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Show Marguerite's Tramp. Kill 11Y MISS CAltnil. CHADLOCK (ID YEARS OLD) tfjwRll ' iHsH ciiAPirn i-thi: chhistmas pauty. j ylk JH VVIthln tho imll are song nnd laughter ltjlwl tflH Hie ihrolis nf Christmas glow red mil Jolls. MsS3?'l rHI And sprouting I evi ry corbel and rafter ilff ft :.!J .'M IIM unii ll,,hlsnine green of Ivy and boll) lit'sMl! tHH 11 w i clear, cold December night Jolly old Christmas could not havo Kl'il'fV lll chosen more lerfect weather for his fittlvltles 'lhe leuiless trees were decked fit'''- tyt 11 In th purest of ermine and the rnss of moonlight falling upon tho snowdrifts P&Villll fli here and there, caused Ihem to Hash llko a thousand diamonds The tre-ta fflLt''ii f'l fll were almost deserted but overs now nnd then might be seen n party of merry IW"!?!)! Mi lads nnd lasle, hnstenlng towarl the home of nonio filend or renlllve. What IjyWJ IIflH cnted they If the keen, biting frost brought 11 ruddy glow to their cheeks and mt tim aH benumbed their ringeis nnd toes' Thes would soon be Joining ln soma merr? !W 3! !" game. In n warm roy ruom, entlrels forgetful of the winter night outslda M' ' II ''' """ On one of the most beautiful avenues of the cits was situated the resldenco Jttt'fiil rJjniH H of the wealths nienlinnt Charhs 'Weltoii Never had the grand hulls una W IVUH drnwlng-ioeim of the mansion been more ibicrful nnd beautiful than on thlt f fj, fFtt HIH Chilstinas night Utile MniRiierlto Wellnn wns celeliratliig her l!th birthday JV T !U,fl asaaH and the iniwd nf bos and girls that she had Invited In her party were making fj ,.! .iwl evert IIiIiik cheerful with tlulr merrs gnmes and snngt nnd happy laughter, O tlllr H a! Over In u comer of the gteut pulor sat Marguerite fnther and innthcr, watch- A 1fH,-H LL lug the iblldien with Interest Verv proul Indeed, were thes of their llttto ,k f 7)1 V a1 git I, who wa the daintiest nnd ptettlest umong the group of richly dressed Rlrls 1 '1 La'! thit thtonged the loom Sunns Roldcn cuils fell tn her wnlst und her Bweet, l ' ll HIH I'xpiewlvo blue cscb wcie shaded I15 long ruillng lashes Murguerlte wat never 1 ! HtS H so happy as whin making others hnpps, and tonli,lit her dnlnlj, slippered feet I ) ) RlH H were merrllj nipping from one group tn another Intent upon melng that every- 1 , D-ffil H one enjnseil 11 pleasant evening After n delicious supper all gathered around l'i IjjH H the beavlls-ladin 1 hrlstniu tree und Mniguerlte distributed the presents. All ' BW H wcio dellghlel with their Rifts nnd Murguerlte sat npirt from tho rest In a i , "C U HIH large roi ker near the window enjoslng their exclitnnllons of surprise nnd de- IT R,wt H light Soon then- came 11 lull In the noisy merriment nnd Mniguerlte, who j j f, jfj M was silent mil thoughtful suddenly heard n low, piteous moan outside. Sho In " 1 III H llflul the silken eiirtaln nnd iieercil out Into the daikness The moonllBht fell I,. fl H upon ine upturned lountennncc of n hnggnrd-faced, slmbblly-dressed tramp. ' H-JH '' She wns 11 little frightened ut first, but after obtaining n good view of him, sho j 1 'WlB ilrnppeel tho curtain und luaklng some exiuse, left the loom. Hi iW H ln tin hall she on. mint r rod one nf the servants ,f' 4m Jane,' she Bull 'there I3 a cold hungr -looking tramp outside, nnd I ) I'M HbI want sou to bring hlin Into the ellnltiR-room" f .1 ' IJOH June looked ut be r nstonlMhid 't JiH BH 'Whs Miss Marfiierlte, sou know that jour father has forbidden us to al- j i' ll BH low ans stianger tn rnti r the houao unless he gives us pel mission" 1 JiJH H Marguerite's mveet little fnro was pale, us sho said llrmly, A '') sM 'Jane, thlt Is my blrthdas and this morning pipa snld tint I might use the J ifilH H house na 1 phased today 1 will open the door for tho strunger myself." I 1 ' ) H H She illsnppenred and soon Jnne henrd heavy foolsteps In the dining-room. J j s ill B H Miirgui rite plneed a largo mm chair near the cheerful warmth of the blaxlnc f I At IJ fl H fire for bet guest, who, with 11 long-drawn sigh of relli f, dropped Into tho chair L iyi I BH and thinking her, fell nsleip Mnrgmrlte tat near him on 11 little stool, whllo (j M if H BH he shpt, nnd ctudled his fealure carcfulls Not ono of her many friends had "(, If U H BbI evir dieained of tlm deipls thoughtful, spiritual nnturo that sho possessed. j ' fjJi B H While she wu rlosely iibteivlnc her RUist, there was a vers serious expression A 'I ij A BHJ In her blue esc 1. llo did not look like un oidlnnrs triimp. His thick, black hair IX "w, W HH was neatly combed back from n broad, lntrlllRint forehead and henvy lashes tTwel'lir rm HH hhadid 050s whlih Marguerite observed were a soft brown Ills clothes, though JrH'rl"5i 1 ! patched nnd niRRed, were ilenn. Sho could not help contrasting them with tho tWh iWS (1 HH elcgnnt dress suits of her fnther $ Sit l'S I HBl When the stranger nwnkc Murguerlle pripared n few nourishing refresh- WVfcrfJi H BH inenls for hlin, nnd whllo ho satlstled hln hunker sho began to talk to him. 'tq9 f H "Whnt It your name?' she asked, tlmldls. i tH S HHJ llobert Tnslor," he replied In n. faint voice. ' Mny I ask who my kind llttlo f ' " ' J HHJ helper Is?" 1 T lt) jMI H 'Mnrcuerlte Wellnn," she nntwered "Were you always like this? ' tfrt ' !h HHJ "No, Miss MarRiiirlle," he said, ns tears filled his 1 1 1 11, nnd In n few word t' 1 Tfl BhI he told her how, when 11 bos, tho dimoii drink had entered his beautiful homo ! ' ,'f ! hL HHJ nnd hln father became n slave In the bottle lie wan nccl lentnlly killed by an lit ' f HHl Intnxlcalcd b irtender In a silion und left hln family In debt. My i? ' it H1 Tho stranger paasid a rough, labor-worn hand acios his eye a he con- jt W'' u HHl Umic.l. M R SI HH "Ab n result of tho shock my sweet mother died nnd rnon nfter, being un- - j . st H nblo to endure the prlvallons of poverty, ins little Rolden-hnlred Bister left me, L ' ii H HH too, l'or n while un old friend of fnther'H emplosed me, but I wns not strong fM 1 Epn ,( HH cnuugli for the work, nnd left my nntlvo cits Slnco then 1 hnvn been vvnndcr- fH" s I H Ing from place to place, earnlnR bnnls enough to keep m nllve. Tonight I jB US "i wns nearly finzni when I nrnrrd sour house, and tho bright lights from the Ifi'V! A I HHl windows Imiked so iheeiful nnd reminded mo ii much of my oil homo I could Bj() ' 1, HHl not resist the tcinptutlon tn come manr the window nnd look In," Ql IcMJ HHl As he llnlshcd 11 liar lolled down his cheek und Marguerite snld gently: Itjl 'IS,!' HH ' I'm glad that sou ciunu here, Christmas la the time for us tu help the un- w'irifinji HHl fortunate mul I want tn help sou" Ufi ti!j HHJ She- laid lur llttlo hand on his shoulder, as sho said In sweet, smypathetla HLjIf ci': HHl tones tivMtVI HH ' I know how lonely sou must feel tonight nnd I can feel whnt anguish nnd ef ml , 1 H detpiili sou have Niiffered, with not n friend to cheer sou Sometimes when lil'LV'l Hl 1 klancc around me and lee tho luxuiy that I enjoj, I realize how unworthy I tfl ' fr"!' BhI um nf It nil nnd nn Intense lonklng come over me to do something for tho un- NIjf (' j fortunnta nnd the ileslltute." Mr' It 111 At this moment tho door opened nnd Mr. Weltnn entered. Imnslno his n- ijk'f jyl IJ HHJ tnnlshment when he aiw lilt little klrl stnndlng with tearful eses, llko a pity- ,, h "I Ing, gunrdlan nugel near tho stranger, who wna bowing hi head In his hand. W ' .'fj' HHl Mr. Welton broko tho slenco by Buying sternly. th In ,K n tl HHJ "Marguerite, Is this tho wny you tient jour Rucsts" Hellevlng that you mi :i I P HHl wcro tired and needed rest, our cnmpnnloim excused thcmselvca and went home. uB ( t j I did not expect to find sou entertaining ft tramp" W , i Mnrguerllo turned to her fnther with nn earnest, plendtng look. jtj ll HJ ' Don t, pnpa This man wus cold nnd lumitrj . nnd ns this Is Christmas ' M, 1 i i HHl night I wanted tn help hltn He Ins been talking to mo una I forgot about my ' 'fj i HHl parts. I know that he must be 11 good man, but hns had many misfortunes, and, i) t ' ij HH papa, won't you pleaio do Bomelhlng for him?' r ', HHl The pioud merchint glnnccd haughtily ut tho stranger and offering him a rj. ii HH gold coin, said: m, ,.! ' HH "Take this nnd ro." "" W 1 -in HH Tho strniu'cr stood up to his full height at he snld with dignity: fk ' , Ij HH "I am nn beggar and I will not accept your charits'. Your little girl ha ITJ-j, , '.ki HH been kind In tno tonight nnd I thank her. lleforo I go I wish to ask sou If you ?JJ ". ,Jf 'Hi HHJ cun glvo inc nny 1 mtilnsinent." Lfi M ii HH "Nn," Mr. Welton answered, a he turned to speak to Marguerite, but nho 1 (jj Ji HH hnel disappeared m$ 3 J'l HHl llobert Taj lor was descending the long flight of stept from the veranda, jni 1 lj n when n llttlo figure In whltu suddenly nppenred before him. ffli, '( - jj HJH 'Tuliu this,' sild Margucrltn In 11 low lone, pressing n purse Into hi hand. ?( .1'' ,ji B LLM "It may help sou Ho not think unkindly of papa. He glvis large sums to il' i!' It I aharlty, but does not llko In have tramps and beggurn come tn his house," fj B it I fl HH ' God blesn sou, little Murguerlte. I believe that the nngels will record your i M 8 BU good deed tonight, for Christ has pnlil, "Inasmuch ns ye have done It unto the i'j, J'i J w HH least of these, ins brethren, Jo have done) It unto me.' ltemeinber, little girl, mi, J jrw .1 n HJH thnt If the day over come when I ran In nny way help you or one, of your fam- 4pl'I,.M i 1 HH Ily It shall be tho proudest duy of my life " Jhi BJl y HJ Rho bent over nnd kissed him on the foiehend, and as he turned the corner tr 3fj1 r- U HJH the list thing thut he saw was tho moonlight falling upon the Blender, delicate K),i JfHj'i j H form of llttlo Marcuerltc. f ' M'l I HH CHAITKIl II-THN YHAltS LATHIl y "r V 'J i L Again It Is Chrlttinns, but tho scene change to a prosperous, growing town, Ijt ' 3, 3 I HH some dlstanca from the sieno of tho last chapter. In nne part nt tho town, lt Hit HH where most of tho buslnesn men dwelt, wns Fltuuted tho pretty little cottage i, p uAKi of Hubert Taylui, owner nf n largo manufacturing establishment, nnd nne of Ht ,' ti HH tho most honored nnd respected cltlens of tho little lown. Mr, Tnylor believed j'' V Mjij HJ that hi happiness might bn complete. If ho only had n Biiltablo partner to as- V? I j i , v HJ slut him In hi business. i'iUU 'till HI ln Iho eozy pirlor of his home, cm this Christmas night, he wa enjoying a !'': ! -It 1 1 Hi delightful evening with his wlfo and llttlo klr. i!:'' ivViU! BJ 'Come, Helen," he Bald, 'vie must havo nnother song" tn !j ill t,' HJ Llttlo Helen, who possessed her fnther'H dark hair and brown eyes, and her 1 ' I 1 1 HH mother's sweet voice, began her father' fnvorlto none, 'Home, Sweet Home," I, jj w f ' H Her mother accompanied her nn the 1 Inno, nnd she wa singing the words, "An i t JE ; 1 HH exile fiom home," when 11 knock was henrd nt the bark door. JWlf ' iU' ' HJ Mr Tayloi left 111 cony, comfortable locker and telling Helen to finish the IK.j Jlj f HJ song went Into tho ndjolnlng room and opened tho door. A tall, mlddle-ased It-U IjlBW- .t HJ man, plainly but neatly nttlrcil, wns standing outsldo In "Jjlj i ft. HH "Would sou kindly tell mo where I could find shelter for tho night? I am F w ji , HH a Blrnnger here" j'ji JJ! 1 '! Hh ' I'm afraid that sou will not find It easy to get a room tonight," said Mr. If') j! Mlf! HB Taylor, 'However, I havo 11 spare 100m which you inaj use. Come In and jij'l II 1 rfVi HI warm ourlf." W II1 1 . BI 'Thank sou," said tho stranger, us he stepped Into tho llttlo dlnlntf-room rw, ik W und seated himself r. W ,H HJ Mr Taj lor believed that nt some time he coull not remember when or ? ti .ills if HJ where, he hud heard that mine deep, stinng voice and seen those Hashing, dark iij, if1 l'i HJ liluo ejes Aa the bright firelight fell upon tho face of the stranger he noted ?' fj f all HJ deep line of cuie In tho luo.id forehead nnd becoming curious to know who hi jTR ,'lliI ,1 HJ cuest wns, Ml 'lujlor enloied Into 11 conversitlon with him. j Wiffil ijl'l Hal An hour later, when Mrs 'Ins lor entered the dliilng-nioin, her husband said Jtj J "(ijj HJ to her' I A , , tlljjj 7 BJH 'Hose, let me Introduce jou to Mr Charles Welton, my new partner ln JiK'ik 3'I HH business" iSil'M Wl HH Then he gave her 11 brief account nf tho event of thnt Chrlstmuu ntRht, ten ."1 :i- UJ JJ HJ year befote, when n 11 homeles wnnderer he had visited Mr Welton' home fj' (X filt HJ ' Hose, ' said Mr Taylor, "1 promlfcect little Marguerite that night that if tho 1 Ufl i)J fj HJH opportunity ever came I would bo glad to help her or ono of her family, Now, I 'i! JjVSlKj H hei once wealths father la homeless and pennllei himself, and I want lo help ff! 11JM H him Slarguerlte Is dend now, but I hopo tint sho know I am keeping my t (l-i'V ti'iffJ HJH prumlse.' 0 ',ljj4' HH Tho slumhera of tho two frlendt thnt Chilstmna night were attended by the M 'Will if HH most beuullful dreams In whlih mveet little Marguerite appealed to them a an W. llifsVI H angel sajlng 'Peace 011 earth, good will to men ' P C:?-llVli HH |
