Woman's enterprise. [volume], December 15, 1922, Page 8, Image 8

About Woman's enterprise. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1921-19??

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
A Night Before Christmas
(Continued from page 1)
long while with his head resting in de
his hands. ar
The next day he appeared with a th
atrA l6ok in his eyes, and the ha
money in his hands. "I borrowed pr
it," he explained, and there was a th
brief interval of joyous hope followed th
by the crushing blow of the opera- de
tions' failure-she wife's death away in
from him, in the great lonely hos- fo
pital. Then, even before the loved to
form had been laid away for its he
long sleep, had come the sudden fr
knock at the door that had whitened in
John's face, even before the blue- W;
coated officers had marched him gt
away, with t charge of theft, against be
which he had' made no defense. ke
But before he left. he took the
sobbing, frightened little Helen and di
placed her in his sister's arms.
"Hake care of her Mary," he said to
huskily. "Thank God, she is too ne
young to understand. The money hi
was left in my care that day-it rep- pa
resented my wife's life to me, and I ju
cannot be sorry, but it was of no W,
ter, and when I am free, we will go hi
away to the country, and begin all
over again." a
With his forlorn promise still ring- sl
ing in Mary's memory, the child de
stirred, opened her eyes wide, and w
sat up smiling. nt
"Oh, Auntie," she cried happily. H
"I had such a lovely dream. I saw al
Santa Claus in my room. He was ac
filling my stocking with candy and rc
a lovely doll and lots of toys. I hi
thought I spoke to him and he came at
over to my bed and sat down by me, fh
and his face was just like my dad
dy's--and then I woke up. Santa gi
Claus will surely come, won't he,
Aunt Mary?" of
"I hope so dear," the low voice an- 4
awered, and something in the tone de
made the child look up with quick ap
prehension. m
"Why,"'' the voice quavered, al- es
most sobbed, "he always has come, ra
Aunt Mary; he 'urely wouldn't for- tr
get, would he?" th
"No, I don't suppose he will for- is
get, but you must not expect him to w
bring you as many things as he used w
to do, there are so many little girls se
and boys down here in this street, th
you know, and he has to divide things do
up. Come, say your prayers now, and fr
go to dreamland again.'" s
4"Oh, yes," cried Louise, her face sle
brightening, "of course, I must say
my prayers and ask God to be sure ir
to send Santa Claus; then everything D
will be alright." Ic
"And now dear Lord," she conclud
ed, "please send Santa Claus tonight, n
and bless my dear daddy, and keep a
him safe, and let him come home to c
me very soon." tl
The moonlight streamed over the tl
grim prison walls some ten miles
away, mellpwing their harsh out- s
lines. A venturesome ray crept thru o
a tiny window, high up on the blank I1
wall of a cell. It danced to the op- h
posite wall, and lingered there-a o
tiny fleck of light from the outside b
world, but the cell's occupant did not t
welcome It-the scowl on his hand- I
some face deepened as he looked up I
at the cheery ray. 1
"Bright moonlight," he muttered, t
"curse the luck. Why a guard can s
see for miles tonight-why couldn't C
it have been cloudy? I'm a fool to
try it-of course I'll be caught, and t
that means extra time, but I've just f
got to see little Louise tonight. She f
must not lose her Christmas-I've c
got to get to her-no matter what s
the consequences." I f
Glancing cautiously towads the t
door, he drew from his coat two dolls, e
fancifully cut from leather, and his I
eyes grew soft as he looked at them. 2
"They are poor things," he sighed, a
"but she will love them, and she may
not have a Christmas present if I do 1
not get them to her. I've got to get I
there-my baby shall not think that
her daddy has forgotten her."
The dolls were carefully replaced in I
his coat. Guiltily, stealthily, he had a
made them in his prison shop. Frag
ments of leather hastily concealed, a
moment's time snatched here and
there, innumerable anxious moments
of suspense when discovery seemed
imminent, and the clumsy toys had
been completed at last-and now it
was Christmas eve.
A clock chimed out from a tower.
He stood up, squaring his broad
shoulders and listening.
"They're changing the watch-it's
now or never," he breathed tensely.
Outside on the walls, a new guard
took his place, and paced the length
discontentedly muttering. "A bloom
in' nice job for a man on Christmas
eve, parading this wall with a gun
and there's no sense in it, nohow.
Nothing never happens her--a man
might as well be a tin soldier stock
up here; nobody never gets a chance
to use their gun, why the man don't
Mye that could escape from them
prison walls, and get this far. Hello,
what's that?"
The grumbling guard stopped sud- h
denly, almost dropping his gun in his tl
amazement. For, as he had paced a
the length of the beat, a dark figure t
had darted from an angle of the
prison, and had run swiftly across v
the yard. Now, as the guard turned, I
the figure was climbing the wall, with h
desperate haste, slipping, half fall
ing, struggling up again, finding e
footholds in seemingly smooth places, c
tottering backward, but never falling, e
he reached the top and stood, for the h
fraction of a second, clearly outlined t
in the white moonlight. Then there s
was a sudden plunge, just as the
guard's gun spoke, sharply, and a
babel of voices followed, as excited
keepers dashed from the prison. t
"Where is he-did he make it?- 0
didn't you hit him?" 1
"I couldn't have missed him; I fired r
twice." The guard thought it was not t
necessary to explain that his shots t
had been delayed by his temporary
paralysis of amazement. "And he t
jumped headlong from that wall
we'll find him on the other side with)
half his bloomin' bones broken."
There was a rush for the gates
a tumult of excited voices around the
spot where hard heels had stuck
deeply into the soft soil, but the man
who had taken the desperate leap was
not lying there, with crushed bones.
He was running swiftly, steadily,
along a friendly sheltering hedge,
across the fields, towards the rail
road, where a freight was due. His
hight hand was clasped tightly
against his left arm, and between his
fingers the blood oozed.
"God help me to reach my little
girl," he prayed, as he ran.
And miles away where the lights
of the city flared against the sky, a
baby voice was pleading: "Bless my
dear daddy, and keep` him safe."
"The night has a thousand eyes"
might wll have been written by an
escaped criminal instead of an en
raptured lover. It is always easy to
trail the fugitive, particularly when
the men in pursuit know that there
is a home drawing the hunted one
with an irresistible lure. Still, theref
were accidents and delays, and it was
several hours before the leader of
the chase knocked heavily upon the 1
door of the tiny tnement, to be con
fronted by Mary, white-faced and
shuddering, holding up pleading, si
loesing hands.
"Oh, hush," she begged, "just a
moment please, for the child's sake.
Don't let her see you; come, hush, f
low now."
Officers of the law have hearts be- i
neath their blue uniforms, and when E
a woman lifts her eyes to them they I
can read virtue and truth, if it is
there. Bareheaded, with light tread,
they stepped into the tiny room.
Over the fireplace the wee, red
- stocking hung, and pinned to each
I one was a clumsy leather doll. "See,"
r Mary whispered, "he made them for
- her-he ran away to bring them-
a oh, give him a few minutes with his
a baby girl. Look thru the door at
L them. She thinks he is Santa Claus.
- He ran in all faint and wounded, and
pI bound up him arm, and he dressed
himself in the old Santa Claus suit
t, that he has worn every Christmas
S since Mary came. Let her have her
t Christmas before you take him."
o Tiptoeing softly they looked into
I the bare little bedroom. On the
t floor, besides the child's cot, the
e father knelt, his convict's clothes
e covered by a scarlet white-furred
t suit. A shaggy white beard hid his
face, but the eyes that gazed down at
e the sleeping child were full of blend
a, ed love and pain. As the watchers
s looked, the little sleeper stirred, sud
a. denly, and sat up, her eyes opening
I, wide.
y "Oh," she cried, "you've come, San
o ta Claus. I knew you would, 'cause
it I prayed for you."
It She threw her arms around his
neck, her golden hair mingling with
n the white fur, her eyes starry with
d excitement.
r- "I just love you Santa," she said.
a "I love you better than anyone, 'cept
4d my daddy. I prayed for him too;
9s he's been away such a long time-ev
l er since mama went to Heaven.
d Couldn't you bring him back to me,
it Santa Claus? I do want him so bad."
"Hell come back little one", the
r. answering voice trembled, choked,
d but went bravely, on. "It will be
quite a long time yet, but when he
's comes everything will be aliright.
And listen, he sent his love to you
rd by me-you know Santa Claus sees
th everybody-and he sent this kiss."
a- Little Louise lifted her face, and as
is their eyes met, she gave a happy
- cry.
r. "Why youir eyes lookd just like
an any daddy's," she exclaimed. "I guees
sk all the nice men's eyes look just
se alike, don't they?"
't The watchers outside turned hasti
U ly away, wiping their eyes, ashamed
lo, of the emotion that was mastering
them. They did not see the petting
in the little bedroom, they only heard
a deep voice say: "Now go to sleep
again, like a good little girl and
don't forget to pray for daddy until
he comes." Then he slipped thru
the door, closing it softly, and looked
Istraight into the eyes of his cap
tors.
"It's alright," he said quietly; "just
wait until I get this disguise off.
Don't cry, Mary, the child has had
iher Christmas and I'm happy."
When the Christmas sunrise touch
ed the spires and roofs of the great
,city into a sparkling glory, a gold
enhaired child set up in her tiny bed,
hugging two clumsy, leather dolls
Itightly, and rocking softly as she
sang in a sweet, childish voice:
Carol, sweetly carol,
Christmas morn has come.
1 Miles away the sunlight broke thru
the stained windows of a prison chap
-el and touched the face of convict
111, who sat at the end of a long
I row of graysuited men, waiting for
Sthe service to begin. He looked up as
a the sunlight danced in and smiled.
r "I'm glad it's a nice day-she loves
Sthe sunshine."
- Thru the chapel a chorus of clear,
I boyish voices rang:
Carol, sweetly, carol,
Christmas morn has come.
"Yes, it's come and little Louise
Swasn't disappointed," murmured No.
1 111.
s
ANOTHER BATON ROUGE
WOMAN ENTERS BUSINESS
SMrs. V. A. Sachse has joined the
s rank of business women and is now
Sassociated with the Grand Insurance
SCompany, Ltd., with offices in the
old Reymond Bldg. With Mr. Grand
e and Mr. Victor Sachse, the firm has
now a trio of splendid workers. Mrs.
Sachse is a hustler and is getting a
s good deal of business and the Grand's
a agency is to be congratulated upon
7 having her connected with the firm.
When you want insurance call on
Mrs. Sachse and your business will
Sbe attended to with promptness and
efficiency.
0
0
Practicing Mothercraft.
e
e Four high schools in Oakland, Cali.
e fornia, are sponsoring day nurseriep
5 where a hundrel babies are cared foi
f daily while their mothers work. This
e gives practical experience to a hun
.dred high school girls who study in a
I real laboratory the science of chil
Scare, home stdlards, and sanitation.
a In England, the London County
- Council has established evening
I, schools for persons over eighteen
They carry out the suggestions and
- ideas of the students and teach such
n studies as music, dancing, astronomy
Y biology, horticulture, history, lan
s guages, and literature. They also
1, make educational visits to places of
d
h Higher Education.
,, There are in the United Ctateu
more than six hundred colleges and
universities. In these there are about
s thirty thousand women teachers, and
about 380,000 students, two-fifths of
whom are women.
d
a HOUSEWIVES' LEAGUE.
it
is (Continued from page 1)
!r Business Session.
Roll Call-Jokes.
;o Leader-Mrs. W. H. Cox.
le Subject-Malking the Spring Hat.
ie Demonstration-Miss E. Deshotels,
Ss Mrs. Mary B. Giesen.
id March 29th.
is Business Session.
st Community Singing (men and
1- women).
rs Leader-Mr. A. F. Boyd.
1- Subject-Recreation: Permanent
.g playground of sufficient size to ac
commodate plays, games, picnic and
i- sahnual gatherings.
re Discussion.
April 12th.
is Business Session.
:h Roll Call-Reports on Kitchen Im
ih provement.
Leader-Mrs. A. F. Boyd.
d. Subject-Child Feeding-Miss Ma
pt bel Chapman,
o; April 26th,
v- Business Session.
n. Roll Call-Thoughts of Mother
.e, (Mother's Day, May 1st).
" Leader-Mrs. H. J. McCool.
le .Demonstration- Jelly Making -
d, Mrs. H. A. Gesell, district agent.
be May 10th.
te Business Session.
it. Roll Call-How do I dispose of my
>u household wastes (dishwater and gar
es bage).
Subjects-i, The House Fly (san
as itary outhouses and breeding places);
7y 2, How to eliminate water bugs and
other pests.
ke May 24th.
es Business Session.
st Roll Call.
Subject-Canning of Fruita and
ti- Vegetables, Cooperative buying, con
ed taines, rubbers, cunnera.
gt Exhibits at community, parish and
ag state faih.
No Mail Orders, *, t ells ek. osm For L No Mail Orders,
Exchanges, Re- Ehanges, Re
funds, C. al. D., f/JMAI V funds, C. 0. D.,
During This Sale 1 s S. , L During This Sale
CHRISTMAS SALE
NOW ON
With our Christmas Sale now on and the season at its height, it is well
to look your wvardrobe over. Will it do justice to the many occasions;
social, sporting. travelling, business, still on the season's program?
Probably not with the distinction you s1hould like and yet probably all
it needs is the brightening up of an extra costume or two. A new coat
and a new frock will I)ult new life into your wardrobe, and these may be
added most reasonably now that implortant Christmas sales values are
being presented.
Christmas Sale of Men's and Boys'
Clothing and Furnishings
Young Men's Overcoats Men's Shirts
Our entire stock of Young Men's Over- MEN'S PRINTED PERCALE SHIRTS;
coats, consisting of Broadcloths, and Chin- fancy patterns; $1.50 values, 95c
chillas; values to $45.00. $15.00 at ...........................
Your choice at ............. MEN'S PRINTED PERCALE AND MAD
RAS SHIRTS, fancy patterns; $1.50
Pants $2.00 values, at..............
MEN'S PERCALE AND IMADRAS
Our entire stock of MEN'S PANTS at a MEN'S PERCALE AND MADRAS
big discount 25 SHIRTS, fancy patterns; $1.95
b i t$2.50 values, at .............
of..........................vlea..........
MEN'S FANCY SILK STRIPE MADRAS
Men's Hats SHIRTS; $3.50 values, $2.95
at.................
One lot of Men's Sample Felt Hats, all
quality makes; values to $4.00, $1.95 Crepe De Chine Shirts
at .........................Our entire stock of Fancy Crepe de Chine
SHIRTS; $8.50 values, $5.00
Men's Underwear at ........................$.
MEN'S RIBBED UNDERSHIRTS, extra BOYs' Suits
quality; $1.00 values, 65c
at. .....................65 Our entire stock of BOYS' SUITS, two
MEN'S RIBBED DRAWERS, extra qual- pairs of pants to each suit, all high-grade
ity; $1.00 values, 65 makes
at ...........................Values up to $15.00, $10.00.
MEN'S RIBBED UNION SUITS, extra Values up to $12.50, $8.50
quality; $1.50 values $1.00 Values up to $10.00, $7.50
at ........................... BOYS' SUITS-One pair of pants to suit,
$8.50 values, $5.00
M en's Suits at ........................
MEN'S AND YOUNG MEN'S FANCY Sweaters
SUITS, consisting of tweeds in sport mod- One lot of MEN'S JERSEY FLEECE
els; $30.00 values, $10.00 LINED JACKETS, in brown and black,
at ........................ $2.50 values, $1.95
YOUNG MEN'S SUITS, consisting of at ..................
fancy Cassimeres, form fitting models; SWEATERS-Men's Gray Coat Sweaters,
$35.00 values, $22.50 ful size, $1.50 values, $1.00
at........................... at.................
Christmas Sale of Ladies' and
Misses' Ready-to-Wear
Materials are Velours, Bolivias, and Fancy ROBES-Ladies' Blanket Robes, in a
Mixtures; values to $25.00, $15.00 large variety of patterns, $2.00.
at........................ $4.00 values, at........
Materials are Bolivias, Velours, Broad- ROBES-Ladies' Corduroy Robes, in solid
cloths, silk linings; values to $25.00 color; $4.00 values, $2.00
$50.00, ,at........ at ..................
Materials are Velours, Tricotines, Serges, LADIES' SWEATERS-.Ladies' Tuxedo,
values to $40.00, $25.00 Coat and Slip-On Sweaters; in solid colors
at ........................and color combinations; $2.98
values to $5.00, at "
Our Entire Stock of Fine Ladies' 25 v.
Suits at a discount of CHILDREN'S SWEATERS - Children's
Ladies, and Misses' All-Wool Serge Dres- SlipOn and Coat Style Sweaters, all colors
and combinations; values to $1.00
ses, embroidered effects; $3.95 $3.50, at. .1.
$7.50 values, at..........
Dresses of Tricotines, Crepe de Chines, BLOUSES-Ladies' Satin Blouses, metal.
Jerseys, Serges, values to $8.75 lic stitching in gold and silver; colors are
$15.00, at .................... black brown an dnavy; values $2.00
to $4.00, at.............
Dresses of Canton Crepe, Poiret Twills,
Tricotines, Crepe de Chines and Jerseys; ALL CHILDREN'S AND MISSES COATS
values to $35.00, $15.00 at a discount 25"
at, ................. of .....................
Dresses on Canton Crepe, Poiret Twills, SKIRTS-Ladies' Skirts in novelty box
Crepe de Chines, Wool Crepes and Trico
pleated and plain models, in striped ef
tines; values to $45.00, $25.00 fects $3.50 values, ** -
at .................... $2.00
at.......................
FLANNEL MIDDIES-Ladies' and Mis
ses' All-Wool Flannel Regulation Middies, SWEATERS-Novelty Slip-On Sweaters
emblem on sleeves; colors are red, green in a large range of color combinations;
and navy; values to $6.50, $2.69 $3.50 values, $100
at.......................... t..................$1*00