"Kate, will you take back what you said to-day?"
She stole one glance into his passionate, pleading eyes, and her head drooped lower.
"Can't you take it back, Kate?"
A moment's pause. At last the answer. "How can I, unless—unless you take back what you—what caused it?"
Never before had the little Carletons waked to such a radiant Christmas morning. Never had the Forties known so royal a Christmas-tree. Never before was "Uncle Hal's" so thronged with beaming faces and happy hearts. But among all the little ones whom his love and thoughtfulness had blessed there was no face that shone with bliss more radiant, with joy more deep and perfect, than that of Captain Santa Claus.
