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A Mother's
f firlcimac Plan
4 ; VHIUIUIUJ
After All It Was Not a New
Departure.
By P. A. MITC11EL
"Mary," said Ernest Wnrflold. "wo
Bhall linvc to Ignoro ClirlstmaH this
year. I'm sorry, knowing as I do
how you and the children lovo Uio day
and delight In making preparations for
it, that mich u couruo Is necessary.
Dut it costa money, and money I hnvo
not Indeed, 1 ara afraid tills Euro
pean troublo Is going to throw mo out
of business."
Tlio words wero spoken by tho hus
band and father at tho breakfast tablo
shortly before Ohristmafl. Ho had
nerved an apprenticeship with a pub
lishing Arm, saving his money, In
which ho was assisted by a frugal
wife, until ho had accumulated $10,000.
This ho had used to sot himself up
In business, relying for success upon
an Idea ho had conceived that ho pos
sessed a faculty for discerning thoso
qualities In n novel which aro calcu
lated to ploaso tho public In tills ho
was disappointed. Tho public did not
seem to fancy tho books ho puunsneu,
and ho lost most of Ids capital. Then
camo tho war, and no ono had money
to buy books. Tho prospect looked
very gloomy.
"I am perfectly willing, Erncst,M re
plied his wife, "to do anything you
deem necessary."
"I know you will, my dear. It's tho
disappointment to tho children that
troubles me."
"I will see that tho children aro sat
IsOed with whsit wo may bo nblo to
do for them.
Tho husband made no further re
mark, turning over tho pages of the
morning paper listlessly llo did not
hurry to go to business, for there was
little to do when he got there. Final
ly his eye struck an advertisement nnd
he threw down the paper with a groan
"That novel. A Mystery or a Mir
ror,' has reached a Mile of 100 000 cop
ic. It was offered to inc. and I 1
cllncd 1L There's not a pnrtlrle of lit
erary merit In the whole book. What's
n publisher to do. I'd like to know.
when tho public will take In such lot
as that and won't read real litem
tu re?"
"The critics say that 'A Mystery of
a Mirror' Is Ingenious." wild his wife.
"What's Ingenuity to do with liters
ture? I tell you there's no literary
tasto any more."
Tho wife was thoughtfully silent for
nwhlle. then said:
"We have for centuries been Judging
literature by the same old sin mint d.
nnd I am beginning to think that wo
aro partly wrong According to this
ntandnrd. there Is no merit In tho work
of u detective story writer who has
made a great reputation and a fortune
besides. Our literary magnates say that
there is no literary merit In these sto
ries I once thought so mysuir. but l
am beginning to doubt It"
"There's money In them Hint is. In
some of tlii'in nt least for the author
Whoever wrote 'A Mystery of a Mir
ror' has made a small fortune It's u
dollar book, and 10 per cent royalty on
a hundred thousand copies Is $10.01(0
If I had accepted tho lotten stuff I
might have made that out of It my
self."
"Never mind, dear. Hotter luck next
time. 1 think myself that publishing
n novel Is like buying a ticket In a lot
tery. If you succeed In tiding over the
present trouble I hope you will put
your money Into something that Isn't
so risky."
Wnriioiii miihIii no reniy. nut lose
from the table with a sigh, kissed hH
wife and children and went to his tniM
ness As soon as he had gone the wile
and mother gathered her children about
her and. taking them Into hor eonll
dome, told them that papa had lost
money In his business and had leanest
ed that they Ignore the coming Christ
mas. She had a plan that she thought
would make the anniversary Just a-
pleasant as usual. She didn't say what
It was. but pledged every child to make
no mention of Christmas till Christum
came. They were all agog to know
what the plan was, but she would not
tell thein. Nevertheless all agreed that
on pupa's account, they would do Just
what their mother wished
Whatever preparations for ChrNt
mus Mrs. Warfleld miido she kopt hei
own counsel. If gifts entuo into tin
house in ndvnnco she contrived to re
enlvo thorn herself nnd htdo them
Hut, whothor they came or not. her bus '
hand and children wero ignorant of the
fact TJio husband being absent dur
lug the day and the children at school
there was ample opportunity to take In
articles without their knowing anv
thing about It. The children, leposlng
every conlldonce in their mother, made
no complaint at not iccelving funds to
spend for gifts for each other, lor mam
ma had told them that she would
provide presents for each to give
When Christinas eve camo the
younger children Insisted on hanging
up their stockings. Their mother made
no objection to their doing so, for she
had told her husband that sho had pro
vlded n fow Inexpensive toys to (111
them. After tho youngsters wero In
bed she brought out the packages. Her
husband could not seo that they were
Inexpensive, but made no comment. If
his wlfo was keeping n secret from
him ho was keeping ono from her. IIo
bad lout every dollar of his capital and
was cxp'cctilJg on the 1st of January to
close out his business. What ho would
then do ho did not know The horrors
of poverty stared him In the focc.
IJeforo going to bed Mrs. Warfleld
slipped back Into the dining room,
where tho stockings were hanging, nnd
deposited a number of packages that
sho took from hiding places marked
for and from different members of the
family. Tho dining room had been k-
lectcd for these gifts becuu e there
wort, in it a very large open llreplaee
nnd an ample chimney through which
Santa Clans could get his fat bod)
Hcsldes. Mrs. Warfleld Intended thai
the family Christmas should begin ni
breakfast time It was then that the
gifts would ho distributed, and II
would be Impossible for her to conceal
any longer her plan for the celebration
or the day
Christmas morning opened bright
and crisp The Wui field children were
up. us usual, at daylight pulling down
their stockings mid diving into them
Their mother Joined them nnd forbado
their opening nny of tho pnckimes ex
cept those that Santa Clans had
brought A bright Oro blazed nnd
(ruckled and snapped on tho hearth,
joining in the festivities and nddlng to
the children's happiness.
"Why, mnmran," said one, "1 thought
we wero not going to havo tula kind
of a Christmas tills year."
"I didn't say thnt I said that I had
nn especial plan for this year's Christ
mas." "What Is It?"
"Walt"
Mr Warfleld came down and in tho
merry scene forgot for tho moment
the troubles In which tho merrymak
ers wero equally Interested, though
they wero ignorant of them. IIo per
mitted llttlo Hilly to ahow him his
liiuinlm; Jack and consented to pull
the string thnt worked its arms and
legs. IIo was obliged to kiss Molly's
doll and tako notlco of how It closed
Its eyes when It lay on Its back. Mrs
Warfleld was ns cheery as tho chil
dren.
"Sho doesn't know tho worst" oald
her husband to himself, "or bub could
not keep up this way."
Tho thought brought imcu uio gioom
to his face, but his wlfo kissed it
away with a smile.
Then bis eyes took in the numerous
bundles she had stacked about uio
llrcplacc. and ho could not refrain
from giving her a look as much as tu
say. "Why did yon go to such ei
pense?" Hut sho gavo him another
kiss, and the children were constantly
forcing him to inspect more gifts. And
bo it was that he got through this
Christmas ordeal, with troublo nt tho
door, better than might hnvo been ex
pected
When the children had emptied their
stockings all bat down to breakfast
Thus far it seemed that no gift had
been provided for papa. After ho hou
asked the divine blessing ho said to tiU
wife:
"1 am glad, my dear, that you hnvo
needed lo mv wishes In ono respect
you have not Inflicted a Christmas gift
upon me "
"Lift your plate." was tho reply.
Warfleld did as ho was bidden nnd
revealed an envelopo addressed to him.
Opening it. ho took out n check payable
to his wife and Indorsed to him for
$ll,C5.r).
"What's this?"
"Stanford Hios." check to mo for roy
alty on A MyBtery of n Mirror.'"
Warfleld looked at his wito inquir
ingly. He evidently did not under
stand
"1 wrote tho novel." sho continued,
"and sent It to you anonymously I '
received It back with a printed unnvnll
nblo card. I sent It to other publish j
ers. and they nil declined it. Finally
Stnnford Hros. consented to bring it
out They aro a new firm nnd havo
adopted n new plan of Judging of man
usciipts. They clrculnto them among
n large number of persons such ns may
1h) expected to read them vvnen puu
llshed. Nearly all these approved
They published the book on the usual
terms This Is my first remittance,
but 1 understand from them that the
book Is still selling and will sell for
sonio time "
Theio was m much or mortification
mingled with this announcement that
tho authoress arose from tho tnblo nnd
put her arms about her husband's
neck Then at a sign from her tho
children followed her example, each
giving him a hug and a kiss and nil
erving:
"Glad )ou got your Christmas gift,
pnpa!" '
When he had bcon duly hugged and
kissed luto u frame of mind acceptable
to his wlfo and children ho took up the :
cheek again, looked nt Its face, turned
It ovci and looked at Its back and said
"What do you propose I shall do '
with it, nv eotheart?"
"Whatever )ou think best"
"I shall do w hntever you think best ' i
"What use should bo mndo of It Is J
for fiituie consideration. For tho prcs
ent it Is enough for us to know that
1 have i he wherewithal to give the
ehlldri n a merry (MirUtinns, nnd. as for
you and me. well, wo Know thnt we
hnvo u new start "
Later Warfleld proposed that bo con
tinue the publication of fiction, leav
ing his wife to decide what ho should
Issue and what decline. Hut Bho re
fused to make the trial and persuaded
him to conflno himself to what was
less like a lottery. However, sho de
voted herself for a time to hunting
for some Held that wns needed nnd
neglected and finally found ono which
sho recommended, and her husband,
following her ndvice, succeeded ml
mirnbly. Christmas day wns thereafter In tho
Warfleld family n double celebration.
It wns not only Christinas, but an an
nlversnry of their being tided over n
Riilf of poverty and tho beginning of
!!-
WOMAN CHASED FJMHI HOME
HY .MAN WITH A KNIFE
Flourishing a big knifo nnd shout
ing nt the top of his voice Nick De
mos chased Mrs. Pearl Lusk from her
homo on east Seventh street Tuesday
evening. Tho man was nrrcsted Wed
nesday morning and pleaded guilty
and received a flno of ten dollars and
costs.
Just how tlm fracas started Is not
known as they refused to toll. The
man was evidently making n
friendly (all and In (nine enraged nt
the woman. Sho was chased scream
ing from tho house and ran to a
neighbor's whero sho sought refuge.
Tho man was finally quieted by some
of his fellow countrymen.
Complaint was filed with Judge
Walkor Wednesday morning by Mrs.
Lusk and tho man was arrested and
taken to Jail. After pleading guilty
ho stnted that ho had no money and
was romnnded to Jail to lay out his
lino nnd costs
Harry Cramer Is reported quite sick
at hi shomo In this city.
Two Weddings nt Court House.
Two weddings wero solemnized
Wednesday afternoon at tho court
houso by Judge Grant. Tho two cou
ples aro Charles C. Mauser, 21, and
Miss Pearl M. Ward, 23, and Ira Sout
hard, 21, and Miss Jcsslo K. Ward, 21.
All young people aro from tho Big
Springs vicinity. Tho two young men
are farmers in that vicinity and they
will mako their homos there. Tito
young ladles aro sisters.
Herman TImmer Is reported on the
sick list this week.
The Mutual Building & Loan Associ
ation of North Platto has plenty of
monoy on hand to close loans prompt
ly. Borrowers In this association
make a saving on the repayment of
their loans equal to $250.00 to $350.00
on a thousand over any competing
building nnd loan association. 99-9
W. T. Beery, master mechanic of
this division from Grand Island, was
visiting friends in tho city Wednesday
and looking nfter somo company af
fairs at this terminal. Ho formerly
lived In this city.
ore
maMOTWl?i?MW!rrj KvgtLxixiJiu-rcD tDEasanmmBxcvBWwasxBBmni smsssss!zmss:ssxsiei3sssa
THIS IMMENSE CO-OPERATIVE FAMILY IS CALLING YOU," ihcy are telling you
also thai you can secure the same reductions in prices and terms. But you must
hurry,Jlhe sale only lasts one day longer, alter that time you have lo pay a great deal,
more.
The other fellow has bought, its you that wc are after now and we tell you, Mr.
Piano Purchaser, if you intend to buy in the next two years it will pay you to do it now
to clay.
Yoiu dollarsill 2:0 about twice as far at this sale, and the saving is worth while.
....jum-lfirjiuill
OTIIElt I'EAITKES, HOE FITS,
ETC., WHICH DO SOT COST
VOT A PENNY
Ml HE TH1AL ror ' uajs i""A
may try out the piano jou select iiij
your home. If at the end of Hint times
you do not want lioop it notifyU
us nun we win snm mm tin.- (uuutr
uuil return to jou cutj font you J
may Iiavc paid. u
VMKK KXCUAXGi: PKIVIIiKUKB
Anj time within one jcar jou niayjj
exchange jour piano for a plajer orJ
higher priced instrument and we willjj
allow jou all that jou Iwne paid out.?
FHKE DKIilVHKIES All pianos?
or plajers are put in jour homo
free of charge. This applies to ex-
WE OI YK KKKK with each piano,
11 ..(mil in nintcll mill 11 SClirf.
WE MIVK with oni-h player-piano J Vnekanl, Vrire ;ci;i,u'; Scliiu-nVr,
a hench, scarf and 12 rolls of inusk'J X. llmiunl, himhall, rlnkorl. ,
of jour own selection.
WAltltAXTItiS Knch instru
inent is guaranteed against all de
We can arrange terms to suit the purse of most everyone, there is no excuse
for'vou being without music in your home any longer. Join this CO-OPERATIVE
movement for prices take our word lor it, these prices represented to your nonce.
nnfrn dAinC Q
i$l- V JD -rt. v ju
L?
The lime lo buv is when vou can secure the lowest possibie price, ou can
alwaja bu pianos at their regular prices, but you can't always buy them or low prices
miolrd here. Remember these are all standard makes, thoroughly warranted, if they
doifl proe to be the biggest Bargain ever offered you, return it and we will refund
eery cent you have paid ou must be satisfied.
This Sale Positively Closes Saturday Night, January 2nd So YouII Have
to hurry.
TEH3IS on plajers to suit you.
We will make a fair allowance
for jour old piano tn exchang
ing for a player-piano.
I'l V0S Kniihe, A. 11. Chnse, McVliall,
Terms on pianos as low as-
Smith A. Haines, Marshall k Wendell,
Ulsnn, Cioaui, Holliinil, (lashm, WIN
lanl.
mem is guar nieeii iig.w.is. .. i-g , & ,,, ,
fects. Some the jcars, some a .tc-B ' " ' ' '" Sclinprpr.1I,lir.
lime l.j the makers, uu top o. mug - ,i,ii. A,..
we irhe our personal warranues,H " ;.' "V '
. . .- u inn iiiui. iiiniimiii.
.1....1.I. iiniiliiiit inir Mil. M ' '
UIMII'IJ riiimiMih j--".
y jupiflM .'HI immJT'TVIsmTSKJRB
hh ' ' iiiiiiiinsi vim iimmx. mam&mm iw i
flfc fcyArll
i. .' W&8?S3i$S
1 1 'x'ioy.fKM'Vfk'
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EKfiife
M I'LVM 15 I'HMI
svi.i: IMtK 1: 110
JtVJtk
S VI V I'HICF $1 !!)..")()
m:w 1'iAiso
SALE 1MUCE $1S:5.75
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SAI.E l'KICE iy.YM
(Q! In BBi-KaSixcni-t jracs .,t-i 11 i - Zi
;J mm- ziitfKT!rmmWi fsnatnr---4222G&-a
M WS HMB r V.rMV.TVV tiIMnHBaHEICBHiBBBBBIEWkyE.1 ' W I 1 I ' VIT'tt H iU BH 1 .NfaBlai
y?M m Bin s JHKr." . c&xau&MiM.9..mwi. r. : i . .tiastymactmamm-UMk a
a c sac n i TwnrTrTiih iirOMniirrMffiifrrimf ' j ; i iirininpi, a'w'Minii7rniiii
j-
M . VIVNO
svi.r ritici: $211.50
Ga
ston
, ?$
Other Stores, Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings.
Clinton's Jewelry Store.
m:w ss oti:
SALE l'KICE iS'-MG.;.")
f
Information Coupon
Cut out, fill In, slgn,-fen(l to ns (odny.
GASTON MUSIC CO.
Oontlemon: Kindly sond mo list of
Co-Oporntlve Bargains of pjJ"B
not to exceed $ in prlco
and tho terms on same. . . .-
Prefer mako
Sign . , ....
d.ln
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