The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-27

pies on Christmas day in the morn
ing, or the pretty girls who whistled
and sang-on Christmas day in the
morning.
When all the gifts had been dis
tributed the lights in the room were
turned out. The only illumination
was the golden effulgence which en-
circled the tree.
In his monks robe, within that
circle of light, Evans seemed a mys-
tical figure. He seemed, too, appro-
priately ascetic, with his gray hair,
the weary lines of his old-young
face.
But his voice was fresh and clear.
And the song he sang hushed the
great room into silence.
20 little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless
sleep,
The silent stars 90 by,
Yet in thy dark streets shineth,
The everlasting light,
The hopes and fears of all the
years
Are met in thee tonight"
He sang as if he were alone in
some vast arched space, beneath
spires that reached towards Heaven,
behind some grille that separated
him from the world.
And now it seemed to him that he
sang not to that crowd of upturned
faces, not to those men and women
in shining silks and satins, not to
Jane who was far away, but to those
others who pressed close-his COM
rades across the Great Dividel
So he had sung to them in the
hospital, sitting up in his narrow
bed-and most of the men who had
listened were-gone.
AS the last words rang out his
audience seemed to wake with a
sigh.
Then the lights went up. But the
monk had vanished!
Evans left word with Badly that
he would go home on the trolley. Il
am not quite up to the supper and
all that. Will you look after Moth
err"
'Of course. Say, Evans, that song
was top notch. Edith wants you to
sing another"
sWill you tell her / can't? I'm
sorry. But the last time I sang
that was for the fellows-in France.
And it-got me"
''It got me, too," Badly confded /;
"made all this .seem-silly."
1t was just before New Years
that Lucy Logan brought a letter
for Frederick Towne to sign, and
when he had finished she said, "Mr.
Towne, I'm sorry, but I'm not going
to work any more. So will you
please accept my resignation?"
He showed his surprise. What's
the matter? Aren't we good enough
for your"
"It isn't that" She stopped and
went on, "I'm going to be mar
ried, Mr.. Towne."
Married." He was at once con-
gratulatory. That's a pleasant
thing for you, and / mustn't spoil it
by telling you how hard it is going
to be to find someone to take your
place."
II think if you will have Miss
Dale? She's really very good"
Frederick was curious. What kind
of lover had won this quiet Lucy?
Probably some clerk or salesman.
"What about the man? Nice fellow,
] hope"
"Very nice, Mr.. Towne," she
flushed, and her manner seemed to
forbid further questioning. She went
away, and he gave orders to the
cashier to see that she had an in
crease in the amount of her final
check. ''She will need some pretty
things. And when we learn the date
we can give her a present"
So on Saturday night Lucy left,
and on the following Monday a card
was brought up to Edith Towne.
She read it. Lucy Logan?
don't believe I know her," she said
to the maid.
"She says she is from Mr.
Towne's office, and that it is inn
portant." !"
Miss Towne," Lucy said as Edith
approached her, II have resigned
from your uncle's office. Did he
tell your"
NO. Uncle Fred rarely speaks
about business"
With characteristic straightfor,
wardness Lucy came at once to the
point. II have something must
talk over with you. / don't know
whether I am doing the wise thing
But it is the only honest thing"
Il can't imagine what you car
have to say"
No you can't. It's this" she
hesitated, then spoke with an eff
fort. II am the girl Mr.. Simms i:
in love with. He wants to come
back and marry me-"
Edith's fingers caught at the arm
of the chair. do you mean that i