x into her
outstretched arms. "Shall I tell you----" he began.

"Don't you dare! I'm going to see for myself. Oh-h-h!" She had the lid
off, and was clasping to her breast a mass of soft brown fur. "Oh,
General, you dear thing! You sha'n't ever go to prison again." She
smothered her father in the coat and a rapturous embrace, causing him to
protest mildly. Her mother's gift of a bracelet watch also evoked
another burst of reckless enthusiasm.

What a happy hour it was, to be sure, and how beautifully all her
friends had remembered her! Marjorie could hardly bear to leave her
presents long enough to eat breakfast, and when after breakfast she left
home for her Christmas call on the Stevens, she felt as though she must
sing "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men," at the top of her voice as
she walked.

CHAPTER XIX

THE UNLUCKY TALISMAN

There was a rapturous shriek of joy from Charlie as Constance opened the
door for Marjorie and their hands and lips met in Christmas greeting.
Marjorie stooped to embrace the excited little figure. "Santa Claus did
come to see Charlie, didn't he?" she exclaimed, in pretended surprise.
"And what did he bring?"

For answer the child limped to his Christmas corner. "Oh, a fiddle," he
said reverently, clasping the little violin to his heart. "Now I shall
play in the band soon. Johnny said so." He thrust the violin under his
sharp little chin, the thin fingers of his left hand reaching across the
fingerboard, his left wrist curving into position.

"Why, he holds it like a real violinist!" exclaimed Marjorie. "Can he
play?"

Charlie answered her question by dragging his triumphant bow across the
helpless strings, drawing forth a wailing discord of tortured sound.

"He thinks he can," giggled Constance. "I suppose those awful sounds
are the sweetest music to his ears. Luckily, we don't mind them. I hope
you don't. I hate to stop him, he is so delighted with himself."

"I don't mind in the least," assured Marjorie. "I wouldn't spoil his
pleasure for anything in the world."

Charlie had no intention of giving a concert that morning, however; he
had too many other things to distract his mind.

Marjorie sat on the floor beside the Christmas tree, her feet tucked
under her, and listened with becoming gravity and attention while he
told her about Santa Claus' visit, and one by one brought forth his
precious presents for her to see.

"He must have had enough presents to go around