The Dolores star., 1920-11-12

everything; all his dreams; all his
Ideals; all his hopes on a Christ
mas gift? What would you?"
She frowned adorably.
And =. he's not Just a little bit
quixotic?"
Not at all suppose he did 1t
deliberately. and after a great deal of
thought Just on the chance that 1t
might please. you? When 1t would
either do that-or end their friend
ship?"
She fingered the small package over
and over.
why. should think that If this
mythical person were so very anx-
ious to please me he wouldn't take
quite so much risk"
But when I'm the mythical person
myself-that's different, isn't itY'
why should It be?" She gave him
no opportunity to see her face.
you've forgotten a great deal. I
told you once that If you knew all that
I've been :. all that I've done =.
you might not be so willing to have my
friendship. anyway"
NO" she said, subdued. I've not
forgotten. but you have. l said that l
didn't believe you"
You're holding it all In your hands,"
said billiard. His expression. as he
gazed at her, was infinitely yearning !;
but his voice was even and low. II
spent good many hours over this
=. wondering whether 1t was right
for me to take such risk on this day,
above nil others :. and finally, I
thought it out this way: If it pleases
you, it ought to make the day better
yet (. If it doesn't, 1t would have
been just as unwelcome to you at any
other time. Understand, I'll never at
tempt to excuse anything . we're
beyond that. All / can do is to wait.
I'm giving you -. will you open 1t
now, please"
Her fingers bungled with the knot,
and he made as though to help her.
NO" she said, holding the package
myself"
Hilliard, rigid, watched her. A
phrase was beating heavily against his
consciousness . one of the Proverbs
. something about the bread of de-
ceit, and ashes -.
The knot gave way; and the tissue
wrapping. falling aside, disclosed an
oblong pasteboard box. Carol lifted
the lid and Hilliard caught his breath.
There were two cabinet photographs /;
uppermost was very excellent like
ness of billiard himself. She looked
at him perplexedly; he was getting out
his fountain pen. His hand was cold,
unsteady.
at lacks something, doesn't it?" he
said, in an undertone. Let me have
it moment" While she followed
his every movement, he wrote, with
his left hand and somewhat painstak-
ingly, an inscription and gave back the
picture.
christmas, 1916" she read. with
love from Henry billiard" She
flushed hotly.
"Now look!" he said, ignoring her
reaction. 1.-The next one." Me-
chemically she took out the second
photograph; it was duplicate of the
picture of Dicky Morgan on the Doc
tors desk. Her cheeks were suddenly
devoid of color, she stared fearfully ut
him without speaking.
"That lacks something, too" he said ;
and his voice was yielding to the ire
mendous strain upon him. With con-
spicuous care he shifted the pen to
his right hand; held it poised for a
moment, gave her a smile of ineffable
pathos, closed his teeth hard. II have
very useful little trait" he said !;
I'm ambideXtrous." And wrote his
message.
She had the evidence before her
the inimitable, unmistakable, ornamen-
tai script of another personality.
christmas. 1916-and loye from Dick
to Carol"
'The real gift is underneath" he
said, and his diction now was foreign
even to himself. But no, no; go
on
Her uncertain, exploring fingers had
touched smaller bcx; 1t sprang opel
in her palm; within, was gorgeously
flashing, scintillating, living gem. set
in platinum. Her hands, unsteady now
as were his own, closed over 1t as
though to guard and shelter 1t. Her
eyes sought his, and held them-fright
was meeting fright.
"And in my thought" he said, ARE
all the sweet memories have OF you
-. and all the fragrance of you e.
and in the stone there there's a
story for you to read . bigger than
any book could hold :" She still
made no answer; she was holding her
three gifts tightly. and staring at him,
staring not in the revulsion he
had imagined. not In the measureless
contempt he had feared, but with the