tissue paper,
disclosing a cut glass inkstand, with a heavy silver top, on which were
engraved his initials in block letters.

There was a general murmur of admiration from all.

"Very fine, very fine," said the judge, picking up the card which read,
"Merry Christmas, from Miss Barber."

"Miss Barber?" he repeated questioningly. Then it dawned upon him that
this expensive gift was from one of his guests.

"Pardon me, my dear," he said turning to Marian, who looked half
complacent, half embarrassed. "I am an old man and don't always remember
names as well as I should. The beauty of your gift quite overcame me.
Allow me to thank you and express my appreciation of it."

Marian smiled affectedly at the judge's words, in a manner so foreign to
her former, blunt, good-natured self, that the girl chums watched her in
silent amazement.

But the judge's inkstand was merely the fore-runner of surprises. A
sudden cry from Grace attracted the attention of the others.

"Why, Marian Barber, what made you do it?"

Then other exclamations followed in quick succession as the Phi Sigma
Taus rushed over to her in a body, each carrying a jeweler's box.

"You shouldn't have been so generous, Marian," said Grace. "I never
dreamed of receiving this beautiful gold chain."

"Just look at my bracelet!" cried Jessica.

"And my lovely ring!" put in Nora.

"Not half so fine as my silver purse," commented Anne.

Miriam Nesbit was the recipient of a cut glass powder box with a silver
top, while Eva Allen was in raptures over a gold chatelaine pin, that
more than once she had vainly sighed for.

Even the boys had been so well remembered that they felt rather
embarrassed when they compared their simple gifts to Marian with those
she had given them. As for Mr. Henry Hammond, he had received a complete
toilet set mounted in silver that was truly a magnificent affair, while
Marian proudly exhibited a gold chain and locket set with small
diamonds, which she had received from him.

When the last package had been opened, Santa Claus removed his huge
white beard, slipped out of his scarlet bath robe bordered with cotton
and stood forth as Hippy Wingate; while Father Time set his sickle
carefully up in one corner, divested himself of his flowing beard and
locks, took off David's gray dressing gown and appeared as Tom Gray.

It was long after midnight before the guests sought their rooms, their
arms piled with gifts.

"Come into my room fo