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Show : SKf ? THE 12 THI-WKEKL- UN ALf LOGAN, UTAH, DECEMBER '24 t828,: ioU - Y nor ' COPYRIGHT. 1898, Br'THE-'AUTHS-- A tall, spore, dark eyed young man, with a violin ease in hla hand, came ip the narrow stair throo step at onoe, a though he were anxious to reach the little attlo room which was hi destination There was a lamp In the hall below, but no light on the stairs or landings, save the dim gleafa which came through a skylight In the roof, and at 0 o'clock in the even Ing of the 24th of December It Is neodloes I to remark that the top story was envelop- ed In total darkness, llut Guy Fairfax - seemed to know his way by Instinct and did not pause until he reached the scratch' ed and shabby looking door which formod the entrance to his abode. There ho topv ped short, waited and listened for a moment, arrested by a sound that Issued frin a Y5u lived hero when you was a little boy like roe, dldnjfyou, daddy? Not. bore town Tony lnio Uttle the big house I've toW way outside r , you about bofqye. " Tony regarded his father with baby scri ousness. IVont you take me to see It while were here, dr Is the coinpny going away tonorrow? Fairfax belonged to a traveling oporutls company and could not nlTord to do otherwise than the other members of the troupe, buthe would have given a good deal to flml himself in any place rather than tho Mg northern manufacturing town where, unfortunately, his 'family had been well known for many generations He had broken with bis relations long ago. but well, it was trying to find himself so bear the dear old Grange where his father was the room. It was the sound of a violin, faintly still living, two miles outsido tho town, played, as though tho instrument' itself and not ba able to go near, biro or uvru were small and the band of player let him know that his son and grandsc I weak. ' Presently there arose alto a sweet were so near. .little thread of a childish volee. slnglng to "I can't take you to see it," ho said lo the tune picked out on tlb violin tho a low volco to tho llttlo son. "There 'words of a well known ChrAmaa hymn: there wouldnt be time. "While shepherds wstohel tLrit flocks by He was ashamed of the subterfuge a h night, looked into Tonys Innocent eyes, but All seated oa thegrooi d. Tony was only half attending after alb aa face contracted with If a little Guy's Will ho "And Santa CItfusf ho said. pain. Then ho sm&othod resolutely, come me to the down chlmlney give called up a smile and oieued the attlo did you when you were a lithe as things, . j door, It was a miserably bare room, not very tle boy!" "Really, Tony, we must look after your clean nor very Idy, and tho small lire that burned In tho rusty gratodld not avail to English. Chlmlney, lmleud! You know warm the pltmosphore. On the bod, with better than that!" It dont matter, said Tony fearlessly. an old far clonk tucked round him for Will-heomo down it thats what I warmth; a little, boy was ctirlod up, ,hi to wants know!" I to tbe notes handglioldlng the tiny fiddle, Not down attic chimneys, Im afraid, of which Guy had been listening. But he said tho father, with a sigh. "Oh-h- , but in at the door maybe! Perhaps his sack would be too hcavj for the chlni ney. Hell come all tho way up the stairs, bump, bump, buinplty-bump- , won't he! And I shall stop avrtike and hear him.' Hotter not," said Guy rather sadly Santa Chius has forgotten us this year, mannio. He comes only to rich people." "Thfttf a shame," said Tony. "We aren't rich people, aro we, daddy!" "Certainly not, answered tho young man, thinking of the guinea a week which ho was accustomed to receive on treasury Not precisely rich, Tony, but not day. - . i te ' , wish I could go to daddys old house and ee&anta Chius for my very own self! What a pity that daddy does not live there nowl . , - He put away his empty bowl In a llttli wooden cupboard and camo slowly back to tho fire.' Then be yawned and thougl the room looked vcryjonely and wondend what ho coulil do to omuso himself. He was a self reliant llttlo lad, not often in want of occupation, but just now H seemed to him aa though something had gohe wrong with the world. He was vaguely dissatisfied and knew not why. . Then a sudden Idea occurred to him- one that sent the blood to hls cheeks and tho sparkle to his eyes. TonyVldisas, wen gometlme a trouble to hls father. They wore always prlglnal, but apt to bo impracticable and even dangerous. The Idea that had come to him now was that he should go to the house where his father had lived and ask to be allowed to wait for. Santa Claus when he came down the chimney that night. him, "It would belovelyl" said Tony to self. ."I shouldnt be no trouble to nobody, and very likely I should be home again before daddy got back from tho I should run all the way, and I should take my flddlo and play 'While Shepherds Watchod1 and 'sing the words, and then the poople of. the house would say, Oh, theres the waits! 'And they would open tho front door wide and let tho-ate-r. mein. Tho idea took complete possession of hls llttlo souk As It happoned, he knew tho namo of the house where hls father had once lived and hod a general idea of Us locality. It was two miles from the big town, but ' there was an omnibus which would take him almost all the way, . And Tony, although kept as closely as possible to hls father's side, had a good deal of ex- - , f.. DA DDT, DADDY! ARK TOD BACK SO QCICK ? put it dovn at once and held out his bauds wAfi a little crow of delight when lived?" "I suppose he did. "And docs ho come still! "If there were any children there, I dare Guy came In. say ho would. Daddy, daddy I Are you I Kick so quick! "Oh I" said with very solemn I thought you wasnt coming till over so face. Then he Tony, said no more, but sat molongl" tionless, looking thoughtfully at the opIt was a sweet little Voice, a sweet llttlo posite wall, 'while his father roso from the face, but tbe lads body was very frail and bed amfbegan to busy himself about variweak, and tho dark eyes looked pathetical- ous household matters, which jnlght have ly large for the delicate llttld face. It wns seemed to an observer, almost pathetic with a sort of passionate yearning that when done by the clumsy fingers of a man. Guy Fairfax pressed his child to his breast Not that Guys fingers were clumsy; they for a moment and then looked at him had all the ddloacy of the born musician with a mournful foreboding which ren- and tbe gentleness of a woman, andlt dered his voloe less cheerful than he meant came quite naturally to him to build up . it to be. the flro, hang Tonys flannel nightgown j Ive run home for half an hour, Tony, before It, warm some bread and milk for to see that my boy is warm and comfort-able- , tbe child and finally make and drink a cup sold the young roan, holding the of strong tea before he went bock to the child closo to him as he spoke. orchestra. "Oh, yes, Im quite comfy said Tony Good night, Tonyl Go to bed soon, "I put on your old cloak theres a good boy I Shall I unfasten your oontentedly. and pteqded I wp a bear. . Then I was a clothes?" ,' - little choir boy singing carols in the street "No, thank you. daddy I Ize not a Christmas carols, you know, daddy, be- baby," said Tony, with dignity. And i cause Christmas Is tomorrow, and It was Guy went away laughing at this manifestonight that tbe shepherds was watching tation of Infantile pride. He had little their flocks, all seated on tbe ground enough to laugh at, and it was a good His voice passed almost unoonsclously for him that Tonys smiles and thing from spoech to song. Indeed, although frowns and baby wiles as well as the Tony was only 8 years old, singing wns as childs innate genius for muslo kept his natural to him as speech. He came of a heart from growing hard. Tho amused . musical noe. Ills father was a musician. light was still In his eyes when he reochod first by choioo, thou by norcesity, and his the theater, but It would soon have died mother, who dlod when ho was only 9 away had ho known what Tony was doing years old, had been a professional singer, while he was gone bolonglng to a family who had lived half . Its a dreat pity, Tony soliloquized their lives upon tho operatic stage. Tony as he ate his bread and milk when his faInherited her tastes, just as bo Inherited thers steps had died away "Its a dreat bee golden hair, but ho bad his father that Santa Claus does not come to pity brow and his fnthors eyes. poor llttlo hoys as well as rich ones. I Yon Ilko enrols, Tony? hell never think of coming hero, At Christinas time, daddy.' Will tho spose hut If 1 lived In tho honse where daddy ringers come down this street tonight, do used to live hed come, because daddy said you think! If there were any children there oh, 1 Perhaps so. There used to be plenty of them when I was a boy." I - . .. ' .So ydiLwantcd to see it for yourself! "Yes, lr,nnted to seo it, but thair" wasnt all. Santa Claus comes to this -- houBC. djm's Tony pressed ragyriy up to the general Who seemed not to vuow how to answer him. ""1 can V say. Whcn thii children were small perhaps" . A vision came to him of himself and hls wife stealing from oot to cot tollll amal stockings with toys and sweota in days long passed away, ne oould not finish hjs, entbnee. "I know I oried Tony. Santa Claus always came here when daddy was a little boy, and when I asked him why he nevor came to mo daddy sold that he only came to rich children and not to poor little boys - V. Hkorno." . ...I , " Are you poor! said tho general hastily. Were not rich, repliod Tpny, quoting hls father, "but we aint paupers yet. Daddy says so. lVhat Is paupers? I wanted daddy to tell me, but he had to go to the theater "So hogot and amuses Jilmself and leaves you with nobody to care for you? It aint very amusing," said Tony. ?It it - All seated on the ground. is tho grounds, Norris? said the master of the bouse to the butler in hls crustiest tones, ne wns at dinner, and the notes of a violin fell "strangely upon hls oar. Did I not tell you that I would have no parties of carol singers this year! They only trample down tho plants and destroy the young troos in tho plantation. Go. out and put a stop to that noise directly." . Norris went out with rather a grave face. It was a troubled one when he returned. ' Its not IS THE HALL BTOOp A CHILD, concerning trams, omnibuses, trains and other modes of transit, and he was not at all dismayed at the notion of making hls way to a strange part of the town. He prooeodod in hapte to mnko preparations for hls expedition. First he found a piece of paper and screw It in enormous, sprawling letters ; Pleso, daddy, I have gone to your old house to find Sandterklawso, and I shall tell him to bring things to poor llkklo boys as well as rloche ones. Tony." Tony's spelling was not bis strong point. Then he put on hla cap and hls little overrent, rather thin and very shabby, took his violin andor hls arm and so sot forth. Tho Eky was overcast and the wind cold, but out In the streets the lamps were lighted, the shop windows were resplendent with holly, and A crowd of belated shoppers hustled each other on the pavements, so that Tony, In his delight at this novel and beautiful scene, did not fcol the oold and knew not tbe meaning of fatigue. At first ho even forgot that he moant to get Into a tram and go to Stonelcy, the suburb in which hls fathers home as a child was situated. Tho name pf the house was Carston, as Tony knew, and in hls Ignorance of all difficulties he intended to go by tram car to Stonelcy and thou ask the first passerby hls way to Carston. That the place might bo utterly changed .from the time when hla father was a boy never entered Tonys However, theinn'ooent and Ignorant sometimes seem guided toward right ways, right things, right pooplo, In ways we do not know. Tony looked up straight Into the face of the omnibus conductor at a street corner where several . omnlbusos were waiting and sold. "Aro you going to Stoncley, plenso?" And the roan looked down at him kind" ly and said: "Aye, that I bol Do you want to go to Stonelcy, llttlo master?" "Yes," said Tony, promptly scrambling up tho steps, "and I want to go to a house at StoneleyJ- -a houso callod Carston. Da you know where it Is?" "Why, yes," said tho friendly conductor In rather a doubtful voice. f know well enough, and we go almost past the gates, but what might you bo wanting at Carston. 1 should like to know?" , ' "Its where my daddy used to live," aid Tony, settling himself into hls soak Oh.I see! sold the man, fooling more THEBX loiL-upo- huk. 1 Cnr-sto- n daddy." "Where is your mother?" said the gon ' Its Its only a little boy. perlpnoe TTIR GENERAL BAT IN H18 ARMCHAIR, maxes him awful ttrod to play such silly tunes every night In tho orkistra, but he has to do it, or else there wouldn't bo no bread and milk for me nor no baccy for the carol singers at all, sir. eraL w Tho child's face grew grave. "God took Send him away at once then. her away," he answered. And the gen"If you please, sir, he says ho wishes to eral suddenly felt that his old hatred of peak to you. I I think hes a gentle- that singing woman who had beguiled hls mans son, sir." on into making her his wife was small What if he is? He can have no busi- minded and despicable. But another noness here. Send him off. Some begging tion made him frown. trick, 1 dare say. "So you came hers to soe what you oould But as the general for that was the You wanted Santa Claus' presents?" rank of tbe master of Carston spoke the get? no, X didnt I I only thinked Id "Oh, music woxod loudor and louder, and a like to come, cause daddy says Santa sweet chlldi volco rang ont like a blrda Claus came here at Christmas always To the vast surprise of master and servant time, and It would bo awful nlco to soe alike, tho door of the dining room was him, but I dont want anythlnk myself. I pushod open, and there in the hall stood a just want to tcll hlm that there me heaps cbilVwlth shining hair and big brown of llttlo boys much poorer than me and eyes, playing and singing, as he hod done that if he would go to the poor children It at first: Would bo much better than going to tho While shepherds watched their flocks by rich ones, dont you think so? night. Well sometimes, said the general Ail seated on the ground. "I thought, if youd let me, 1 would Tbe generals white mustacho bristled here till quite, quite late, said Tony top voice was his and harsh and raspfiercely, confidentially. Id wait about till he he when spoke: ing and then came, Id speak tohlm about the Boy you there stop that noise Then Id go home to little poor boys. Tony desisted, but turned a look of But I daddy. may stop here, please, till the reproach upon speaker. "Dont you like it?" he sold. "Its my greatest Santa Claus has been?" To hla surprise the old gentleman with favorite, and - you must know it quite the white mustache stoopod down and because well, daddy says be used to sing took him Into hls arms. . My dear llttlo' It to you when he was a little boy. "When he yonr father what do yon boy, be said, "you may stop till Santa Claus comes, certainly, and yon may stop moan, child?" f ; Ton a said with dig- forever If you like- ."I aint child, y, a time a "Im Its boy. nity quite long When Guy Fairfax, half distracted by since I was a child." Whats your name!" said the goneral, tbe note which he found on hls table, arsoftening and smiling In spite of himself, rived, panting with haste, at Carston that hut the answer banished all smile from night, he was shown at once into the dinhls face. ing room, where the general sat in hls "Anthony Llscard Fairfax, said Tony armchair with a childs figure gently craIsnt it a beautiful narpo? dled oa hls knee. Tony was fast asleep triumphantly. Its my grandfathers name, daddy says, and the general would not move or disbut 1 havent Rover soon him in all my turb hint . Ho only looked at hls son for. life." And hls innocent, trustful eyes moment and then at tho sleeping child. looked straight into tbe face of the very "Forgive me, Gnyl he said at last. man who was his grandfather. , You and this boy are all that remain Norris gasped. He expected an explosion to met Let him stay and stay yourself, of anger; he almost feared violence, but too, and cheer the few last years of my for a minute or two the general stood per- life. I was wrong I knew X was wrong but you must oome back to met fectly silent. Then he sold to the man. ' ' You can go, ' s. And when Tony woke next morning in "Shall I go too?' said Tony. a soft white bod and a oozy room, such as No. Stand Where you are. Now, tell he had never seen before, he was a Uttle me who told you to come here tonight?" bit grieved to find that Santa Clans had "Nobody told me. I thinked It for my filled a stocking for him while he had been elf. , fast asleep but he was quite consolod when "Do you see these grapes and sweets? Guy told him that the old gentleman with persisted the goneral. " You shall have as the white hair and. mustache, who must t inany of teem aryou infant you win let henceforth be called grandad, was the best' me know who suggested who put it Into Santa Clahs that he had ever seen and that Tony might go to him after break'-fas- t your head to como. " and sit ou his knee whllo he sang how Tonys face grew red. He saw that he was not believed, but h answered gal- shepherds "watched tholr flocks by night as the Christ Child came with gifts of peacs lantly: j. , , told "I you I thinked it for myself. and joy and good will to men. one word about coming, and said Nobody I thinked nf Jt only tonight srhco jlqddr 1 an-gel- io . y 1 " y . V ful itUas." "Whats that caterwauling ." The bitter accent in his voice was cansed by a vivid remembrance of some words that the angry old father had once addressed to him. "You need not darken my door again, sir, and when you and your wife aro paupers don't think that you will get money out of mo!" Tho word 'paupers" always recalled the bitterness of that moment to his mind. "Whafs paupers? Raid Tony. Then in an abstracted tone, "I suppose Santa Claus always oanio to the big house where you , gone to tbe theater. Ties told me lots of things about this house aud how boo- -' night. o pauper-yet- satisfied.'. Ho supposed tbe Coy must he the son of some coachman or gardener who lived at Carston, and Tony had so much self possession and Confidence that no more questions seemed necessary. More passengers got In, the conductor shouted, the driver cracked hls whip,' and the omnibus moved on. It seemed a long time to Tony before It stopped to' put him down In a dork road, where the conductor o dwhltegatffOt pointed tmcouragingly-tLine and told him that theend of a little that wns the way to Carston. "Thoroll be 'a bus back to town every quarter of an hour," he said, but maybe you wont Want one? Youre going to spend Christmas with your father, I reckon?" "Pb, yes! said Tony, not at all drift of tho question. And then the omnibus rollod away, leaving him all alo'no in the dark with an unaccustomed sonsatlonhf fear and uti unusual thing for him a strong disposition to cry. ' But he mastered the weakness, and, grasping tho violin faster, ho turned toward the whito gate at the end of tho lane. It wns unfastened, and when ho hod passed through it he found himself on a groveled walCVlndlng whltely between trees and plantations toward a largo, dark looking .mansion, which Tony divined to be Carston, hls lathers old home. He followed the path until he came to tho garden; and thon ho lost himself a llttlo, but by ami by he emerged from the shadows and found that bo was fronting a wide. flight of steps which led up to the terrnco In front of the dining room and drawing room windows. Tony nodded quite joyruiiy when ho saw the terrace and the steps. His father had told him about them many a time. He mounted thorn slowly and carefully; thon, standing on tho terraoe, he looked about him a llttlo while and derided that it wa time for him to bogln to play. He felt rather oold, bow that he was not moving, and a snowflake or two melted , upon hls nose and modo him uncomfortable Nevertheless it wns with groat resolution that ho drew hls bow across tho strings of the fiddle and began hls favorite tuno: While shepherds watched their flocks by - BKLATKD SHOPPERS UCSTLKD A CROWD EACH OTIIEU OR THE PAVEMENTS. SjsdfifcC- - 4 u --r 4 e |
