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Show i A Christmas Stockmg : :ij , : By Bertha Etsesd RWgeley (CO. 1120. WtiUrn Ntwpper Union.) fniUSTMA8 nnd tho hlgl cost of living do not mnk a very harmonious combl nation," observed Mre Halston, In her quiet po tlcnt way. "I was Just thinking 0 that mother," replied he married daughter, Runic Marsh, who sat with he work basket in her lap her nccdlo threaded wltl mending yam, and rounding one of he husband's stockings at tho hcol "Thero 1 that Is done, nnd I hopo I will puss muster as hnlf rcspcctabl pinned up to Aunt Mary's mantel." Mrs. Halston sighed, nnd Eunice dli not act any too cheerful. They wen lovable, generous souls, and until Sf the post year er two had nover ' known what la was P9L to skimp and wntch KiJ S tho corners close- . vn j Iy. Tho mother J A Jl picked up the nA-JHil stocking Eunice A Psftj had placed on the SE--y4!5Jml table. 5ta-fl-M "Como to think -Hl of it Eunice," she fliHjJVf ' snld, "wo can do MlUfJ' better than that EwHl Just run up to the JGW'Mlfcr J storeroom. Hero Is X "HJiL fl tho koy. You'll 25? Jjm J And fathor's -W clothes and things .c- fEifl ob they were wheu 55a ho died." "jfj rN The Inst years L'l'ttM af John Ilnlston's -r life had been full of anxiety und strug jlc. There, wna a mortgago on tho olt homestead, and at one tlmo If secmet a foreclosure could not bo avoided Then In somo way he secured the mon ey to pay It off, nnd fortunntcly li was clcnr of encumbrnnco when h died. That was Just n month aftei Runlco murrtcd Randal Marsh. Her heart wanned as she though of tho loyal, whole-souled man wh bad como Into her life at u crltlca tlmo. It had ben generally supposeJ that Randal had somo llttlo means for 1iq was Industrious nnd thrifty, bn ivlien Mr. Ralston died Randal stcppci Into his place, practical, hard worklni and . sclf-sacrlOclng. IIo mado ever: penny serve, and although thero wni llttlo surplus, ho managed to provldi all tho necessaries of llfo and some o Ira iiivfirlna in ttittx-t imilnti lila oltiiooi Tho tears fell as Eunlco reached tin storeroom, and lifted tho top of tin fancy box slio had herself covered, li Which her father had been accustomct to storo his extra clothing. Ittindu himself had mado tho receptacle, am together they had given It to Mr. Rnl Jton on his last birthday, Eunice re moved somo articles of apparel tender ,y and with care, placed them on t chair, nnd discovered soma hundker chiefs nnd thrco pairs of stocking! rolled up ncntly, She toolc tho top pair andld It nnd with satisfaction noted ni It unrolled tlint It wns new nnd whole "Why, what can this bo I" slio ut tcred, ns an envelope fell from tho re leased folds. Her wonderment In creased as sho picked It up and fomu It unsealed and Inside n written pagt and n peculiar looking key. Ther with staring eyes, breathless, stirred t tho depths of her soul, mic rend : "After I am gone see that this Icttei and key are given to Randal Marsh It bus been a secret ho mndo mo prom Iso never to divulge, that ho gavo mi money to pay off tho mortgago. Poor noblo hearted fellow I ho had saved tin (2,000 to build a llttlo home, nnd gtfrc It fcely to benefit us all. Month bj month I havo savod what I could, and havo placed tho money In a safety do gl posit box In tho City bank, whero thoro la now nearly tho amount ho gavo me. It has been my ono great doslro and I hopo that I might llvo to glvo back to : him what ho so generously bestowed." Eunlco with dlfllculty suppressed a great cry of Joy. She could scarcely , refrain from rush Ing downstnlrs and 1 tecwiiAf. revealing her mar mm .(0r ij vclous discovery to W her mother. As she )' "" roflectod how l I much this gencr- 'xift mn ous donation would fwMv TO . mean to them all, H jm r in a transport of M x2tiyA happy toars she MSu'jkHjL") . sobbed forth hor mmS'vSN'' , lovo for tho wor- Mil ' StT4 j thy helpmate who r-KJ'V-nJ had so woll ful jjM&M$)fl filled his duty to SHCWfjf , 4 herself a n d b 0 r 3J ifmtffi j J family. W Eunlco was allvo VVMfr'Y i I with half-subdaed Tvllll J B excitement all that &V 1A I evening. Sho wait- " "&ir II cd when they had 1 u - roached Aunt Slaj.-mv4L Mary's until her "iirm mother and the others bad placed their, llttlo gifts In tho stocking bearing s card with Randall's nnrao. All alone, sho kissed the precious envelope and slipped It Into tho stocking. "A necktie, gloves and a pen knife. That from aunty. Something always useful. A letter no I n card of greeting, greet-ing, no I Why, what docs this mean I" spoke Randal Marsh, and read It ai they all gathered about tho flro place, nnd then he know. Unselfish man thai ho was, ho actually blushed llko a culprit cul-prit detected at tho revelation of a sleeping secret of years. "It means that I have tho dearest most noblo husband In tho world I" cried Eunice, her arms about him, her lips raining kisses. "Oh, my brave ono I i my true one! And who In tho world today deserves tho blessings of Christmas Christ-mas moro than you!" iHh ( His Last Appeal r to Santa Claus ' JMbW?" rani yHk ett . y I'rw all Hi r M -ItTbL BBBBBBBBBBBFBBBBBBBBBBSFh. |