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01 II MKKC9R had been unusually ul l?i u t throughout dinner and when at last the butler withdrew and the two wero alone, be reached over and took bin daughter's hahdu. "Paula," he Bald quietly, "I'm afraid you won't like my rhrlstnms present tliln year I?" "Nevvi nil r\dU' fa ther," Interrupted the smiling girl, "if It has/ one dia mond lpss that you wlsbod,' I'll survive the shock." / ' "If It were ou.ly that! Paula, 4 1 have always rt^poctcd your common hoii no too Mgbly to deceive you about buBlndf. matters, so I will not con coal /roin you that tho Casten deal wr.it against me, aud I am penniless. *^Very newspaper In town will have tho dotallH within a fow days. I am an old man and do ?>ot care, but natu rally my keenest regret 1h for you, though nobody can say that your old i duddy didn't give up every cent h? possessed for what he. knew to bp right and just." Paula covered her eyoB with hoi hand, while the father watched hei anxiously. * "Don't tako it hard, dearie," he begged. "We'll not starve, though it will be a struggle for a while/' "Father," she said calmly, "I am not taking it hard; I was only won dering how much we could scrape to gether to continue fighting. Men like Casten have no right on this earth I'm ashamed to admit It, but as far at I am concerned, I'm glad, truly glad It's a blow for you, but don't worry about me. You know T always desired to mako my own way, but it's next tc impoHHiblc for a rich man's daughters Then whon I had to take mother's place, my hands wero too full. All 1 care about is that we got enough tc go a ft er Casten There's a Christmaf party at ttarham's tonight, but I'd rather Btay hero and talk things ovei with you." "Pollle girl, you have no idea hoM you have lightened my worry," said Mr, Mercer huskily. "I know you'd rather not, but by all means go tc your party. It's moat Important that the1! true state of affairs is not. buh pected until absolutely necessary. I'll spend ^the evening across tho street with Judge Slmtns. When your moth er was alive. tho judge and his wlfr and alio and I never failed to c.ele brate Christmas eve together, and they'd be hurt if T stayed away." Paula kissed him absently and ran upstairs to dress. She was far from underestimating the disaster, and the suddenness of it. startled her. "It's one thing to talk about earn* ing your living and another thing tc do it," she told herself. "You are a success so far because you' are your father's daughter. It'll moan hard work Still, work overcomes heart aches and teacheB one to forget!" She brushed the powder-puff aorosn her nose, and descended. At the doqr of. the library stood Mr. Mercer. "I forgot to tell you, Paula, that 1 found it necessary to put Dr. Grant in possession of the facts." Paula turned away at mention ol the young physician, and started tow ards the door. "Good-night, dearie? have a jolly time!" called her father. 1 aula swent into the waiting auto mobile and ?*ttling down for the long drive jjnto the suburbs, rapidly evolved numerous plans, meanwhile noting the Christ tnns gayety on all sides. The air rang with tho excited chatter ol children returning from belated shop pinR or sight-seeing tours, and min gled with their merry voices were the subdued conversations of their elders The sparkling" snow. aleighbeils bright lights and holiday decorations struck a sympathetic note Ir* c her heart. Tho huge motor purred softly, and as Paula reached up to arrange j tho rich red ribbons which held holly wreaths against the glass doors and windows, her conscience smote her becauso of her real gladness i "I'm forgetting what if means to poor father." she soliloquized "It's no fun for a man of his aire to Htart -all over again." A quick stop threw her on the (loor. | nnd by tho time she had regained her j feet and jumped out to investigate, the chauffeur was lifting a prostrate , body from beneath the wheels An awed crowd gathered swiftly. Tire j chauffeur was- exonerated from blame, as several men had seen the little ' newsboy run in front of the aulomo- I bile and slip and fall on the snowy i street. That b Tim Drown ? ho lives In Rose alley ? Just over there, ma'am." volunteered another white-faced newsy. stooping to pick up the scat tered papers. -- "I'll take him home," announced Paula bravely. f ? a of hard, strange fal*es un i vi M her. and she folt sick and nau j *e*te<:, hut she quietly held out hei , arras fur the poor child who lay groan lug In the chauffeur's gentle gra?i>. A tall young man stepped briskly through tho crowd, and made his way to her side. "Oh, Doctor Grant ? I'm no glad you're here ! " exclaimed l'uula 'im pulslvely. "More terrified than Injured,*' an nounced tho doctor after a hurried ex amlnatlon. Thpn turning to Paula, "I saw It happen front a distance up the street and recognized ycjpr car." Assisting l'uula Jnt<^ the motor, hs made tho child coinfortahlo on Iter lap and utepped in with her. "I'll report to you later, Peter?, " hp called to the iwllceman, who Immedl ately permitted tbera to drive aWay. i In a f?'W minutes they were at the ! Btrloken home A tired, resigned wo I man opened the door, and after th? doctor'# tactful explanation, who mute ly accepted this last blow which un kind fate bad seen fit to administer. While I)octor Grant and the mptber were working over the boy, /Paula'i quick eyes took In every ^ntfcll of the bare home. Christmas for the many little Drowns promised to be scanty. A kind nejghbor had taken the otbei children "to her home, bo Paula's pre* encu Was unnecessary. Bhe slipped ,uurt of tho house, gave the chauffeur a few instruction# and an he drove ofl rapidly, eho Bought a nearby telephone booth and after ten very satisfactory minutes, was 'back at the house. Her 'phone calls were to certain toy doaL era and caterers, and long before th<l dootor was ready to go, the chauffeur had Bhyly dragged baskets and bun dles of all sizes and shapes Into th? wee kitchen. At last Dr. Grant wbh ready tc leave, . "May I ask for a lift, Paula?" be asked wearily. ""I have had a hard day. I told Mrs. Brown that you "That's Tlm'Brown ? He Lives In Ros? Alley." would be around to Bee her tomorrow and also tq -watch Tim cat hla Christ maB dinner. In a week he will hav< forgo tfbn what happened." As thej turned into the brilliantly lighted ave nuc, ho happened to glanco at her eve ning cloak. "Oh, how Btupid of me! ? ; to let you go so far out of your way when you are going to the Barhams." "No, I'm going home. I've had enough for one night," answered Paula with averted face. Now that ?he remembered her owr ? trouble, she felt a strange Bhynesa with this inan who was In the sccrel sf their financial wreck. The silence became awkward ? somehow ther? seemed nothing to say. "Paula," began the doctor abruptly, 'I have heard of your misfortune, and now I feel free to ask you to be my wife. I realize ? please don't interrupt until I have finished ? I realize thai you will take steps to support your aelf at once, but I need you too much to allow that." Paula's heart leaped violently, but the elation was brief. The sweetnesg ?tpeedily turned to bitterest misery. "Why does this occur to you to night of all nights? It would seem a? If you were doing this out of char Ity," commented Paula coldly. "No, Paula, out of esteem. I am poor, but I have enough for two. You ?ertainly understand why I have not ?poken before; ? a Paula Mercer could hardly be expected to share a young physician's precarious Income." He appropriated her reluctant hand "And so you allowed your pride tc ,Tonu? between us! % No, I thank you for the honor. Dr. Grant, but T have some pride, too." "Paula." pleaded the young man miserably, "If you only knew the bat tles there have been between my wretched 'pride an{l my love. I need you bo much, Paula." "If T were you I'd engage a compe tent housekeeper," Paula remarked sarcastically. Hut her heart, ached as she said It. "Don't. don't, dear," entreated the doctor. "Those things hurt too much from you! Can't you love me, Paula? IMrnse s^e how Infinitely I worship you." "Why didn't you say that before." Paula whispered unsteadily. "You said esteem, and what girl In her right senses desires esteem when ghe'a yearning for love?" "And Tm yearning for a kiss; we'Tt soon be at your home, but I can't wait until then!" exclaimed the doctor hap oily. HER BEST CHRISTMAS n ) M 10 on along, gaudy; I'll treat to dinner at the Metropolitan!" Bandy, a tall girl who didn't look hei thirty year#, wan huay glan cing over a typewritten ttheet and for a mo ment did not ' anawer. Bob utood watching her. takliiK In the dell oate line* of her face and the beauty of the "sandy" hair, which, when he was alone and forgot that Handy was a newspaper woman and hi* "pal." he ; win pleatutd to call golden. "Cut that out, Sandy. You'll be back. I have a check and It's Ghrlut- , mat Eve. I'm for a treat. I say ? did you hear me ask you to go to the Metropolitan? You take It an calmly ! aa if 1 had ank?d you to go around to Otto's lunch coupter. Deuce take It! Why can't you be a little enthuslas tic?" Slowly the girl raltscd her head. More than a sheet of copy had been holding her attention, llut she caught Hob's frown und Immediately the mother Instinct In her was arqused. She broke Into her usual comrade laugh. "All right, Jlob. The Invitation overwhelmed me. The Metropolitan? Hut I couldn't, Hobby dear. My (shirtwaist is soil ed and you your self said thore was a hole in iny beautiful brown coat." "Oh, come along! I was only joking. You'd outshine all the women at the Metropolitan if you went there in a khaki suit. I wish you had a little more vanity. Womon are awfuly tame when they haven't." "Come, now, you know I'm vain of the fact that I haven't any vanity. Don't call me tame. I won't go to tne Metropolitan with you if you do. Somehow I feel " "Fiddlesticks! Get on your hat. I'm going. The Idea of a newspaper woman's feeling! Cut. It out!" The Metropolitan was filled with the "vulgar rich" in holiday attire; but Sandy and Bob were happy in true bohemian style as they sat at their little table chatting and joking like two boys. Sandy never would play the woman ? that was the only objection Bob had to her. "I say, Sandy, I bet you've no plans for tomorrow and I'm coming to take you out. I've a great plan. Put on that brown silk and play you're a woman for once." "Yes, a sweet, young, clinging femi nine creature with my heart on my sleeve! 'Twill be charming, of course. Do you really think I could play the part?" "Stop Joking, Sandy. You never will take me seriously. You will go, won't you?" "I'd like to please you, Bobby, but I really must be home tomorrow. I liavo work that must bo done, and besides 1 have a feeling that I ought not to go." "Feeling be darned! If you had fewer 'feelings' and more feeling for a ; poor fel? low ? What's the matter, Sandy?" The girl had cast a glance over the room and had grown suddenly pale. She closed her eyes for a mo- 1 ment. Bob had caught the pallor. "Oh, nothing. I had a little twinge of that old neuralgia. Thus the chasm was bridged and the dinner ended happily. If any thing. Sandy was gayer than usual. Four o'clock the next day Sandy's heart wan beating loud. Her "studio," as she was pleased to call It, wore Its very best attflre. Evon the inevitable typewriter was out of sight. She was older, older by six years, than when he had last seen her, but happiness made her wondrously beau tiful. Bobby would have lost his wits. If ho should not come! But he would come. Tf he should come and the dream could not be realized! But he would not come unless he could. A rap at tho door! "Miss, there's a Bhentleman a-askin* ? for ye. Should I send him in?" "Yes, Mary." The tones were jhji* fectly calm. Six years of pationt waiting had not beon without their power. "Margaret J" "John!" ? l "I knew you would come. I saw you last evening. I^knew you would find me. Oh. John, I am so happy!" She rested her head on his shoulder to hide the tears. "My Margaret, now and forever!" "And Constance?" "Constance is gone ? and aho wish ed it to be." A long silenco. "Sit down, John. There is your chair. How often have I pictured you in it. I?et me think Let me get my breath. I knew you would come. I wonder what Bobby will say! He thinks I have no heart. But ? It was to be." ? New York Mail. _ The Great New York, Chicago and Boston Success Company, Production, Electrical Effects, Stage Settings, and Costumes BEYOND COMPARISON Presented in Camden by the Same Cast that is playing much larger cities, such as Charlotte, Columbia and Charleston PRICES 50c, 75c, $1.00, and $1.50 Grand and Big Free barbecue BY THE A. Bodenhamer R ' .* ? -J- - ' 'Xi V J"tl. \ J .. . ' *1. Wy \l, of Greensboro, North Carolina. These famous Auctioneers, the Two Bodenhamers, will sell on Monday, Decerfiber 16th, at 10:30 a. m., the noted K. T. Estridge Farm. This superb farm lies in the edge of the rapidly growing town* of Bethune, S. C., and contains 554 acres of fine sandy loam, clay subsoil land. One nice new 5 room dwelling with splendid out buildings and large barn, 6 tenant houses, large fish pond wfell stocked with fish. Quite a lot of this. ... ? ? an ? lfiind is stumped and is in high state of cultivation. This tract "Win be sub divided into 20 acre farms and sold to highest bidder regardless of price. Positively there will Jbe no by-bidding allowed. Excellent Brass Band. Sale will go on Rain or Shine. Terms so Easy that Anyone Can Buy. The Public Cordially hvited to Attend.