The Daily Alaska empire Newspaper, December 23, 1928, Page 18

®he Cruristmay /L by | ![ Helen Gaisford and wrappings and wrapping Marign Garnet won- derett if she would #er find out what her Christmas present was At In€t she paused, a tiny box in her hand, and glanced at her fiance. Austin Browning’s intent frowh cleared, and a faint smile passed between them. Then she opened the box, gasped a little, and ‘dMpped a ring on her finger “Oh, Austin!” she said, -and flumg her arms about him. “A diamond! A real diamond! And I've wanted one for ever so long It's just beautiful!” ‘A very happy dear,” he answered, and her, For a long while they sat talk- ing. Bvery few minutes she spoke of her ring. How had he mensured her finger? Now she ha@l a really truly engagement ring, didn’t she? Did it cost mieh? It must have been aw- fully expensive. Where did he| get the money? “What do you want to bother about that, honey?” he asked her. “Well have a & 0t course, dear.” He p “You remember when my gr tather died, last Octobe “Old Mr. Browning? Y “Mhey read his will last week.” “@h, and he left you some- thing?"” “How much?” “You're very seemed about to say thought better of it. “Please tell me, Austin.” “Qh, about—that is, it was five hundred dollars. “Why, Austin! That's splen- did. But you didn’t have much Wrapp s Christmas, kissed she pouted, “I know, haven't ,Austin,” right to curious.” He more, but left over after you got the ring, | dld you?” “No,” he answered. He was studying a design in the rug. It was mot long before he rose to leave. “‘Remember, Austin, coming over for supper tonight,” Marfan reminded him. “Our out- of-town relatives will be gone by then, and we can have the evening to ourselves. “'Fine,” said Austin, and Kissed | hér gbod-bye. Marian sat very quietly at dipger. Now and then she touch- | el anb ring on her finger, just to agsure herself that it was still there. “w.n Austin,” She Pouted, “I Have a Right to Know.” She watched the group at the table, with their animated faces and jovial laughter. There w “company” today — her_cousin Frapk, loud and boisterous, and his timid wife; her maiden Aun!| Maggavet, with thin face and tir- ed eyes; her Aunt Alice and her husband, John; and there, at the fobt of the table, sat Grandpa Garnet, With Warmest: CHRISTMAS GREETINGS and Sincere Good Wis NEW SAWYER-REYNOLDS & CO., Inc. |say the you're | eating slowly and care- fully, so that he should not spill \is food. He seldom looked, for \e was deaf, and so the conversa- tion went on without him. Yes said Aunt suppose Grandfather rne outlived all his friends, now that old Mr. Browning's gone.” Marian began to lister “Well, it w time the old boy was moving on.” Cousin Frank took a great gulf of bread. He got to be a mighty big care on them.” about “For pity’s 2, Frank,” said Aunt Margaret, “if you don't think father is a care, too, I'd like to tell you different.” The old man looked up, and for a moment it scemed to Mar- fan that he had heard every word I don’t mean that, Aunt Mar- garet. I mean they had to sup- port him for so long. He went broke at sixty-five, and the chil- dren have taken care of him ever | There wasn't even any in- | surance, for Austin Browning paid all the funeral expens | Marian clutched her fork, | afraid to speak and afraid not to. | “Yeu mean Austin's grand- | father?” she @ . “But, didn’t | he leave a will?” | “If he did, it wouldn’t matte All he had in this world was a| few old books he had saved.” Strange that the conversation | should go on! Strange that she| could go on eating, when every | bite seemed ready to choke her! | At last she found a chance to slip away and seek relief in tears. | It seemed hours before :\uslin‘ | came that evening, and yet, | !when he did come she had not decided what to say ‘ She opened the door for him without a word, without even a |smile. But Austin did not notice He kissed her ardently, and chat- ted as he took off his overcoat. | “l1 met Jimmy | since Titon and his | mother on my way here. The Wheelers have a n baby born on Christmas eve! Jim thought it was a girl, but he wasn’t sure Say, what's the | matter?” | “I — I've just been thinking, | Austin.” Maria} was not sure what to say; it seemed she had | been thinking terrible things. | “About that will of your grand- father's—"" Well?” Austin leaned back | carelessly, but Marion had mno- | |ticed a sudden flicker of his eye- lids. | “I heard this afternoon that— that he couldn’'t have left you five hundred dollars because he |didn’t leave even enough to pay |for the funeral.” “Who told you that?” “My cousin Frank said so at {dinner | “I suppose you told him about | the will, and he | chance to make trouble.” “Austin! How dare you! |dian’t say a word to him about it | Marian wondered whether it as her imagination, or if Aus- ally was relieved. | “All right,” he said. ‘“But| even go, you prefer his word to 9 Austin, don’t talk that Then you do trust me?” “I want to, Austin, but you aren’t telling me the truth, and I can’t telp wondering what it is you are ‘trying to conceal “What do you suppose I'm try- ing to conceal, as you put it?"” “Austin—" There was a catch in her voice. She looked at him cadingly. “Was that ring face blanched as at a| “You—you believe that?"”| don't know what to be- lieve,” she answered miserably. | “If 1 swear to you, Marian, that 1 have stolen nothing, and that that ring was my own prop- erty when I gave it to you, wlll you believe me?” “You do swear it?"” “On my honor, dear.” } ““Then where did you get it? Why did_you tell me your grand- father left you that money?” “Please don't ask me to ex-| plain. It was wrong to deceive you, I admit, but I said the first hes for the YEAR | herself on the sof: ! money 1 had | truth, |1 made up that story about the jumped at a|” THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE, SUNDAY, DEC. 23, 1928. {1 am, Marian. | “That's all right, Austin. It was silly of me to dream those awful things. But if I didn't love you so I wouldn’t have “And you do love me, fan?" She did not words, but lips | “Even if T couldn’t give you a decent Christmas present.” “That isn't so, Austin. You have given me and yourself, too—the most wonderful Christ- | mas present we could receive; a confidence in each other that nothing will ever shake again.” ————————— l “GO0OD WILL TOWARD MEN” Mar- answer him in with her eyes and “Marian, Marian, Don’t Cry! I'm Sorry, Dear.” thing 1 thought of to keep you from asking questions.” | “But why won't you tell me, Austin? It won't tell a soul.” ‘Geod will toward men"—this was what the morning stars said o At when they sang together that Marian took off the ring "mlf:::‘r”umfi, mr qx!;‘(?]l::f:vml 2,000 all she said. L fy y -l Marian, aren’t you making a - e mistake? Would it matter that | much?” INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS TREE | ou won't trust me.” N 4 or will you trust me.” Italy has an “Urn of Fate” in-| She turned from him, stood for |stead of a Christmas tree. They | a moment looking out the win-|Put their Chistmas gifts into a dow, and then suddenly threw {Dig deep bowl, and grown people | sobbing. in a family take turns drawing | farian, Marjan, don’t cry!{for sifts. I'm sorry, dear. I'm a brute! | Please!” The sobs continued “I've been a coward, Marfan, but nothing worse. And that was only because I love you so! I'll| tell you everything. Won't you | listen, dear?” She raised her head and he sat dewn beside her and took her in his arms. “You were right, dear, my grandfather didn’t leave me any money In fact, the saved for your present all went to pay for the funeral. But I knew you wanted a ring, so I got you the best one I could afferd. 1 was 8o afraid you wouldn't like it I came near not giving it to you! then, 1 thought I'd wrap it all up big as a sort of joke “I didn’t mean, then, to tell you anything wrong, but when you looked $o happy and started sking all those questions, it seemed 1 couldn’t tell you the much as I wanted to. So will, just because I couldn’t bear t odisappoint you. That's only an imitation diamond. The whole ring only cost ten dollars.” Marian spoke jerkily. She was :till crying, but she was laugh- ng too. ‘“Oh, Austin, I'm so glad!” 3lad?” I've spent such a wretched |afternoon. Wasn't I foolfsh? But 1 was so afraid!” “I can’t tell you how ashamed s e P R e P e et 0 i S i S S Merry Christmas-—- It has been a real pleasure to number so many of you among our friends and customers and we want you to know that we deeply appreciate the privilege of serving your wants which have fallen in our. line. Brunswick Bowling Alleys HEARTY CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND SINCERE GOOD WISHES ‘FOR THE NEW YEAR G. E. Almquist THE TAILOR A MERRY DAY Happy Christmas Time is with us again. May its Joy and Peace make your day complete. Mendenhall Dairy GEORGE DANNER, Prop. JOYFUL CHRISTM AS we take this opportunity of wishing onr imany friends and patrons.a Joy-. ful Christmas and a Happy New Year The Alaskan Hotel DAVE HOUSEL With this expression of our thanks for your patronag_C, we extend our sincerest wishes for A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS and a BRIGHT NEW YEAR of HAPPINESS and PROSPERITY George A. Gewhell ’ Yuletide Compliment We wouldn’t let'the season pass without this word to 'you and we’re ithankful for your patronage- and your friendship fine and —»t}-ue; mmiwwym {GRAGE chnmu re ,,,-...---,-,-“-----,-----¢’—-»«»»m~-.m~7 I e The very most that any of us could wish to one another is Merry Christmas and Happy New Year For it that wish can come true the very best we can hope for ourselves is grant- ed --- and so we wish it to one and all. Alaska Meat Company e e e S S S ] Joy and Prosperity Wishing to all the brighest and happiest Christmas you have known and many a New Year to follow it, filled to the last minute with unbounded Joy and Prosperity. Juneau Transfer L] Some of we old ones call him a robber ---- but the youngsters all callthima Saint ---- But he casts his :magic spell over all of us, so there’s to the day when he holds sway and here’s to you whom we hail as - friends and serve as _ " customers. Merry Christmas *,