Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-11-12

everything; all his dreams; all his
ideals; all his hopes e. on Christ
mas gift? What would you?"
She frowned adorably.
"And . he's not just a little bit
quixotlcT
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 it would
either do that-or end their friend
ship"
She fingered the small package over
and over.
"Why. / should think that II 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 it?"
"why should it ber She gave him
no opportunity TO see her face.
you've forgotten a great deal.
told you once that IL you knew all that
I've been . all that I've done . . :.
you might not be so willing to have my
lTleuuSilp, hHSNuy.
NO" she said. subdued. 1--WE not
forgotten, but you havel 1 said that
didn't believe you"
You're holding 1t all in your hands" )"
said Hilliard. His expression, as he
gazed at her, was infinitely yearning !;
but his voice was even and low. II
spent n good many hours over this
ttsh rffrbt
for me TO take such a risk on this day,
above all others :. and finally, l
thought it out this way; if 1t pleases
you, 1t ought to make the day better
yet . If it doesn't, it 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. ALI can do is to wait.
Pm giving you a.. will you open it
now. please?"
Her fingers bungled with the knot,
and he made as though to help her.
mo" she said, holding the package
away from him. 81 want to open it all
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
ubiohg pasteboard box. Carol lifted
the lid and Hilliard caught his breath.
There We're two cabinet photographs !;
uppermost was a very excellent like
ness of Hilliard himself. She looked
at him perpIexedly; 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
1t 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 Hilliard." She
flushed hotly.
Now look !" he said, ignoring her
reaction. The .. next one" Me-
chanically she took out the second
photograph; it was a duplicate of the
picture of Dicky Morgan on the Doc
tors desk. Her cheeks were suddenly
devoid of color, she stared fearfully at
him without speaking.
THAT lacks something, too," he said !;
and his voice was yielding to the tre-
mendous strain upon him. With con-
spicuous care he shifted the pen to
his right hand; held it poised for
moment, gave her smile of ineffable
pathos. closed his teeth hard. 81 have
very useful little trait" he said !;
I'm ambidextrous." And wrote his
message.
She had the evidence before her
the inimltable, unmlstakable. ornamen-
tai script of another personality
christmas, 1916-and love 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 n smaller box; 1t sprang opel
in her palm; within, was gorgeously
flashing, sclntillatlng, living gem, set
in platinum. Her hands, unsteady now
as were his own, closed over It as
though to guard and shelter it. Her
eyes sought his. and held them-fright
was meeting fright.
And In my thought" he said. "are
all the sweet memories 1 have of you
and all the fragrance of you
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
lnl imngined NOT In the. .s.....- -.......i- -.