The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-20
Elening Story
ROsamond's Christmas.
81 81. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

face in her hands and ~ept, while the
erumpled note she had tossed into the
blaze flared up for moment and
was gone.
Around on every side, on the capa-
cious davenport, on the mantei, on the
settle thanking the fireplace, stood an
array of presents which turned the
usually severe Spencer library into a
miniature gift shop. Gifts they were,
to Rosamond all of them, from the
tiny embroidered blanket for her Pc
kinese to the mammoth bouquet OF
dollhouse roses from Jack Ashton, who
had sent her similar bouquets for
many years.
The girls grief was in no way oc-
casioned by the fact that in all the
gorgeous array there was not the
tiniest trinket from Jim-Jim Page,
Christmas day with his friend Iand
business partner convalescing in the
hospital.
II will bring my little gift with me, -
he had said the previous afternoon,
and Rosamond had thrilled to the look
in his eyes. 1t had promised-well, ev-
erything she wanted in the whole
world. For Rosamond had known for
many moons now that her heart was
Jim's and, as far as a shy girl may,
she had let him guess the fact
That was the worst of it, nowi Not
only had he broken her heart, but he
must know he had done so. She Wis
ualized his amusement as he wrote the
aith-shattering note. What thing
it was for a joyous, expectant girl TO
receive on Christmas day. The most
miserable Christmas day of her life
it had brought her!
my Dear Little Wife-This is the
first Christmas we have spent apart.
But when this mix-up I'm ip now
straightens itself out everything will
be all right. All my love. jim"
At first Rosamond had stared at
Jim's perfectly familiar handwriting in
utter beWilderment. Then gradually
it dawned upon her that he had stu
pidly mixed letters; that somebody had
received the letter he had written to
her and that this note just delivered
by messenger boy had been intended
for-for, why, for his-his wifei
For many minutes Rosamond had
reviewed bitterly her first weeks of
acquaintance with Jim Page, when her
family and friends warned her to
tread carefully with a man of whose
antecedents one knew absolutely
nothing, my dear" Then she recalled
the first awakening of a feeling that
was more than friendship. And then
she threw the note in the fire and
wept.
But Rosamond in blaze of anger
recovered from her tears. Suddenly
she dabbed her eyes viciously with a
over to the tiny gateIeg table where
stood the telephone, seized the re-
ceiver and called Jim's number.
''Mr. James Page? This is Rosa
mond Spencer! Yes! I am going to
marry Jack Ashton And I wanted
you to be the very first one to know!"
Then she hung up, and altho the
telephone rang once, twice. three
times, she stood, with curling lips, IN
responsive.
sNow. physicists tell US that to every
ACTION there is an equal and. opposite
reaction. Rosafrfohd paid for her sud
den dare-deviltry by a corresponding
and immediate depression.
'What have I done, what have I
done?" she cried, as with cold fingers
pressed to her burning cheeks che
paced the length of the room. Jack
had signified his intention of dropping
IN to tell her something and if that
something was proposal of marriage
she was certainly committed to an
acceptance If it wasn't-Rosamond
dwelt on the alternative until she
longed to call Jim again and tell him
it was all a horrible blunder. Only
the thought of his wife deferred her.
The sound of the doorbell came as
startling reminder of her predica-
ment. Jack!
But it wasn't Jack who advanced to
her with outstretched arms as she
stood, one hand at her throat, beside
her chair
Broke the speed record for these
two bloeks!' grinned Jim cheerfully.
And now. what the dickens is this
tomfoolery about you and Jack Ash
ton, who has come to be very good
friend of mine %
Rosamond drew herself up with
dignity tt1Vhaf iG this oil aa1
wife?" she asked simply prepared to
see Jim Blanch.
Jim didn't answer for a moment,
but his arms, for want of something
to close upon, dropped to his side.
My wife," he said
''Dear little wife,, quoted. Rosa
mond, altho the words all but choked
her. This is the first Christmas"
She was halted by an odd look of re-
lief on Jim's face.
"My-my dear little girl para
phrased Jim tenderly. II certainly did
ball those letters upl I wrote one to
you with-with just a Christmas wish,
while this one--waiti 1t should have
gone to the wife of my business part
ner, James Reed. whose letters have
written for him since his sickness.
See ?"
a wave of chagrin Rosamond did see
she came straigh tinto his arms in
penitent surrender.
But some time later, as she sat
turning on her fingers the most won
derful Christmas gift she had ever
received, she lifted her glance to Jim.
why" she demanded. when you
came in, didn't you look like a man
who has just heard that the girl he
expects to marry is going to marry
another man."
How could / darling2@ smiled Jim.
when that -Cff iazr~ had inst told
me-and he's. coming around to tell
you, too-that he's going to marry
another girl?"
Copyright, 1921. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)