance too. She had
started Out on The trolley car for one
restful day in the country and had
chosen this station at random And
when she lad stopped to admire the
wonderful roses In the old ladys gar
demand they had spent some agree
able time togcther--thc old lady. Mrs.
Martha Snow by name had said:
".My dear, Why don't you come on
and visit me for week or two? Pm
lonely for young sweet face"
And Connie had gone that was all.
Half her later wafer colors had been
glorified memories of that delightful
visit Now Connie had new inspira
bridge over an icy stream. and its
seats should be covered with snow.
She could fancy just how the trees
would look waving naked branches.
And she'd paint the church in the hOl-
low with lights in the windows gIeam-
ing over the snow and the bell in the
tower a-sWaying for Christmas.
Oh, Connie was very happy as she
hurried home TO her attic, but there.
In the tamperamental way artists
have. she began to draw instead.
working ir fever OF enthus assn
the sitting room Of the, old house
where she had been a guest. with
Martha Snow herself seated in the
freight iust half of her peaceful pro-
file showing beneath its halo of white
hair.
, There wis holly above the old fire
place and boys stocking hanging
there. Connie never stopped until she
had completed the picture. then ran
with ii breathlessly to the "Shoppe'
around the corner.
"Yes. We will display It," smiling
old man agreed.
The picture sold. OF course you
were prepared for that: hut the
strange part was that before it was
sold Connie had added her other views
to the "Shoppe" window, and her dis
corning purchaser had bought them
mas studies pleased him not ~ all
Connie could not count the number OF
times that she passed that window
first closing her eyes childishly in the
hone that her picture would not be
there when she opened them. And II
was the day but one before Christmas
that the 'sShoppe'' manager seeing hel
peeking about. beckoned her inside.
"You have pleased one of our hes
customers, said the manager. "ant
when We mentioned your p"ev'iar con
dition of sale he suggested talking thu
matter over with you that you nigh
both come TO satisfactory bargain
Our customer thinks that you posses
wonderful artistic ability. We hav
given him your address"
as ne. asked Connie falteringly
"a phiIantlropist?
Some way she did not want her pun
chaser to be Just a philanthropist an
spoiI all future ambitious hope.
"Mr. Armstrong is man who usua
" drives a pretty shrewd bargain
the "Shoppe" manager said.
So, though il was early afternoon
Connie hurried home to turn on y ga
blaze and don her most preSenfab
dress So that she might make favo
able impression as a successful your
wieIaer of the brush. The purchase
might arrive any minute. But il ws
fhe next afternoon when he came ar
Connie was wearing a bungalo
apron.
The purchaser was young and ia
and good looking and the golden G
greeted hin. with purrins rub. wnh'
WIS rs osne recommendation