Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 J 1 Thursday, December 21, 1950 THE CLINTON CHRONICLE Pace Pira — r i 1 ?/ ♦ A S the yeors roll by / we reoM <ize more ond more whot it meons to hove the friendship of folks like you. That's why *t is a pleasure to wish you and yours a •Aerry Christmas. L. B. Dillard Gent’s Furnishings 9ti QUlitimal A<f(U*t •nd time for ms •o express o*r freetiitfs of the See sow end to ooce more soy 'Theok Yeo" COPELAND Hardware Supply Co. Avoid the Christmas rush on Long Distance... Make Your Calls Early! • M “ Long Distance telephone lines will be crowded on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in spite of the many new circuits we’ve added. We’ll be on the job Joing our best to put all your calls through but there may be delays. You’ll get faster service if you can do yov calling before Christmas Eve or after Christmas Day. SoCTHEXN DELL IELEPHONE AND Teleojlaph Company <*4 *■« *'*•*, • yoOt By Maud McCurdy Welch M eredith Harris, known as Merry, sat at her desk in the ; big insurance office and fought back ; her tears. A voice startled her. “Why are you here working? Are . . . you cry ing?” It was Hugh Mallory, the agency head. Merry said, ‘‘Just finishing up. Everybody’s in such a hurry.” ‘‘It’s Christmas Eve. Let every thing go.” Hugh started to his of fice. Merry’s eyes followed his tall figure. She liked him very much. He turned back. ‘‘You didn’t tell me why you were crying.” ‘‘It’s nothing. My sister and her family have gone to California. I guess I . . . I’m lonel*jr.” ‘‘That may be my good luck,” he said surprisingly. He was alone, too, he explained His sister-in-law^who had looked after his little daughter since the death of his wife four years ago, had left unexpectedly. His Aunt “No . . . No!” Dee cried io anguish. But Hilda tore the cat from her. Amanda was still with them, but she wss getting old. There was no one to do the things to hiake s little girl happy. Would Meredith help him? * It took them three hours to fin ish shopping. At seven o’clock, Hugh’s luxurious car turned on the drive of an imposing house. A little girl sat in a big chair looking lonely. She held out her arms and cried a little. ‘We’re not going to have a Christmas tree or anything.” Hugh Mallory swung his littla daughter up in his arms. “Oh, yes, we are.” He put her down. "This is Miss Meredith Harris, She’s going to see to everything." And it was the most wonderful Christmas Dee had ever bed and the most beautiful tree, fiut Merry’s gift was best of all. A beautiful Siamese kitten. K FTER THE presents had been ** distributed. Merry and Dee sat in a big chair. Dee stroking the kit ten’s head. ‘‘How did you know I wanted a kitten more’n anything?" ‘‘Because I was a little girl once myself.” Hugh went uptown on an errand in the later afternoon. Soon after a handsome woman in rich furs and -ewels came in. “Aunt Hilda, you . . . came back?” “Yes, Dee, I know my duty, even if your father and I . . .” Hilda broke off staring at Merry. ‘‘Who’s I this?” ‘‘It’s Miss Merry Christmas . . . that’s what I call her. She fixed my beautiful tree, did everything.” Hilda locked at Merry coldly. “You can go now. And take that cat with you. They’re full of germs.” 7 ‘‘No . . . No!” Dee cried in an guish. But Hilda tore the cat from her, thrust it in Merry’s arms. The next thing Merry had been ushered out the front door. She went to her small apartment, sat down in a chintz chair, holding the kitten. “Well, after all, it was fun even if it is over,” she con fided tearfully to the cat. But it wasn’t over. Two hours later Hugh Mallory knocked on her door. “I hunted through a hundred office files for your address and I found you at last.” Merry was flushed. "Your sister- in-law came back." He nodded. “She's gone for good now. We’d had a disagreement. You see, I found she was teaching my Uttle girl to be a snob.” He broke off, amiled again. “Dee wants you to come back and so ... do I. For good. Do you understand, darling?” She was afraid to believe he’d really said that. But he took her hands, drew her closer. “Look. Merry, I’ve been searching for the nght girl for a long time. I knew I’d found her when I saw you sit ting in that big chair with Dee and the cat. Oh, my dear, say you love me, say you’ll marry me. Dee and I need you so.” Meredith lifted her face and he read his answer in the sweet »u* eerily of her eyes. J. C. THOMAS, Jeweler It's Time That Counts'