New Britain herald., 1921-08-23

amazed recipient heartily on his shoulder, T ain't been so willin to oo -Joo since Hector was a pup an Electors a big dog now!''
 mere rose a general laugh at Cap'n Apes little joke. But there was no responsive smile upon 'Liphalet's wis age. He stood there as amazed and stunned an individual as there was Ion all storm-swept Cape Cod. that night.
 T ain't able to tell ye,'' at last he fsald humbly, tears in his eyes, how what you all have done cuts me right down to the Plinsoll mark I don't know but a little dip to starbo'd or to larb'od will founder me for fair. l got it into my head that IT was purty much alone in the world. |got bitter taste against humanity in my mouth.
 T made up my mind Christmas, and Christmas doin's, all foolish ness,''. pursued 'Liphalet. T just got la grouch on the whole business. I said I wouldn't play Santa Claus for the youn'uns no more. or have any thing. to do with such didoes. But l got to confess brothers and sisters, that I just had to go to town same's usual and buy a bag full of toys an sech, and a new Santa Claus suit. They're hid away in my gar ret! .'. ....~, "An-an' here you folks have gone to work and bought me this beautiful l music box-By Hannah. I don't de- sarve to be Santa Claus this year nor l to give out the presents as I used to. IT ain't been in the Christmas l sperit--'' Christmas spirit your granny" l burst out Dr. Ambrose, amidst gen. | eral use of pocket handkerchiefs by l the feminine part of the audience. You let me put your liver through course of sprouts, and I'll make you the most spirited Santa Claus that
 came down cardboard chimney" Eliphalet Truitt walked out of the store. With him he carried a music box. The clouds were broken over lhead and the moon, peering through,
 shed sufficient light for the startled ex-steward to identify his vis-a-vis. l Sue? By Hannah. You ought to be
 in bed" he declared.
 "Oh, IiphaletH she cried. "Pearly
 and have been giving the last 1 Pearly-Why, where is she?" i Miss Sue had not seen her com 1 panion dart ahead to join Helnlford, who had likewise come down the stair steps. . ..- /."Pearly's going to live with me,
 'Liphalet-for a while at least. Cap'n Jonah will stay with Capn Abe here at the store But Pearly will need SC melody to help with her sewing l you know-'
 She halted with blush that .Lip- halet did not see. Then, eagerly- I f suppose Cap'n Abe presented the
 music box to you, 'Liphalet? I did not mean to miss that" By. Hannah.' breathed the ex- steward, looking hungrily into her face. You knowed about that music
 box the folks was setting me all the time, didn't you, Susan?'' .:.. :, "Oh, yes And I thought you would
 surely suspect something that day in front of the post office when you
 saw it in Perry Baer's wagon Her laugh, so low and mellow,
 thrilled him. Somehow he caught
 both of her nuttering hands and she,
 jet them lie in his grasp. ..
 "Susan. he said.
 "Yes, 'Liphalet," and her sweet eyes were suddenly raised boldly to 1 his own.
 If you didn't have all that money"
 1 What money do you mean, 'Lipha-,
 !et?' she ased puzzled.
 1 That fortune your ant left you l 'I-I. haven't much of it left, you
 know, Liphalet. Only bout ninety dol liars" 1 Yes You. know, Aunt Amy left lnae a little over four hundred dollars. IT bought a dress, that T.! laid Iaway, with part of it.' The blush Twas again hidden in the uncertain flight of an uncertain moon. That sil- lver grayPoplin, laid away in laven- ', der, was the tenderest secret in all
 Sue Ambrose's life.
 1 Folks reported around" she has tened to add, that the legacy was Ia lot more You know how stories grow in Cardhaven. ! Grow! From four hundred tc forty thousand? I should say; Why \ susan, thinking you had all thai 1 IIloney-'
 "Only four hundred dollars, Lip
 Ihalet.'' --
 Forty thousand! By Hannah! Has
 gossip cheated me out Of this here ] olessin' for goin' on 10 'years?'
 
 l.e public road He knew by the very 1 fielding of her body to his own wha
 her answer was. With the clearing of the tempest on this Christmas eve : had come the clearing up of all mls akes and misa approximations of ,theil lives.
 IT A raucous "Ahern." apprised then ' 1 If the presence of somebody beside :, lcear1 and Helnoford behind them = Well, I vum.' ejaculated the voice s-I of Doctor Ambrose. ''Twan't you iver after all, 'Liphalet Truitt, tha
 was out of kilter.. I see now 'twa 5 Eour heart!' 'a,.'' y l. The dying gale chased tatters Q 6 clouds across the face of the moon .l Only now and then was the roa' n lighted sufficiently for Helmford an' i, |Pearl to see clearly the trio walkin : lon ahead of them toward the Am
 fsrose cottage. Helmford and Pear