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vhristofEve | jsrNewRancp) I the little town of i 11 "New France." a II miles from Quegs|3ijEJ JJL bee, there liyed an ".uj-' i_y old man by the name of Perry Fan|chiori. He was P* ' *'* about sixty years 1 ^sattmm of age> a Wealthy old bachelor, who, with the exception of a housekeeper, lived alone in a great weather-beaten old mansion on the river road. He lived a very secluded kind of life, was seldom seen upon the streets of the town, and attracted very little attention when he was seen. There were hardly ten people in the place that knew the man or anything concerning his life. Yet there had been a time in the life of Perry Fanchion when he had attracted a great deal of attention, and won the sympathy and pity of the whole town. That had been over forty years ago, and in the meantime tho tnu-n hnri r>hnnp,prl from n village into a city. The old families had died out and the younger generation had forgotten the history of Perry Fanchion. , It was Christmas eve night and bitterly cold. Sleet and snow drove with incessant fury against the great French windows. The heavy old oak doors rattled and shook, while the wind shrilled mournfully among the many old-fashioned gables and chimneys. Perry sat gazing into the fire. His hair was snow-white, his eyes were dark, and tonight they had a tragic, gloomy look. On the old colonial furniture the sinister faces carved there grinned hor*ribly and the iron claws seemed to "Well, Well?I Hope the Children Are All in Bed." grip the floor hard; as though they were repressing some dark emotion or 'evil thought. Forty years ago this night Perry was a happy man, for tomorrow he was to.marry the beautiful Miss Nelly Leroy, daughter of the rector of St Agnes. But that great factor ' he events of a man's career, fate, willed otherv wise, for only a few days before the wedding was to take place the brideto-be ^was stricken with a fatal illness and less than a week later was laid . away in the village graveyard. After the funeral Perry Fanchion shut himself up, almost alone, in the oTPnt house Time moved on and Deo J* O* . r pie forgot! One by one his friends ! left him, until at last he stood alone, a stranger in a stranger world! About this time the poorer people, the destitute of the city, became aware ! * of the fact that they had a friend, j a very good, mysterious friend, mys- j terious because, try as they might (and | did) they never could discover his j ? Identity. H > One time when a severe landlord ! was about to turn a poor family out . of the home they lived in, because they were not able to pay the rent, ! that family found the required amount r and a short note asking them to ac* ' eept the money as a gift, by the fire- j place. Several times incidents like this occurred among the unfortunate, j A hut as to where these mysterious pres- j ents came from, or by whom present-! ed, none could ever tell. But the chil- j dren suspected Santa Claus of having! a hand in the matter. Tonight as Perry sat by the fire he was very sad and very, very lonesome. The town clock struck ten. Perry < - -.arose, donned a huge fur coat to play his little act bravely. A worn, j N tired smile played around his usually grim mcuth as he thought of the scenes of joy and poverty he would witness j this night. He crossed the town with ! ; STONE'S I 4 lb tin ^ 1 lb packaj I G . A . D U i, V? r? V rapid, nervous strides and entered a j little family burying ground. He was ! gone for thirty minutes and when he i returned his face showed traces of de?>p emotion. "Good-night, sweetheart, I have wait- i ed forty years; surely the end cannot be far distant!" he murmured as he softly closed the gate. There came a jingling of sleigh bells ! ?a sleigh drove up, he entered and was whirled away over the snow. In a tiny little hovel on the edge of ! the city five little curly-headed chil-; dren, dressed in old and ragged but j clean clothes were grouped around a ! '' - *? i rru sman nre trying to seep warm, rucu , mother was sewing for a living, her i husband having died several years ago, ; leaving the children to her to provide for, and being a woman of good educa- j tion, she was trying to rear her chil- | dren as best she might. She was hav- j ing a desperate struggle and day by j day she saw with despair the fight growing harder and harder. "Mother, when is Santa Claus coming?" inquired little Billy. For a while mother didn't seem to i want to say anything. A large tear j fell silently on her work. With a hasty movement, almost angrily, she brushed it aside. "Perhaps he won't come at all!" she replied wPh a little catch in her voice. "N-o-o-o-o!" came a chorus of unbelieving voices from the fire. "He is coming!" Suddenly there came a jingling of bells and a sleigh drew up in front of the home. "Whoop!" yelled Johnny. "Come ou kids?Santa Claus! My eye!" In an instant the fire was deserted and five little heads were peering eagerly out of the door. I "Gee willikins! Look at the toys!" "Well, well," said Santy in a loud voice, pretending not to see the little ones. "I hope the children are all j in bed tonight, for if they are not, I will not come again." Five curly heads vanished in a sec-| ond, and when the old gentleman en- j tered the room all were tucked snug-j ly in bed?that is all but Billy, who ! in his excitement and hurry pulled all the cover up over his head and left his feet and body uncovered. Santa Claus laughed and dumped the contents of his pack near the hearth. There were drums, dotis, tin soldiers, books, candy, nuts and fireworks. Just at this moment Billy's toe i rubbed up a splinter, and there came ; a subdued grunt from the bed which changed to a fitful, sleepy kind of i cough as the "old fellow" turned around. The snores redoubled in volume. Old Santy handed mother a , sealed envelope and departed before she could sufficiently recover from her confusion and surprise to thank him. : It was addressed to her, so she broke the seal. The sum and substance of it j was, that the house and property of j Ponnhinn nnd ^something' like five hun- ! dred dollars were to be hers upon the ' death of Perry Fanchion. So ,at last the identity of the mys- ' terious Santa Claus and the friend of ; the poor and unfortunate was dis- j closed. Her home was only one of the many to which he had been that night. Tomorrow they would honor him. They would come one and all to thank him, j to praise him, to bless him?perhaps! to beg for more as the case might be. The sleigh stopped at the Fanchion homestead and old Santa Claus paid j the driver and entered the house. Perry was weary and as he walked j down the dark, gloomy hall he almost j dropped with fatigue. Fatigue of the] body, weariness of the soul, the soreness of a broken heart, all conspired j against him! Wearily he slid out of i the disguise. His eyes wandered with i a pitiful expression over the empty, j dark room. None came to welcome i him. No one to love or care for him. I She had gone on before. Perhaps she was waiting for him up there now. He didn't know. The blood-chilling faces grinned and the cruel claws gripped. He drew one of the heavy old chaifs up before the dying embers and cast down, bowing his head far over into the grate. Closer he huddled. What was this dreadful chill that seemed to be taking possession of his body? His great sorrow preyed upon him. "Oh, God!" he murmured; "I can stand it no longer." Something gentle and soft stroked his hair! his hair that was white as snow. Two arms encircled him lov- j ingly. | He looked up, at first unbelievingly, j and then a wonderful smile lit up his i face. "Nelly!" he exclaimed, joyously. "At last you have come for me. I knew you ! would! I thank Thee O ?" His voice trailed away in the dis- j tance. The fire died out and the faces no I longer grined, but seemed to smile' hi the darkness. Far off. just as the dawn was breaking, the chimes rang | nnt their messaere. Was it fancy or did a soul far out in space echo: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." Perry was at rest! RUiT CAKE JOYS] box - - $1.60 OF ge - - - 40c CKER & E 1907?E BAMBERG'S Just Eight M Naturally the question i has the most complete assorl ? ? ? 1^V*A 4- ^ ? A! /% />4 nave a larger line iu aciceo season to another indicates small amount of money, rati would be compelled to carry have to carry over. Therefc you. Come see. HEADY TO WEAR DEPARTMENT. COAT SUITS?Just a few of these, BUT THEY MUST GO. Possibly just the kind or color you would like. Tf you did not intend to get a SUIT this season you may change your mind when you see these at the prices: $10.00, $12.50 and $15.00. See the SUITS and be convinced; it is up to you. CLOAKS?Do you intend to get a CLOAK this season? If so, now is your time. Our loss is your gain. We have them in most of the popular sizes for Girls, Ladies and Children. So come see the COATS and get the prices. THEY WILL INTEREST YOU if you need a coat. DRESSES?These we have a few of in Silk, Satin and Serges, maybe just the one you will want. Come and see, anyone in the lot for a $10.00 bill. You should see them to appreciate the offer. RAIN COATS?We have a nice assortment of these. Nothing nicer and more serviceable than a RAIN COAT for an Xmas gift. HOSIERY ANI) GLOVES FOR XMAS GIFTS, i There is nothing a Girl or Lady appreciates more than more Gloves and Hosiery; either or both make an excellent gift. HOSIERY?Our line of HOSIERY is complete in Avery respect. We have them in Silk and Lisle, for InWe think the prices we in a substantial way our th? ues, and invite each custom' With best wish Hooton s I ? TELEPHONE 83-J | Busy B< X AND CAND1 Y All Kinds of Hon 1 Full Line of X EVERYTHING SANITA X CAFE FOR LADIES X Your Patronage' W v ni tn\; nr fDUdl BE V C. Gre^orv, 4$> ^ ! TOYS! TOYS! ( ALL KINDS , JRO., Bam LARGEST EX ore Shopping is: "Where will you shop?" ;ment for Girls and Ladies at t from at the end of the seaso that you can get goods here fo her than a large amount of go over some of the goods. But t >re, it will pay you to visit HO fants, Children, Girls, and Ladies, and the prices in accordance with what you select. LONG SfrLK GLOVES?Regular $1.25 and $1.50 qualities for Xmas, $1.00. SHORT SWEDE GLOVES?Natural color, at $1.25. SHORT KID GLOVES?Black and White, $1.50. LONG KID GLOVES?Black and White, at $3.50. have placed on the goods for t inks for their liberal and loya er and friend to come and sha es for a Merry Xmas adies Stor ;e Cafe | { KITCHEN | ie Made Candy. ? Fruits, Etc. i X RY AND UP-TO-DATE AND GENTLEMEN' X f V ill be Appreciated ^ :e cafe | Proprietor. V We Have 75 Boxes Granges 3uy them by the box berg, S. C. OTON'J CLUSIVE LA [ Days Befor We suggest HOOTON'S. W: he beginning of, and during t n. And the fact that we neve r far less than real value, for ods, and if the prices were m he KNIFE has been put to tb OTON'S. Every price on wir MILLINERY AX1> RIBBON'S. In this department 'we have many things of interest to you. It will pay you to come and see. Ready to ;svear Hats all reduced to three-fourths price. Shapes, both large and small, reduced to one-half price. Flowers of all kinds reduced to one-half price. $1.25 Velvets reduced to $1.00. RIBBOXS?These we have for the hair, for girdles, for fancy work, and in lact we have them for any purpose, and at prices you will be pleased to pay for the quality you get. SWEATERS AND UNDERWEAR. If its Underwear you need, come to Hooton's. We have the line in Sizes, Qualities and Prices. We will be pleased to sell you one garment or as many as you need. Come and look at the garments and see the prices. SWEATERS?These we have in white, garnet, and purple; in sizes from 36 to 42; prices from $2.00 to $2.50. They were originally from $3.00 to $4.00. HANDKERCHIEFS AND NECK WEAR. These two lines are more complete than at any previous showing, and there isn't anything that makes a more serviceable, simple, inexpensive gift than either of these. Handkerchiefs are in boxes of one, he next 8 days will impress upi 1 patronage of the past. We t re in them. i and a Prosperous e & Mint ? I mmm ? I1** milBMMW C & yet undt ifvislv you^ 5-1916 ) DIES STORE e Christmas i. 4 * Htt9 Panonco +Vjo ctnro fliat. UJ ?WVVUfUUV tliv WWiV. VUMU he season, would naturally sr carry goods over from one J we prefer carrying over a ot unusually attractive we e prices on what we might iter goods means a saving to y ..It'*1 1 rf . boxes of two, or as many in a box as you would like, and the prices range from 15c to $1.50 a box. Without boxes we have them from 5c to 50c. Come look them over. MS-"hill M fl Jfli COLLARS?These- we have in Felt, Plain and Fancy, Georgette Crepe, . . large and small. Organdie, and many other kinds, from 35c to $1.50. Let us show you. ===========; , * 3ii our customers and friends iave nothing to give but val ? f > r - / * - j ' y ?? 'I , - ' ;' lew Year from * ' ' .'' ' ' ' ikl . ;ry Parlor J BAMBERG, S; C. f " ? r. ? ^ K?V*N'.''Xvl ': " J > / r! '?+&*