-room, where a midnight supper
had been set for four, but, because of his absence, had not been
touched. He saw the tree and the toys that the messenger had left, and
spoke for the first time. "Oh, wife dear, have they all come? Are they
all here? The toys and all?" and then, seeing the overcoat that the
messenger had left on a chair near by, and which his wife had not yet
seen, he cried excitedly, "Take that away--it isn't mine!"

"Why, yes, dear," said his wife, "it must be yours."

"No, no," he said; "I bought a coat like that, but I sold it. I drank a
lot and only climbed on the train as it was pulling out of Omaha. In the
warm car I fell asleep and dreamed the sweetest dream I ever knew. I had
come home sober with all the things, you had kissed me, we had a great
dinner here, and there stood the Christmas tree, the children were here,
the messenger and his wife, and their children. We were all so happy! I
saw the shadow fade from your face, saw you smile and heard you laugh;
saw the old love-light in your eyes and the rose coming into your cheek.
And then--'Oh, bitterness of things too sweet!'--I woke to find my own
old trembling self again. It was all a dream. Looking across the aisle,
I saw that coat on the back of an empty seat. I knew it was not mine,
for I had sold mine for two miserable dollars. I knew, too, that the man
who gave them to me got them back again before they were warm in my
pocket. This thought embittered me, and, picking up the coat, I walked
out and stood on the platform of the baggage car. At the next stop they
took me off and turned me over to the city marshal,--for the coat
belonged to the Superintendent.

"It is like mine, except that it is real, and mine, of course, was only
a good imitation. Take it away, wife--do take it away--it haunts me!"

Pitying him, the wife put the coat out of his sight; and immediately he
grew calm, drank freely of the strong coffee, but he could not eat.
Presently he went over and began to arrange the little Christmas tree in
the box his wife had prepared for it during his absence. She began
opening the parcels, and when she could trust herself, began to talk
about the surprise they would have for the children, and now and again
to express her appreciation of some dainty trifle he had selected for
her. She watched him closely, noting that his hand was unsteady, and
that he was inclined to stagger after stooping for a little while.
Finally, when the tree had