my Christmas-box to-morrow you are to give me two kisses.'
"'Two kisses!' he exclaimed, delighted. 'I should rather think they are not to be bought, nor sold neither! If you like, my dear, you shall have them at once, and two to follow before dinner to-morrow. Kisses? That's not much of a Christmas-box for a girl of twenty!'
"'Never mind, papa; don't forget I have your promise—the word of a soldier.'
"' Oh, I'll keep it, never fear!' And then, as he went away, I heard him mutter. 'But, by Jove! I haven't promised not to give the child a better Christmas-box than a couple of kisses!'
"The next day, punctually at four o'clock, dressed in my prettiest frock, I knocked at the study-door, and, in the most impressive tones I could muster, announced, 'If you please, Colonel, dinner is on the table!'
"'All right,' replied my father, with a smile of satisfaction, 'you see, I am quite ready; and I've got a roaring appetite, in order to do honour to the feast.'
"'I am delighted to hear it,' I answered. 'Now will you have the kindness to let me conduct you to the banqueting-hall?'
"'Stop a minute, my dear. You must first permit me to offer you a little Christmas souvenir, which I have here for the occasion.' And, opening one of the drawers in his writing-table, he drew forth a beautiful and costly bracelet, set with pearls, which he clasped on my arm in the most gallant and courtly manner.
"'And now,' he added, 'this small affair having been disposed of to the satisfaction, I trust, of all parties concerned, it only remains for me to give you the two kisses you asked me for yesterday.'
"'Ah! yes, papa, you are quite right; but I didn't say the kisses were for myself. Wait a moment, and you will see!'
"Without giving him time to consider my meaning, I took his arm, and led him into the dining-room. Scarcely had we crossed the threshold, when a sweet little girl of four summers clasped my father's knee, and lisped 'Merry Christmas, g'anpa!' At the same moment a curly-headed, blue-eyed boy of six seized his coat-tail, and shouted, 'Merry Christmas, grandpa!'
"It needed all my courage to speak as I did."
"My father stopped short, turned sharply towards me, with brows contracted, and for a moment my heart sank within me. I thought my plan had failed. But the kind old man glanced at the two baby faces, and in an instant the threatened storm had passed away. Stooping, he lifted both the children in his arms and covered them with kisses, whilst I saw two big tears roll down the veteran’s cheeks.
"'Now or never!' thought I, as I ran quickly to the door and returned, holding by one hand my brother Frederick and by the other his young wife. I must admit it was a most anxious moment for me, as my father looked from me to his son and the woman who had been the cause of their long estrangement. My father's expression was by no means reassuring, and it needed all my courage to speak as I did.
"'Father,' I said with desperate resolution, 'yesterday you pledged your word as a soldier that you would give me two kisses for a Christmas box. I am here to claim the fulfilment of your promise.'
"For an instant he hesitated. Then, holding out both hands towards my brother, he exclaimed:
"'Frederick! My son!'
