Newspaper Page Text
PAGE FOUR i TOR 3 S' M™Hopson (Copyright, 1913.) the stores along a * n street were gay -sra-JI with Christmas decor / x |§ ation. Even the win \ * dow of Scarvin’s curio / \ \ shop bravely flaunted \ some brilliant holly ’\/h \ wreaths. ' r4J23> >> Edwin Lander paus ed before this window and st°°d for a long time apparently lost in S£ “ K contemplation of the filigree bracelets displayed there. At iast he roused himself with an effort ■and opened the door. At his en trance, old Scarvin, the dealer, came smilingly forward rubbing his wrink led hands. “What may I do for you this after noon?” he suavely asked, while his shrewd, beady eyes noted every detail nf his customer’s tall, well-dressed figure. "I should like to look at something that would be suitable as a Christ mas present for a lady,” Lander an swered briskly, but a keen observer would have noticed that his cheerful- j ness was forced, and in his eyes was "a look of utter weariness. “Certainly, certainly, right over here,” said Scarvin, leading the way to a case where some quaint necklaces were displayed. “This amethyst one • -Spread Open the Book Enticingly. has the antique setting that is so; much in vogue.” Lander gravely touched the silver links and thought: “My affair wuth Marguerite is what Aunt Collins would call ‘between grass and hay.’ It is past the candy-and-flower stage; but has hardly arrived at jewels—” Then aloud he said: “No, I had in mind something different —a book per haps.” “Ah, the very thing!” Scarvin dived into a dusty corner and brought forth u foreign-looking volume, whose brown leather binding was curiously inlaid with pearl. “Early English poems, after the old missal style, and hand illuminat ed,” the dealer spread open the book enticingly. Lander turned over the leaves w’itli interest. “Yes, I believe this is unique -and costly enough to please even the fastidious Marguerite,” his thin lips curved in a cynical smile. “I’ll take it,” he remarked with the brevity of the average masculine shopper when he finds something which strikes his fancy. Ae he threw dow r n a bill he was an noyed to see how' his hands shook. the candle at both ends has had an effect,” he thought, and as he left the shop, added: “This mixing of business and society is the pace that Mils. I suppose stimulants will be the oiext resort.” He recalled last Christmas at his former boarding place, and of the friends there —especially Alice Glea son. Whenever he thought of her siow, it w r as with a sense of remorse. "They had been very warm friends, but f: see his sudden advancement in busi ness bad necessitated more commodi ous surroundings, he had seen little of her. He had really not meant to neg lect the old friends when he began to go more into society and make new ones, but unconsciously he had drifted uvway from the little circle on Fleet street. “The shabby old place seemed far more like home than my new quarters <!'V«vr will,” he muttered, and a realiza tion came to him that it w T as Alice with her sympathetic voice and restful ways who had made it seem so. No matter how tired she might be with her day in the schoolroom, she was always ready to rejoice or sympathize. “I’ll send her some roses—the finest I can find,” he declared with a sudden rush of remorseful tenderness. He en tered a flower shop and bought a huge bunch of velvety American Beauties. “Send them to this address,” he told j the dealer and gave him a card. | Next door was the establishment of .an expensive furrier, and a Lander I passed the window, he saw Marguerite i Fenton looking at a set of brown lynx, i The rich tones went well with her | brown eyes and tawny hair. As she stood there with the soft furs about her, she reminded him of some bar barric princess. Ever since he had first met her at a dinner given at the home of the senior member of the firm, Lander had been greatly fascinated, and felt that her beauty and position fitted in with his ambitious dreams. Yet, strangely enough, today her beau ty did not make its usual appeal to him that mingled with her sinuous I grace, was also something of feline j cruelty. I “Those furs probably cost more than i my month’s salary,” he muttered. “Her j insatiable craving for luxury would | fasten itself, vampire like, on the life I blood of the man who marries her!” ! He strode down the street, feeling i that the crowded cars would stifle him, and longing for the sense of physical motion and the stinging air against his face. When he reached his rooms I he found on the table an invitation , from Mrs. Dane, a prominent society I hostess, inviting him to attend a din ' ner she was giving that night. | “That doesn’t fit in with the load of work I must get through with before office hours tomorrow.” Wearily he laid a package of business papers on I the table and rested his *ead in his hands. “WTiat does it all amount to — what does life amount to?” he ques tioned despondently. “These people who invite me do not really care for me. It is merely because I fill in and make an agreeable dinner guest, and for that I have practically given up my old friends.” He realized that his present mood was the reaction from exhilaration of conquest which the past year of al most spectacular success had given him. “I’d like to chuck the whole thing and go back. If only I could have a talk with Alice in the old way, I’d feel myself again.” He sat up with new energy. “I wonder if she’d let me come?” There was need to look in the tele phone book for the familiar number. With breathless suspense he waited while the landlady called Miss Glea son to the ’phone, and at the sound of her voice his heart began to pound boyishly. She was serenely gracious, yet he detected a note of surprise as he asked permission to call. Then she spoke of the roses, and added: “I can’t begin to describe my delight over that quaint old English book. It filled a long-felt want for the posses sion of a real first edition.” Mechan ically he responded, questioning him self the while: “WTiat book? Did I make a mistake and send Miss Fen ton’s Christmas gift to Alice? In my dogged weariness I must have giv en the dealer the wrong address.” He thought of Marguerite’s demand of the best as her due, and a sense of impish joy swept over him at the mistake which had defeated the usuai order. He sent a messenger boy with a note to Mrs. Dane containing regrets for the dinner, then dressed and hur ried to the lodging house on Fleet street. “Shurre, and you’re a stranger these days, Mr. Landers,” remarked the maid who op&ied the door. As she went upstairs to call Miss Glea son her round Irish face reminded him of a cheery full moon. He glanced at the worn old haircloth sofa, and cen- j ter table strewn with magazines, the j familiar shabbiness of the little par- ! lor made the past year seem as unreal as a feverish dream. When Alice entered she seemed to bring with her an atmosphere of se renity and peace. Eagerly he rose, then sank back on the sofa, his face went white and everything blurred be- j fore him. “What is it, Edwin, are you ill?” she j cried, in her alarm the old name ! slipped out unconsciously. He passed his hand over his eyes in a dazed fashion. “No—it is nothing,” he muttered. Then, earnestly, “I am tired —weary with life as it is. It is you only I want, Alice, you, alone in the wide werla that I love. Is there any hope?” His voice sank almost to a wffiisper. and for one tense moment there was silence in the little room. Then, by way of answer, she drew the poor, tired ; face against her breast with a ges ture of ineffable tenderness. In that moment, Lander felt that to his weary questionings as to what was worth w'hile, the answer was not ma terial success, but love which means life in its fullness. Curious Christmas Superstition. On Christmas eve, at midnight, coun ! try people in England believe that the Christ child revisits the earth. Some ! times, therefore, if there is a sick child in the house, the mother will ' take the little one to the door, just be fore midnight, and wait till the hour strikes. If the child receivers, it is be cause the Babe of Bethlehem has » touched it with healing fingers during the earthward journey. But if the j child sickens and dies, all is well, for the mother heart is comforted by the thought that the little one w T as called by the Christ child to be his “play mate” in heaven. GKANT COUNTY HERALD, LANCASTER. WISCONSIN. DECEMRF.K 10. 1913 CHrtetttuus CHRISTMAS is the time for mer riment and games, w'hen we all ngree to forget our ages and join in the pastimes of the youngsters. AVhat shall we play? is the question. Who can think of any thing new? A new r game is a precious possession. It is just the little touch which sets all the machinery in mo tion—the time which sets every one dancing. It is often most difficult to think of a new game on the spur of a moment, but here is a good suggestion: Do you want to play an eerie game, such as “ghosts?” It is played as fol low's: All the players go out of the room with the exception of those who are going to be ghosts. When the par ties outside are called into the room they find a row' of strange objects sit ting silently at one side of it. They are all dressed in sheets. Their hair is concealed beneath a table napkin and their faces by a kind of mask made of a piece of tissue paper, with holes cut for the eyes. A number is pinned on each ghost, and a program with similar numbers is given to each player, and he is told to write the name of the apparition opposite the right numeral. There is a prize for the best guesser. It is almost impossible to solve the identity of the players, they all look so exactly alike, and there is nothing really visible except their eyes. You can hardly tell a man from a woman. Needless to say, this is not a game to be played w'hen little children are present, but for grow'iiups it is very good sport. I CHRISTMAS BAG. § A game that will delight children and grownups, too, at a Christmas party is that of “Christmas bag.” A paper bag is needed for this, and a rather large one, but one that is made of light weight paper so that it will break easily. If the game is to form one of the main features of the party, as it very easily may, it will be best to make the bag of bright red tissue paper, doubled and fastened with glue at the sides. ; or red crape paper may be used and the edges of the bag sewed with red thread. When this gay Christmas bag is fin- j ished it is filled with bonbons wrapped in fringed tissue paper, or French snap- j pers with hold caps and mottoes, or j even some carefully wrapped toys, and 1 it is suspended from the chandelier by j red or green ribbons which are run in ; the top. A wand, which may be an j end of a broomstick wound with rib- j bon and having ribbon streamers, is provided and given to one of the chil-1 dren. He is allowed to stand three or four paces from the bag. He is then blindfolded, turned around a few times and told to walk to the bag and hit it with the wand. He may have one, two, three or four shots at the bag, as the children decide at the beginning of the game. If he miss es, another child is given the wand, is blindfolded and allowed to have a chance. When some child is successful and hits the bag. breaking it, the contents scatter delightfully on the floor, and there is a wild, jolly scramble to see who will be able to pick up the most sweets or toys, as the case may be. | THE POTATO RACE. | A game requiring no effort of the mind and invariably laughter provok ing is “the potato race.” Place in two parallel rows and about two feet a pail five large and irregular potatoes and at the end an empty bowl. The contestant must pick up each potato on a teaspoon, carry it to the bowl and drop it in. The potato must not be touched by hand or foot and if dropped must be picked up on the spoon again. Watch attitudes and faces and exercise of will, for, oh. how that left hand will want to help! Even the most digni fied must unbend in his genial strug gle. Record is kept of those first succeed ing in getting all ike potatoes into the bowl, and these again race against each other until the champion reveals himself or herself. This should be played if possible on an uncarpeted floor. Penin^ul FumakCe^ Warm Air Heating %- ■ • 1 1 r— vs. Others \ ~ s 1I i Physicians tell us that ! y B P Fresh Air and good /I I ill nf^rydilti(§) food are essentials of H| | f If (( health. Butofthetwo, tHI ii -u /miuasa \' —"" fresh air is far more 11 \ I \v\T important. ! |\ 11 I "" ** Jt is of vital im P° r tance f | |, Ij therefore, that we breathe 1 pure air not only a few hours k u * during the en- Jfe) tire twenty-four. Inasmuch as a great part of the time is spent in the home, we must have pure air there. This can only be accomplished by the ventilation afforded by Peninsular warm-air heating. Other methods only heat. Heat without ventilation is deadly. c Peninsulars both heat and ventilate; therefore, healthy. Unlike other systems, Peninsular warm-air furnaces can be controlled to give a little heat in mild weather ana great quantities in cold weather. I |B^HI And are practically indestructible?' < j jßKj| j^jßjjpjil Let us give you an estimate on in- 1 ~ r stalling a Peninsular in that build- : ijjp yours with this healthful kind JOS. E. JVEY, Lancaster, Wis. \ ESTATE of Anastasia Schmidt, deceased. State of Wisconsin. County Court of Grant County—ln Probate. Notice is hereby given, that at the regular terra of the County Court, to be heid in and for said County, at the Court House, in the City of Lancaster, in said County, on the first Tuesday of December. A. D. 1913. being the 2d day of December. 1913. at the hour of ten o’clock in the forenoon, the fol lowing matter will l>e heard and considered: The petition of Lou G. Edwards for the ad ministration to probate of the last will and testament of Anastasia Schmidt, late of I’o tosi, in Grant « ounty, Wisconsin, deceased, and for letters testamentary thereon to be issued to him as executor thereof. By order of the Court. E. B. GOODSELL. County Judge. Dated November 4th. 1913. Brown Brennan & Cart hew. Att’vs. Ist insertion’Nov 5: last insertion Nov 19 P STATE ot Leroy F. Judd, aeceased. State of Wisconsin, county court ui Grant county—ln Probate. Notice is hereby given, that at the special term of the County Court, to be held ir, and for said county, at the cotirt house, in the citv of Lancaster, ir. sai i county, on the sth Tuesday of Dec. A. I). 1913. be ing the 30th day of Dec. 1913. at. the hour of ten o’clock in the forenoon, the fob lowing matter will be heard and considered: The application of Mary E. Judd for the appointment of an administrator of the estate of Leroy F. Tudd. late of the town of South Lancaster. Grant county. Wisconsin, deceased. By order of the Court. E. B. GOO! >SELL. County Judge. Dated Nov. 28th. 1913. Brown. Brennan & Curthew. Petitioners : Atty’s. Ist ins Dec 3: last ins. Dec.l7. Farm for Sale The Leßoy Judd Place —195 acres, two miles southeast of the ciry. 120 acres uurier cm livation the balance in pasture and tim ber. Running wafer on the place. Good six room house in good repair.f Large new barn, si lo and several out buildings The farm is in a high state of cultivation. This place will be sold on easy terms. 89tfc Mrs. Mary E. Judd Farm For Sale! Farm of 200 acres, well im proved; good bouse; two barns, one new with concrete base meat; windmill arid gasoline engine for pump; spring bouse; bog house. 40 acres under cultivation, balance seeded with timothy and clover or in pasture and timber. Price reasonable and terms easy. Location 31 miles northeast of Lancaster. Close to school. John J. Wenzel Fanners’ Phone LANCASTER, WIS. 40 w3* = FI VE = Talking Dolls To be Given Away at JOHNSON’S L- 4 During the period beginning Friday, December 5, and ending Wednesday, Dec ember 24, a list of all customers and the amount of their purchases at my store will be kept, and the Five Talking Dolls will be given to the persons whose purchases during that time amount to the largest sum. My stock includes an attractive line of — 1914 Wall Paper of which a new shipment has lately been re ceived —new spring styles. Everything in the paint line, including the SUNSHINE varnish stain. Also Christmas Candy, box stationery and school supplies. Great reduction sale on 1913 wall paper to make room for 1914 line. Sale lasts as long as paper remains. F. JOHNSON East Side Court House Square LANCASTER, WIS.