it of Lois'
circle of remembrance. He was well aware that he had no reason to
expect anything, and yet how much any little token would have meant to
him, for it would have told him that she had not forgotten him.

"Wasn't it kind of Miss Lois to send these lovely presents," Betty
exclaimed, after she had examined everything most carefully. "And
there's something for you, too, Mr. Jasper," she added. "I kept it
till the last," and a merry twinkle shone in her eyes as she handed him
a neatly-tied package.

"Why, who sent me this?" Jasper asked in surprise.

"Miss Lois, of course. She knew that you would be here to-day, and she
asked me to give it to you when you came. This tree is her idea, you
see. We would never have thought about it but for her. Isn't she
great!"

Jasper took the package in his hands and held it there like a big
awkward school boy. He could not trust himself to speak lest he should
betray his feelings. He longed to be away in the quietness of his own
cabin that he might open his treasure and that no eyes but his might
look upon the gift. But Betty knew nothing of such thoughts.

"Open it, Mr. Jasper," she ordered, "I know you'll be surprised."

Slowly and carefully Jasper untied the red ribbon and opened out the
paper wrapping. As he did so there came forth a grey woollen
well-knitted muffler.

"Isn't it lovely!" Betty exclaimed as Jasper stood holding it in his
hands staring hard upon it. "And I saw Miss Lois begin it herself just
before she left for the city. She asked me what I thought you would
like for a Christmas present, and I told her that you should have a
muffler to keep your throat warm on cold days. She thought maybe you
would rather have a book, but when I told her that you could buy books,
but not a muffler like she could make, she said that perhaps I was
right. Let me see what it looks like on you, for I must write and tell
her all about it."

Before this torrent of words Jasper was as helpless as a child. He
allowed Betty to unfold the muffler and wrap it carefully about his
neck.

"There, isn't that fine, Mrs. Peterson?" she asked. "Mr. Jasper won't
get cold now in his throat, will he?"

"I have never worn such a thing in my life," Jasper managed to explain.
"What shall I do with it? I couldn't wear that in the woods."

"Oh, but you might need it, Mr. Jasper," Betty insisted. "Anyway, if
you don't wear it Miss Lois will be so disappointed. She knit eve