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flHRlsjriviiis CARDS AND ROMANCE _

A,‘ Yuletide Greeting that Brought ' -' _ £40.000 " A‘. --§.

Si!‘ Atlplf, Tuck. head of the world-famous ilrm of Christmas curd manufacturers. tells many a rolnantlc story in which the Christ- 'mns card plays the leading l-.,|e_ ilmllllb‘ lllBlIl the following.

_i‘.wo lovcis had had a serious quarrel over some trifle and hall parted ln anger. ileclaring that they would never see each other 118M11- Several months of sever- ance and silence followed, until one Christmas morning the young lady received from her lost love a card oqavhich was a reprodiictloii of Mr.

-.Viarcus Stone's well-kiiowii picture

of-f"i‘lie First Quurrel." This gave the’ girl the opportunity she wish- ed for; for she had long been gnrry

.t'cr her flXlllllltlbll of temper. For-

tunately slie hail a card on which was a reproduction oi’ Stone's “Re- conclllation," in which the two foollsli lovers are blissfully re-un- llelliand this-she promptly posted to her suitor with the result tbata few hours later she was once more

- iii- his arms; and the vows renewed

atwtlieghappy meeting were repeat- ed iii: the following June at the al- tar of St. (icon-tee, Hanover Square.

Some years ago, another of Sir Adolf's Sttll‘l8i3"Tl|llS. a young doc- tor wlm was in high favor with a. wealthy and somewhat eccentric mint. hail a iluarrel with her in which heated words were exchang- ed. with the result that the old lady, in her zinger. vowed that she would never speak to hi-m again. Two years passed during which the obstinate aunt ignored the very ex- istence of her nephew. whose an. ger had long evaporated and who was quite willing to make pence with her. He shrank, however. from svriting a penitent letter, as ho still considered that his aunt bud treated him unjustly.

Ho. wa sorry for her in licr loneliness. for she was a woman who had no friends. and he was the only near relative she had ln the world. As Christmas was at hand he decided to send her u mcs- sago of good-\vill-probably tho only one she would receive: and. itctlng on this kindly impulse, ho sent. her a (Ibrisliuns card. without

any liylication of the senilnr. Scvl

cial more years pussctl in unbrok- en silence on both sides. The iii- cldeut of tbc card was almost for. gotten when one day the fl0('.l(lI'. now prcspering in Shcfiicltl. rc- ccivcil a letter from a iirm of soli-

citors informing him that his aunt

had died leaving him the whole of her estate. of the value of £40.00!) -—anri also the Christmas card be had sent hor. She had. it appeared. rocoguizctl his handwriting on tho i‘.ll\'l‘.lf‘]l(‘.. and had been so touched by hor nephew's kind thought o.’ ll('l‘ that. zilthtiugh she still refused to iuak.» pcaco with him. she made a now will iu his favor. ‘

(if indifferent. type is the story of one of our leading manufactur- ers. ‘Many years ago the future Croesus was an ont-ofwork clerk. brokon in health and heart. lie bad sought vainly tor employment: his purse was empty; nnd in his ties- pair he decided lo put an end toa uselcss iifc. At a late hour on Christmas Eve he left his attic in (Ylerkenivcll on his last. walk —-tn the oblivion of tho Thames. Ho was walking ilown Chancery Lane with downcnst head. when he saw something wliiio on the pavement in front of him. lie stooped and picked it. up. it. was a Christmas card. drnppotl by some careless man. On it was the picture “of a nhllll ih a nightgown. knocking at a door. and underneath were the words: "Open the door. Daddy! Melly Klssiunss!" '

hi gighl hi the picture the tears tlllcd his cycs. it was the exact. presentment of tho liltlc daughter a fcw mouths before. leaving him —lils only child—lic bad lost but ulone in the world. Then as t.he flood of tcndcr memories swept over him ho broke down. andlean- lug on the railings near. HOlJl-lpll his heart out. When at. last he had recovered suflitzleiltly. utterly ex- hausted liy his wcepiug. ho turned his stops resolutely homewartl. holding thc precious curd. which had so provldeutlnlly saved his life. to his licart. 'l‘liis was indccd the “turn of tlic tide" for him. for two days later he found empllll“ iuent. “l have ncvcr looked back. To that card so accidentally found I owe all l have and um. It is my (lpilrgst possession. lt is always with inc night nnd Illl.\'»"

it was ii still niorc remarkable accident that brought happiness some years ago tn One oi our best-

fkriQwn barristers. Ono do)’. h" hi’

yell; the story. when he was vainly waiting in his chambers for tho briefs that refused to collie. be re- ceived a noWBpB-per from a frlenll in Melbourne, and was surprisedto sen an envelope caught in its folds which had been overlooked by thc postman. As the envelope WWW unsealed. curiosity impelled l'll“ to open it. and he drew out a Kill- edged card. bearing the phlllllillflllll of a‘ beautiful girl. with ihe words underneath: "With love nnd lies! Christmas wishes from Lenore. S0 struck was he hi‘ the “We” ness of the pictured fare that :1’ dgpidell, instead of re-nostllls l P m d, i0 mite it back to its own??- w ope ndilress. as given "ll ll!’

" card. was curiously enoniih- filllll‘

eh,“ to his own bachelor rooms

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‘To Sir Giles Ayreton. the Master of Ayreton. it seemed that his great house was waiting-waiting for something or for someone.

Why. he did not know; only the impression was profoundly with him. A sense ‘of expectant still- ness seemed to brood above that beautiful structure of stone and oak. founded on the rocks that bound the marshes from tire moan- ing sea.

it was Christmas Eve. and the marshlands were gripped by frost. and under the blue-white moon a skating party from Cliff House mingled its laughter with that of the villagers. The hiss and clung of steels and the hollow rumble of the ice came clearly up to the study in which Giles Ayreton sat - and feared. '

His dog. late companion of his lonely watch. was restless. A few

branches of waxen. honesty which“

stalked up from a blue Venetian vase. sat on a bureau beneath ii placque of Dante, WEN} trembling: yet. no air moved. The fire of logs hnd ceased from splutterlng. nnd burneil in blue-flamed stillness. Yes ——all was broodlng-bodiug . . . waiting!

Ayreton sliivercd and got up from his deep chair. Moving t0 the window he flung apart its heavy ourtnlns nnd looked down on the moonlit majesty of the marsh. A beautiful sight——he caught his breath in his throat before the wonder of it all. Ayreton Marsh. on that Christmas Eve was like a mighty fire opal across which strange shadows moved. Under the chill moon glow. bright ruby braziers of coke glowed. Torches flung orange mats oi’ brilliance be- fore the flying l'eet of the skaters; music trembled, and somewhere. far beneath the winging wild fowl. o choir of unaccompanied voices, trarolled of the glory of the dawn.

Then a moan grew over the l-‘ZIIETR and Ayreton sighed and thought he understood. .-\ storm was threatening. That ileep toguc growling cvcr the sea was a sinis- ter hcialil—sno\v, with all the speed of a black nor‘ caster bc- hiiul in, was driving in to land

.-\ni_l uow long wedges of driven goose split across tho glaring face of the moon and all tho night was sound. lminou edged the storming vanguard of tiiclsnow clouds conic. Fndcr tlicm and across them ran tho bitterly flickering flames of their inncrmtisi ' llghlnings and from tlicm fell a sun-hail which became on land a whining snow. And then tin- ,mnon wont dim. Where had hvcn silence was now the thunder m‘ tho hammering surf and the ilevilisli howl of tho wind above tho iluucs and round tho harbor. milling.

flilcs Ayrcton ll'l tlii- curtains close and tnrutd away from tho window. smiling t'f)lli|)lii('L‘.llil_\'. il-r

would have a cigar now; his strange mood, engendered by such simple phenomena, was starklyex- plalned . . . what a fool he had been! Yes. he would have a cigar ——perbaps n glass of wine before- hiind: what a fool!

Then . . . he stopped!

For his dog was no longer the quietly lovosome companion ofliis solitude. it was rigid there. in tho centre of the wide study, n snarling bristling embodiment of rippling muscles and quivering flesh. its fangs were barcd and its jowls slioweil. blue-grey and dripping wet with froth. its eyes were like grout illumlneil (filflifillfilifi, split by vitric almonds of green light. it growlril in its throat . . . . and. behind it. the shaking sprigs of honesty ilropped their flat dry discs. with slithering sound. one by one. down the polished bevel of the old bureau.

Ayreton fclt his heart contract as though taken in the grip or icy fingers. Sweat was under his scanty hair and his ears twitched bar-k like those of a cat in angry fear. He in turn snarled; alid be felt his mouth also growing wet. The knliirkles of his fingers hiiri like bot things pressed upon hl-‘l flesh and all his sinews achcd with lflllg thin pains . . ho could not spcak. Ami when. ut lust. his brain filnctloneil sufficiently to allow liliii coherent thought: "the damned >i_a__. _.

in tho West of London. (in calling at tho young lady's homo he found. not iit all to ills surprise. that fill!‘- was as charming as her face was lovely. And to what 500d i150 ll? was nble to iurii this introduction was proved in the following sum- mer. when the wedding bells were set a-rlnginiz for his wedding to the lady of the Christmas card.

in the Black Museum at New Scotland Yard Y0" "ll" 5°“ l‘ Christmas card, crumpled. dirty and stained. to which a tragic interest clings. 0n tho morning of Christ- inns lCVPalii i872. the (lead body of n woman, one Harriet Boswell. was found in her house iu Great Coram street. She bad been stabbed through the heart. and in her poc- im was found a card. bearlns on its bark the ominous moasagez~ "From your lcvinll llhlly- Take care! This is the lust Christmas fur“ you will receive. For months the most vxliuustivo search was mad‘. (m- lhi- mysterious “HnffY i h“. m. ll-nro of him was ever found. nut this message to the woman Wm, lqvfll him still survives.

thing's gone mad," he told himself. "lt’s—lt's going to sprnlg!"

But the dog did not spring. On the contrary, it backed away . . . and moved~~its blazing eyes from viewing its master's face to follow the movements of something. in- visible. at his side! Whatever the thing was that moved. Ayreton could not divine. but. the hound was watching it steadily-watching ltl

Back. ever backwards; the dog retreated until at length it was brought up hard by the collisional its haunches with the bureau drawers. Like u mail thing it slewed about at the impact, and. snapped-at wood. Thut was suili- cient. The terrible bondage under which it had iaiii. was loosed. No longer did it gaze across the room at that which was invisible. The glare in its pupils died low. and, as near as it/was possible for it to portray - it affected shame; the shame of cowardice.

. . . . Then came the whisper.

Sir, Giles Ayreton heard it — a ilistinct and very clear whisper: Cuhlain-Cuhlain, good dog then!" . . . there was spoken an endear- meiit 0f the hound! And it?

It grovelled low and went across the floor. showing pleasure and adoration and wild fear a-mingled. Then. it rolled over — feigning ilcath. With one ear cocked for applause. one eye slightly opened. it lay lbere—regardlng the effect its trick was making . . . on the one for whom it was performed.

Then Ayreton knew his wife was - in the room. And she had lain in death for three long years.

For none other. would Cuhlain exhibit that trick. which chanced to be the only one it knew. Lady Ayreton had silent patient weeks 0|’ the wolfliound's guwky puppy- hood in teaching it to feign death ut. her word. 0n reaicliing maturity its serene. dignity vetoed any other attempts . . only one trick.

"Myrtle; Myrtle!" Ayreton called her name lioarsely, fearfully.

“l hear. Soft as the rush of fainting music. into his brain fell answer: "Giles-i hear."

~-—'l‘lien "came interruption. With an unccrenionious sweep, fol- lowed by a belated and apologetic knock, Sir Giles’ married sou‘. An- thony. and his iluughter-ln-lain‘. Maud. with a handful of other young people. clitttcrctl into the room. Amongst them was Marion Slicphearil. who should have mar- ried Basil Ayreton. his clilcst son and heir, had not that youtii found it incumbent on himself. for his family's sake. to efface all trace of his exi encc. three and ii half _vcars ago. With a irliokuil-nff howl of protiestlug fear. (luhlaln tho wolilioiiiid look opportunity of thc iiln-ii ilc-zir. and ilcd.

"l :-' bri-i-zy v J. - . “What's up with ihc old ilog? Been sucking it. dad?"

‘ No!"

That fllfllliltiylllllllf‘. reply was made in such a maniu-r as to focus instant and surprised attention. 'l‘lic returned skating party saw an ashy checked. wild-eyed and gauntly ilrawn man before them- instmid of the tall and ruddyfucctl Master. whom always they had re- garded as the soul of bluff genial- ity and good humor. Ayreton look- ed as though ho was recovering from a long illnoi... ills hands trembled and his hair was dank.

"l say-anything wrong. dad?" that was Anthony's swift. concern.

Sir (lilcs took a grill on himsoli‘.

“No—cr-—no; that is-~-tlio dog llllhh-litlfl been acting strangely. yknow! Ratlicr alarmcil mo; got- tiiig very old~must huvc-hiui tics- troyed, l think . . . a bad ilvciniu- utes. I assure you!"

A gasp smindcil vcry" clcurly in the room. it came from Ainrinn Shepheard. Swnying as though nbnut to fniiit she stcadliail herself by outstretching one hand to ward herself from the wnli. She looked across at »Sir Giles Ayreton and ignored the clustering about her of her friends.

Ayreton smiled. cynically-lazily.

"Yes. lllarion-you see . . .?"

A chill of horror descended on that. lately roystcring group as the blaster of Ayreton ilrawlod those challenging words. to the glrlwbo should have reigned as mistress oi‘ Ayreton, some day-had Basil Ayreton not forged his father's nnmo tn u cheque to pay his guin- bllug ilobts. at the expcnso of his inheritance . . . “Tell me. Marion“ Ayreton was very calm. "what is lt~—you see?"

An uncomfortable shuffling of feet; a slbilauce of expectant breaths of fear-then:

"l~-l saw nothing. Sir Giles." Marion Sliephearil made ntoadyv answer. "but. l thought that l heard-a voicef".

"Yes. yes . . . what did—slic say?"

"She-J." Anthony Ayreton biil- teil in with the questioning word. His father rounded on him angrily.

"Ba quict Sir~if you please! l —-l am asking Marlon a question —" He lifted his head. pugnacious in defiance of coveuance and cir- cumstance and addressed the girl. "Yes-go on. liiarion. you heard a voice . . . what did she say?“

"The sen. Marion—oli. Marlon!

. the sea!" Miss Shephr-ird qunteiLthe words as though they were enigmatic things. bardlv learned. She offered no comment

u H“

on them. She only looked at the Master of Ayreton ~— and in her eyes was a wisdom that had not been there before. .

A twitch of mingled anger and pride. distorted Ayreton's features. For one baffling moment the evil in his face made him look like a flend. Then. remembering himself. nnd glad for the dim illumination of the room. his expression mask- ed down to its habitual genlality. He laughed—at first strldently. then with nil the notes of inlvard. deep amusement caught. in the sound.

“flood lor‘---we'll be havlngCliif House with the reputation nf being haunted—yet—eh'.’" He was mock- ing. “Voices in the air. frightened dog-Christmas Eve . . . . niosl appropriate items-J

"Why did Cublain leave the study the way it. did, dad?" Anthony was blunt and. unconsciously. stretch- ed out an arm as though to shield his wife from something intangible that threatened; he drew her close to him. His fathor noted both the unsatisfied challenge of the ques- tion and the significance of llif‘ gesture . . . “What had happened —before—?"

.Slr Giles Ayreton pointed to thc polished floor beneath the skaters’ heavily booted feet; he ignored his son. So tense was each of tho guests that all drow back in sud- den. vague alarm. and followed the (llrsction of the monitorlal flngr-i‘ as if, assuredly, it indicated the presence of some ocrlo thing. At their consternation. Ayreton laugh- ed once more . . laughed at tho success of a plan. ingeniously and accurately conceived.

“Yes. you have nced to look startled," he chuckled. "You young people are making ilrcadful havoc of that floor." he drawleil his words, "ice. you may ohscrvc. melts! l wouldn't like to be hold responsible to tho servants when they see thosc puddles! Be off now.

"Myrtle! Myrtle! Myrtle!" he almost screamed the words as, in an

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""5; ""'"""""; GIP-TAIN’ JIMMY’S CHRISTMAS

By Frances Yale.

. Captain Jimmy ‘Smith lived in a

Once more came the words from died from the horror of it all. llllllll’ lllllQ lllllllle Oll U19 belch

jout. the shadows. sinking like diin But there wusa story told.among 011W ll llflll he?" U16 Clllllll 0f lll!

thoughts into his brain: the servants. of the imprints of old schoonerwfiklmmer; 110W l! W85

“You hear me—Giles '1" muddy sea boots in my Lady Ayre- the Only b01118 Cllplfllll Jill"!!! Blld

“Yes—yes—0h. yes! 1 hear you! ton's death chamber on the night lllli C!!! Vlllell lllid-

What-wliat is it, Myrtle —— what before her burial . . ._and a locket lll the Slllllmél‘ llllle hi! Bold llill do you want?" that was about her neck. contain- and clams and lobsters to the sum-

"For you t0 heed what i tell you lng a portrait of her first -born. was mer cottagers. but in the winter he —and rest." open. dampeded as by tears —-— all had hard’ work to keep the llltle

“Rest!—is—is there no rest then. awry. And a withering sprig of cabin warm and flnd food for bim- beyond death?" rosemary luy on those still white self and Vixen.

"None. for such as l." - hands~—nnil the window of that It was the day before Christmas.

"Why. Myrtle, my ilearcst-wby chamber. open. had cluttered to the and the beach was rough with ice. do you say-J’ night from which her sou had conic, “Sn0w!" said Captain Jimmy, as

“Rather ask inc what. i want: to which he had returned . be left his little house and went my time with you is short. iind l “And now-what would you have up toward thevlllage. His pipe iiiust—" me do. Myrtle?" was between his teeth. but he was

The thin voice was fading. swift- “Forgive me-do you forgive not smoking-he was out of tobac- ly. Ayreton heard it, ilrifting back me?" co.- into the silences of all shadowed "As l—~l would have done in life. He smiled sadly because he knew things. then, very calmly: “Wbnt— Myrtlc—had you tuld me. Had only that he would have a lonely Christ- do—you-—waut. Myrtle?" he called. you-told-me." mas. He had no wife or children.

The \'l.‘ll't‘ returned to his He heard u sound like a sigh-a and he was very much alone. The thoughts. ' broken sigh. after sobbing. poor are often forsotten.

"Peacennd forgetfulness. Giles~-— "Go—to—to the sea . . . . the ‘By the time Captain Jimmy had nnd-forgiveness.“ sou!" She seemed very fur away; bought some flour and salt pork

"Forgiveness —— forgiveness . . . lioi voice was fainting ln the shad- and a little coffee it was dark and what. have you-—-wliat did you do. 0W5. "Danger for—~Basil — bring snowing fast. So when he heard Iliyiale, that calls for my forgive- lilm —- home. . . " the sound of children crying he ncss? No man ever had so true and "The sea‘! What. do you mean —- stopped in surprise. dear a wife as you! Oh. Myrtle. stay!~-teli me! .\iyrtle—stay—!" "Hullol" shouted Captain Jim- \\'hat—" But she was gone. He waited- my. and the crying stopped at.

"Stop—-stopl" the voice coin- listened-walled and prayed. =She once. in another minute be al- niandeil. "l told you—niy time with did not answer. most tumbled over two little chil- you ‘is measured nut by seconds . . . . . .. . . rlren who were running along the

. listen!" A-sprawl in his chair, he was ob- beach path.

And as a story. soundless. came livious of the sounding, snapping "l-leave ho!" called Captain Jim- her message. A mundane, mlser- rockets over the howling sea. Ho my, and he put out a long Bflp iind ablc litilo story it was that came did not bear the thunder of the gathered the little ones close to to him from out that vast and impact when the tramp steamer him. "What are you dolnR here?" shadowy region of the supcrnal "Scartholiue" piled herself on the he shouted. for the wind was that mankind holds to enshrine the rocks where they went down to the screaming now. travelling souls of outermostdark- snarling deeps. He did not hear They tried t0 explain. but Cap- ness from their rest . . . a simple the hellish grind of steel plates on tain Jimmy couldn't understand a story . . basalt. nor yet the hideous tearing word they Bald-Whey Cried B0 much.