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Show l A Christmas Stocking i i By Bertha Esmond Ridgeley ' - Wntarti N.w.ppr i , fllHISTMAS ami the hu-h co?t of living do not imik.. a very harmonious roiM-nntlon," roiM-nntlon," observed Mrs. Halston, In her quiet, pa "I was Just thinking of that, mother," replied her married daughter. Kmilce Marsh, who sat with her work basket In her lap, ,, l,cr "cedle threaded with mtndlng ynrn, nnd rounding one of her h barn's stockings at tho heel. Therol that Is done, and I hope It will pass muster as half respectable Pinned up to Aunt Mnry's mantel." Mrs. llnlston sighed, nnd Eunice did not net nny too cheerful. They were 1 o vnble, generous souls, and until -DipriV the past yenr or jfc two hnd never . known what Is was tV to skimp nnd watch SaJ k tho 'corners close- - w n ly. Tho mother Jll X l Picked up tho rfW stocking D u n 1 c o JL E0dl had placed on Uio 33ir9TUU "Come to Uilnk rCl JiMJV of It, Eunice," sho fjilll Yin said, "wo can do JjMl'l J' better than that, CJjji I Just run up to the JwKim fr- ) storeroom. Hero Is 7 I Z tho key. You-11 2J r?ft And fnthor's r Ml clothes nnd things Vir rCi! as they were when gS ho died." fc n The last years SOJ of John Ilnlston's life hnd been full of anxiety and struggle. strug-gle. Tlro was n mortgago on tho old homestead, and at ono time It seemed a foreclosure could not be avoided. Then In somo way ho secured tho money mon-ey to pay It off, and fortunately it was clear of encumbranco when he died. That was Just n month ufir Eunlco married Randal Mnrsh. Her heart warmed as sho U '.l.t of tho loyal, whole-souled ma. 'i.i had como Into her Hfo at a ci time. It had been generally suppusi-s thnt Randal had somo little menns, for ho was Industrious and thrifty, but when Mr. Kalston died Randal stepped Into his place, practical, hard working and self-sacrificing. Tho tears fell as Eunlco reached the storeioom, nnd lifted tho top of the fancy box sho had herself covered, In which her father had been accustomed to store his extra clothing. Randal himself bad made tho receptacle, and together they had given It to Mr. Ralston Ral-ston on his Inst birthday. Eunlco re moved somo articles of apparel tender- V 1 and with care, placed them on a 1 chair, nnd discovered somo handker- f chiefs nnd Uirco pairs of stockings Ss rolled up neatly. Sho took tho top pair, 5 undid It and with satisfaction noted as - It unrolled thnt It was now nnd whole. "Why, what can thU bol" sho ut- tcred, as an envclopo fell from tho ro- $ teased folds. Her wonderment In- $ crenscd ns sho picked It up and found It unsealed and Inside a written pngo fj und a peculiar looking key. Then with staring eyes, breathless, stirred to the depths of her soul, sno read : "After I am gono seo that tills letter and key aro given to Itnndnl Mnrsh. It hns been a secret ho mndo mo prom- J Iso never to dlvulgo, that ho gavo me monoy to pay off tho mortgage. Poor, ? noblo henrtcd fellow I ho had saved the $2,000 to build a llttlo home, nnd gave d It fecly to benefit us all. Month by month I havo saved what I could, una" havo placed tho money In a safety do- posit box In tho City bnnk, where there Is nearly tho amount ho gavo me." , Eunlco with difficulty suppressed a J great cry of Joy. Sho could scarcely J refrain from rush- j. oftiaflt'Hif Jy tag downstnlra an I jWlT" - J-- il roveallng her roar- i FQr) I li vclous discovery to j Mfi . hcrraoUier. Aashe 1 Uj I rofloctod how , Pt'i m much thIs gcncr I iMhsJlv to! ous donation woula ( 1 DtIk )&Ml mcnn t0 tlicm aH' 1 ! I( f swY in a transport of IllMI'TIm 1 nPPy tears she ' i WwN$mM sobbed forth hor ( i vMl &w' ,ovo for t,l wor" ' 'lI-u2- 'y ,ie,i)mnto wno ( 1 sffL&drf m,ed Il,a duty t0 ' I TOiF(lV ''crself and her , "-HM family. ( ! vMfSYffifl Eunlco was nllve I T?illJi I w,Ul half-subdued J &t9wA In excitement all Umt ! -'-cS A evening. Sho wait- ' I 1 u8 cd when they had I Sia... roachod Aunt j JWw?ws' Mary's until her mother nnd the others bad plnced their ! llttlo gifts in tho stocking bearing a 1 card with Randall's name. All alone, I sho kissed tho precious envelope and ; slipped It Into tho stocking. 3 "A necktie, gloves and a pen knife. 1 That from nunty. Something always 1 useful. A letter, nol a card of greet-i greet-i lng, nol Why, what does tills mean l" 2 spoko Randal Marsh, and read It as 12 they nil gathered about the flro place, M and then be knew. Unselfish man that S he wno, bo actually blushed Uko a cul-C cul-C prlt detected at tho revelation of a 3 aleeplng secret of years. 3 -It menns thnt I haw tho denrest, fi most noblo husband In tho world l" C cried Eunice, her arms about blra, her 3 Uds raining kisses. "Ob, my brave one I PI my truo ono I And who In tho world H today deserves tho blesslnga of ChrW X mas moro 'than joal" |
