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gc-m^ iiit ?to iNSr A Lawrence O Berlinetr (Copyright.) TEAHNB, the man of af fair?, vu a far differ ent individual aa a win ter'a evening found him deep la thought. A man of but little senti ment, was the way the world adjudged the fl oancier. Yet there were whisperings oi a youthful romance and early de parture from home. No one ever dared broach the subject and it had long since been forgotten. As Charles Stearns gazed lqto the Ore In the library of his home, the Bickering light seemed to recall days of the past In fancy he saw again his boyhood home, his parents and ao* qualntances. How little they had been to him- for so long a timet Quarterly stipends he had supplied to the old folks, yet he had never heeded the call. they sent out for their only son. As the man sat musing, be spoke aloud: "I believe I am getting eentimentaL I think I shall surprise the old folks and pay them a vl#lt for Christmas." A thought meant an act with Btearhs. His mind once made up, it took much to change it, His decision to return to the farm for the holiday gave him pleasure. He eould hardly await the time when he was to start. He bought presents for the old folks. He remembered his father's delight in watches. One of the flneat to be had went Into the satchel for him. The silk for a new dress madp up a portion of what he planned for his mother. It was a long journey to the old homestead. The train, sped onward and each moment made the man more anxious to see his people and the old p!*c4 again. But suddenly a thought occurred to him and his face blanched. He had forgotten; Stella Harrington might still be there. All the memories of the past were swept aside and he thought only of her. unoe Btie nad promised to make him happy. As he thought of that time, he sighed deeply. She had altered his life 'when she changed her mind at the last and threw him oyer. He recalled the jeers of his boyhood companion* as they -sneered their rough witticisms at him. It was the way of the country and he could not stand the finger of soorn and had fled. That was lhthe long ago and he had almost forgotten ? until now. As the train stopped at the little station on the hill it seemed as 11 he had left It only yesterday. But no ? where was Qeorge White, the old agent? A young man filled his place. The driver of the stage was another stranger. Old Eb Brown "was also a thing of the past. None knew the portly middle-aged man as he strode towards the ooach that piled between station and towu. There was a moment's pause, while the driver gathered the mall, as old "Eb had done so many times, and they were off. As the rig rattled over the rough roads the man within watched with Interest the scenes of his youth. The town had changed little in the years that had passed. When the coach paused at the old homestead the man's eyes filled with ? tssfa.-A-woman came from thehouser mother and son were in each other's arms. *' On the porch stood his father to welcome the man home. With misty eyes the united family stood. All hearts were full. The parents' hopea had been realised and the prodigal had come home. "How could I hare remained away so long?" he asked again and again as the old folks bustled about, trylnj to make him comfortable. "And, Charlie, yoti are now a bank er they tell us," said his mother. "You, who left us so long ago, are the Image of your father at your age." "My boy," spoke the father, "K baa been a long time since you went sway, but we are mighty glad to have you back again." The son's heart was too full for words. There was one question he would like to ask but the words re fused to come. "Charlie," questioned his mother, "have you ever seen Stella sinoe the day you went awayt I know I' ought not to speak of this, but I must" "Mother!" All a boy's anguish came forth In* that word. As of yore he burled his face In the parent's lap and s sobbed. She stroked his now thinning locki and the touch was magical. Why had he lost his parents for so many years? His joy was too much, too good, to Tagk. "I have never seen her," he said at last; "never since the day she prom ised to be my wife and then as quick ly refused to marry me." ? "My poor boy, do you remember /jBteve Brlggs? ? the one that wore the fine clothes? He had much to do wit* Stella's refusal to keep ber promise. "She never told me Just what be Mid, but It was enough to make bar throw you ov#r. You would never coma back and aba was too proud to write." "Wbara la Stella now, mother?" asked tba man. "She Uvea in tba old plaoa by tba craak. Charlie, you remember It? wltb all tba apple traaa behind tba bouse?" Wall did tba man remember tba orchard whara ha had spent tba au tumn evening with his awaatbaart. Tbat evening found Stearna walk ing toward tba creek. " 1 wonder bow the old place looka," ha thought. Tbere was tba old-fashioned bousa. tba porch wltb tba long steps. Every thing was aa If tba old days were atlll tbere. -;1 ' , " " A figure moved about In tba parlor. Ha knew wall wbara tba parlor waa. Ha beard the organ. It was Stella's favorite air. Ha paused and bts ayaa filled with tears aa ha heard that voice again. < Slowly ha aaoended the atapa and pulled tba hall. Tba playing stopped and ha heard footsteps. The door opened and the light of the hall streamed upon his face. It waa evident that the woman fail ed to recognise him, for aha looked aakance aa ha spoke. "Is this Stella Harrington ?* he be gan, but the aound of hla voloa made her start. "Charles Stearns, have you oome back?" she gasped, and followed him into the room. "So, Stella, you are keeping bousa alone now! You ? you have not. chang ed very much, either," ha aald earn estly. He aaw that her once golden treaaea ware streaked wltb gray, yet much of the youthful beauty remained and he found his heart quickening aa ha gfised at the woman. "And you are the great banker they would have us believe ? little Charlie Stearns, who used to be my teaae at school T" Neither had touched on the aubject which seemed, to ha In the mlnda of both. At laat the man oould remain silent no longer. "Stella^ my mother haa Just told me why you changed your mind ao many years ago. Why did you not tell me then?" he aaked. "Because I waa too proud. When I found that he had lied, it waa too late. "Charles 8tearni, H?v? You Com? * Qaokf* You had toft home and no on? knew where. I thought If you had really cared you would have come hack." said Stella. "And I have oome back, my girl. Just what brought me here this Christ mas I cannot realise, but I know I am glad to be back." "And your parents ? how happy they must be to have you with them again," she said. "Now, they oan enjoy Christ mas in the old way ? Just you three -l&jrtthef." "Stella, you are all alone. Wont you come to our house for .dinner to-mor row? Let us celebrate in a modern way, and It will make the old folks so happy." "Only the old folks ? f" she began, but the big man silenoed her as he grasped her hands and said: "Stella, I ask you what you refused me so many years agtK Will you be my wife? You are alone In the world and I want you.** "Charles, It is not out of pity you ask me this?" she questioned. ' "No, dear girl. It Is because my heart bfes been hungry for something all these years, and I did not realise until now that. It was you I needed." * It was Indeed a modern Christmas celebration at the old home. The par* ents turned away as they saw the younger pair under the mistletoe, so aptly hung by the thoughtful mother. Yuletlde In Aiiefcralla. In striking contrast to our own is the Christmas Day kept by our kins folk in Australasia. No snow or bias ing log; no holly or mistletoe; only s bright sky, green trees, parched grass, and a biasing son. Christinas la so inseparably associated by us with a cosy seat in front of a "roaring fire that we can hardly realise eating our Christmas dinner on a veranda be neath a brilliantly blue sky, with ev ery flowering plant In fall bloom. But, "down yonder." picnics and garden par tes are the order of the day. Many a delightful excursion Into the oountry Is arranged by the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and other townspeople, and Christmas Day It kept right ftMRit?, far into the rammer sight gfeanta Claud* Crcasurc do* By J. r. HENDERSON Oonrrtcfct, MU IIKIHTMA8 was at bund, and Philip l>ra per'a heart wan heavy. For a number of years he had aeemed to he the particular pet of misfortune. A a an art ist hla work displayed the maglo touch of genius, and be was in a fair way to aohleve fame and worldly suo ce?a when the first of i series of calamities befell him. Soon After Philip's marriage to pretty Lu cille Glrard, his father failed In busl aess and died within a month there after, 1 earing nothing hut a mass of debts as a legacy to his son. Philip, who had Just been taken into partnership with his father, and whose autlook on the future was tinged with the color of the rose, was orushed by this blow; but with a quixotic fense of duty be set himself the tremendous task of paying off the debts of the Arm. To accomplish this be had noth ing to depend upon but' the sale of his pictures; yet, year In and year out, he tolled on stubbornly and uncom plainingly, while he and Lucille and their little boy were deprived of many of the comfort* of life that the bulk of his earnings might go to hla credit tors. The house In which they 'lived was a roomy old mansion on the out skirts of the city, left to Philip by a maiden aunt, who had passed away since the death of t his father, and which Lucille had persuaded him not to sell. This house, by the way, had originally belonged to an eccentrloold sea captain, Jeremiah Suggs by name, who was reputed to be something of a miser, and who lived and died a re cluse. The crowning calamity came to Philip Draper when the debt was all but cleared off. It was then he was , overtaken by a wasting illness, Which kept him oonflned to his bed for al most a year, and leaving him desti tute. The butcher and the baker threatened to deny him further credit, and his home was heavily mortgaged. The outlook was gloomy. "And ton^prrow Is Christinas," he re marked to hla wife, with a grim smile. "Never mind, dear; let us hold fast to our courage," said Mrs. Draper, trying to apeak cheerfully, though there was an ominous quaver In her voice. "What hurts me most is the thought that Christmas is so oIobo at hand and thai there will be no Santa Claus for Bobby/' "Poor, little dear!" said Mrs. Draper. Suddenly she started up with an anx ious glance about the room. "I won der where that child can be? I haven't seen him for at least two hours." ''Oh, dop't be alarmed. I dare say hejs rummaging about in the cellar or attlo or some out-of-the-way closet, and Is wholly absorbed in his Investi gations." Mr. Draper had hardly finished speaking When Bobby popped into the room, held out a grimy little fist, and, as ho opened the chubby fingers, revealed a twenty*dollar gold pleco ly ing on his upturned palm. "Money!" gasped Philip. He snatch ed the coin and examined It critically. "Where did you get this? What does It mean?" "I found It In the attic!" explained Bobby. "There are lot* more there. Come on. 111 show yon where." The next moment the father and mother, eaeh grasping a hand of the frightened youngster, were hastening up the stairs. When they reached the attic the whole astounding truth was laid bare to them. Bobby had been rummaging, as usual. Finding a loose brick In the crumbling masonry of the big chimney, he had pulled it out and made a startling discovery. v "I wanted to find out how Santa Claus comes down the chimney," said the boy, regretfully. "I didn't mean to do any harm ? " An exclamation from his father in terrupted him. Philip, tearing away the bricks to enlarge the opening, had thrust his arm Into the cavity and drawn forth two small boxes, accom panied by a shower of yellow ootns. Among them was a scrap of paper on which wss written: "I have no heirs, no ldth nor kin. This property goes to the finder, and may fte enjoy it. It consists of fSO, 000 In gold and government bonds, and twloe that amount In gems. Bobby was the hero of the hoar, end the rejoicing that followed may better be imagined than described. Was It a merry Christmas tor the Drapers? Ask Bobby, who firmly be lieves he found Santa Clans' treasure "JEREMIAH SUGGS." Don't Forget =S==THESS=SSS= Bargain Sale AT i HEISENHEIMER'Q A splendid chance to furnish your home for Christmas r W. GEISENHEIMER NEW STORE ? NEW GOODS This store was opened up oh July 1st, . 1911 with a com plete new" stock of goods. It has always been a rule with us to never carry a stock from one season to another. We have cut prices in half in order to sell all goods that we have on hand, and will sell them at reduced prices until they are all sold. What better en tire family. Yours for low prices. ii'