Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 292, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1918 — Mr.Henner's Christmas [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mr.Henner's Christmas

by Clarissa Markie

»IRAM JENNER frowned darkly as he' rode home behind the glass windows of bls luxurious limousine. No matter which way he turned his unhappy old eyes he saw evidences of the happy Christmas season; and he had quite determined to ignore Christmas.after his only child. Eve, had flouted her father’s objections to her marrying a poor young inventor and eloped with George Lane, the aforesaid Inventor. Although Eve had pleaded for . forgiveness from her stern parent, Hiram Jenner merely refused to listen to her; he turned a deaf ear to the pleas of her friends in her behalf ; returned her letters Unopened and in every way possible enacted the role of a hardhearted and pig-headed father whose daughter had disappointed him. And the worst of it all was, said EveSi friends, .who clung loyally to her, the only objectionable thing about George Lane was that he was an inventor —and that was decidedly an advantage, for sometimes —in fact, quite often —inventors made a lot of money, if that was what was worrying Papa Jenner! And why should it worry him, they argued, when the Jenner fortune was enough to launch three or four inventors on the sea of success? George Lane was not in Eve’s .social set, but he was a ifine fellow — well educated, well bred and mighty good looking—and they loved each other to distraction. * Hiram Jenner was turning these things over in his tired mind for the hundredth time in the past year. He nourished a bitter resentment and jealousy. That his motherless daughter should have chosen a strange young man—in preference to him ! That was the sore point—one of them. The other sore point was that he believed young Lane wanted to marry money so that he could finance his idiotic inventions. Well, he wouldn’t get any of the Jenner fortune! A tire on the limousine blew out at this moment and shattered the train of Mr. Jenner’s thoughts. “I’m afraid we can’t get home, sir,” reported the chauffeur a moment later. "Shall I call a taxicab, sir?” “Nd—l'll take a car home; it’s only a few blocks and one is coming now.” So Hiram Jenner left his motor and swung onto the platform of a northbound Mbdison avenue car that would leave him within a block of his home. There was just one seat left and that was in the forward end by the front window of the car. So Mr. Jenner sat down, fumbled for a nickel, and then sat gloomily watching the broad blueclothed back ’of the motorman on the platform outside.

There was something familiar about ■that well-shaped head, covered with a crop of thick, fair hair; and the way the shoulders were squared reminded him very strongly of George Lane the night he had ventured to ask Mr. Jenner for his daughter’s hand and heart. “The fellow is on my mind,” growled Mr. Jenner to himself, still staring at the fair head beneath the neat cap of the motorman. Suddenly the man turned his head and Hiram Jenner felt a distinct shock of surprise when he discovered the classic profile of his son-in-law. “Oho!” So they had fallen upon evil times and the man had given up his foolish inventions and had gone to trolleying.! Times must be hard indeed with them. And Eve, how could she stand privation? Hiram Jenner was worried. He felt a vague sickness as the car became crowded with people laden with Christmas packages. No matter which way he turned he was confronted by Christmas—Christmas—and presents —and happy smiles—and the laughter of children. He remembered how he and Eve used to go Christmas shopping together and .. . . Was Eve going shopping this Christmas? Had she any money? Was she suffering while her father rolled in luxurywhile her father’s servants perhaps fared better than Eve herself? - And George Lane —why, the fellow' must be made of good stuff after all, for he had gone to work at a menial job rather than beg from his rich

father-in-law. Some men would have used Eve as an excuse to wring money from the old man—Eve —well. Eve might be suffering for the very necessaries of life this instant! His sunny-haired, blue-eyed, happy Eve! Was she happy now? Hiram Jenner groped blindly from the car and went home. He sat in his library for many hours while his servants whispered together below stairs. “He’s feeling bad because of poor Miss Eve,” sighed the good housekeeper. “He’d oughter; hold skinflint!” put in the butler in a disgusted tone. “There’s your bell, Mrs. Dorey,” reminded the housemaid from her warm corner by the fire. Mrs. Dorey wiped her wet eyes and went up to the library. Hiram Jenner was sitting before his great walnut table. The shade of the large electric lamp threw his face in shadow, but his voice sounded odd and husky. “Tomorrow will be Christmas eve, Mrs. Dorey,” he said heavily. “I would like you to prepare a large hamper of food —all cooked and ready to serve—everything that will comprise a fine Christmas dinner. Please have it ready by four o’clock. I will take it with me in the car.” “Yes, sir,” cried Mrs. Dorey breathlessly, as she dipped a curtsey and disappeared. Precisely at four o’clock the -next afternoon the limousine stopped in front of the Jenner mansion and the chauffeur went up to the basement door and brought out a heavy hamper, which he with much difficulty lifted into the car beside his master. “Where to, sir?” he asked. Mr. Jenner named a street far up in the northwestern part of the city—a section given over to great apartment houses. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes shone, and his hands trembled. In three quarters of an hour they paused before a substantial-looking gray stone.building of the better class. “You are sure this is the right place?” asked Mr. Jenner, wondering at the quiet elegance of the house the address of which had been given to him by one of Eve’s friends. “Yes, sir,” said the man, opening l the, door. So Mr. Jenner alighted, and disdaining help from Hanson, he lifted the heavy hamper and entered the quiet vestibule. In five minutes he was gliding up in the lift and standing before the door of Apartment M, with the hamper beside him. “There’s something wrong somewhere,” murmured Mr. Jenner, wiping his brow; “or else that motorman chap is living beyond his means!” A triru*maid answered the door and her eytwopened widely when she saw the handsome old gentleman in the fur-lined overcoat standing beside the Christmas hamper. “Mrs. Lane? Yes, sir—if you wilT come in and be seated. She is engaged at present.” So Hiram Jenner sat down in a tiny

room tastefully furnished and felt a constriction of the muscles of his throat when he recognized his own portrait hanging over the mantelpiece. There was a light step behind him and he turned to find Eve standing there, regarding him with shining eyes. “Oh, daddy, you have come?” she cried a little brokenly. He nodded and held out his arms. Eve came into them like a weary bird to its nest. “I have needed you so,” she murmured. “I have missed you!” Jenner thrilled strangely. “Not when you had your husband,” murmured Jenner jealously. “Ah, but you are my dear father!” protested Eve happily; “he might try —but he could never be that, you know!” “And you are glad to see me?” asked Hiram just for the pleasure of hearing her answer. A little later he expressed his surprise at finding her living so comfort“l saw your husband— George— driving a trolley car yesterday—and I thought yon must be in need —in great want,” he explained. “I couldn’t bear the thought—and so I concluded that if you could forgive a hard-hearted old man I come and spend Christmas with you—and I brought my dinner along!”

Eve laughed and cried all at once and bade the maid bring in the hamper, and then she laughed and cried over the contents. Then George Lane came in—and Hiram was someXvhat surprised to find that his son-in-law was noj wearing th*e uniform of the trolley company; he was neatly, nay expensively attired, and it took the combined efforts of the young couple to convince Hiram Jenner that the young inventor was on the road to prosperity; that 'his presence on the trolley car wasi merely an incident in the trying out] of a new brake of which he whs the and by which he expected to make a heap of money. “And so —so I am not needed after all,” smiled Hiram whimsically. “Oh, father!” they cried in unison and he was convinced. Then Eve smiled at George and nodded and ran out of the room and presently she returned with an oddlooking bundle of white lawn and lace wrapped in a white woolly blanket • ' “This is a Christmas gift for you, daddy,” cried Eve with happy tears running down her cheeks. “For me?” gasped Hiram Jenner, ' putting up his eyeglasses. “What is it?” “It’s a granddaughter—another Eve!” cried George Lpne quietly. And so they placed Hiram Jenner’s Christmas gift in his trembling arms and his meeting with Eve’s daughter was baptized with his slow tears —but they were tears of. gratitude because God had been good to a hard-hearted old man and permitted him to forgive a wrong—and to receive a greater re"wardlliah he had dared dream. And so Hiram Jenner has another Eve to worship and he calls little Eve his Christmas baby. v