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第19章 蓝宝石项链（第3页）

一片寂静笼罩着这个小古董店。

他看见远处的教堂尖塔，钟声开始响起。

远处鸣响的钟声，放在柜台上的小盒子，姑娘眼中的疑问，皮特心中产生了一种无以名状的生命复苏感——这一切都是因为一个孩子的爱。

“可为什么你要这么做？”

皮特把手中的礼物递给她。

“已经是圣诞节早上了，”

他说，“不幸的是，我没有人可以让我送点什么东西给他。

你能让我送你回家，在你家门口说一声圣诞快乐吗？”

于是，在钟声齐鸣时，在幸福的人群中，皮特·里查德和这位还不知姓名的姑娘迈入了又一天的开端——那给世间每个人带来希望的伟大一天。

&eRichardwasthelomanintownonthedayJeahedoorofhisshop.It'sasmallshopwhiedowntrahelittlefrontnwithadisarrayofold-fashiohisasworniheCivilWar，gsandsilverboxes，imagesofjadeandivory，porfigurihiswinter'safternoonachildwasstandingthere，herfainsttheglass，earandeudyireasureasifshewerelookingforsomethingquitespeallyshestraightehasatisfiedairaore.

TheshadowyinteriorofPeteRichard'sestablishmentwaseveeredthanhissho.Shelveswerestackedwithjewelcaskets，duelingpistols，dlamps，andtheflooredwithirons，mandolinsandthingshardtofindanamefor.BehierstoodPetehimself，amahirtybutwithhairalreadyturninggray.Therewasableakairabouthimashelookedatthesmallerwhoflattenedherunglovedhaer.

"Mister，"shebegan，"wouldyoupleaseletmelookatthestringofbluebeadsinthewindow？"Petepartedthedraperiesaaurquoisestolyagainstthepallorofhispalmashespreadtheorbeforeher."They'rejustperfect，"saidthetirelytoherself."Willyouprettyforme，please？"

&udiedherwithastonyair."Areyoubuyingtheseforsomeo;"They&#sister.Shetakese.Yousee，thiswillbethefirstChristmassiherdied.I'vebeenlookiwonderfulChristmaspresentformysister."

"Howmueydoyouhave？"askedPetewarily.Shehadbeenbusilyusinahandkerdnowshepouredoutahandfulofpeheter."Iemptiedmybank."sheexplainedsimply.

&elookedatherthoughtfully.Thenhecarefullydrewbaecklace.Thepricetagwasvisibletohimbutnottoher.Howcouldhetellher？Thetrustinglookofherblueeyessmotehimlikethepainofanoldwound."Justami;hesaid，aowardthebackofthestore.Overhisshoulderhecalled，"What'syour;Hewasverybusyaboutsomething."Jea;

&ereturraceackagelayinhishand，edipaperahabowofgreen."Hereyouare，"hesaidshortly，"Don'tloseitonthewayhome."

Shesmiledhappilyoverhershoulderassheranoutofthedhtheatchedhergo，whiledesolatiohoughts.SomethingaboutJeanGradherstringofbeadshadstirredhimtothedepthsofagriefthatwouldnotstayburied.Thechild'shairwaswheatyellow，hereyesseablue，aime，notloehadbeehagirlwithhairofthatsameyellowaasblue.Aurquoiseohavebeenhers.

Buttherehadearainynight—atrugonaslipperyroad—andthelifewascrushedoutofhisdream.Siehadlivedtoomuchwithhisgriefinsolitude.Heolitelyatteomers，butafterhourshisworldseemedirrevocablyempty.Hewastryingtetiyideepeneddaybyday.TheblueeyesofJeaedhimintoacuteremembrahehadlost.Thepainofitmadehimretheexuberanceofholidayshtheradewasbrisk；gwomenswarmediriryingtaihelasterhadgoeonChristmasEve，hesighedwithrelief.ItwasoverforaforPetethenightwasnotquiteover.

Thedooropenedandayoungwomahaninexplicablestart，herealizedthatshelookedfamiliar，yetheberwhenorwherehehadseenherbefore.Herhairwasgoldenyelleeyeswereblue.Withoutspeaking，shedrewfromherpurseapackagelooselyusredpaper，abowofgreenribbonwithit.Preseringofbluebeadslaygleamingagainbeforehim.

"Didthisyourshop？"sheasked.

&eraisedhiseyestohersaly，"Yes，itdid."

"Arethesto;

"Yes.quality—butreal."

"berwhoitwasyousoldthemto？"

"Shewasasmallgirl.HernamewasJeahemforheroldersister'sChristmaspresent."

"Howmucharetheyworth？"

"Theprice，"hetoldhersolemnly，"isalwaysatialmatterbetweentheselleraomer."

"ButJeanhasneverhadmorethanafewpenniesofspendingmoney.Howcouldshepayforthem？"

"Shepaidthebiggestprieeverpay，"hesaid."Shegaveallshehad."

Therewasasilefilledthelittlecurioshop.Hesale，abellbeganringing.Thesoug，thelittlepagoer，thequestiohegirl，arangefeelirugglingunreasonablyiofPete，allhadetobebecauseoftheloveofachild.

"Butwhydidyoudoit？"

&hegiftinhishand.

"It'salreadyChristmasm，"hesaid."Andit'smymisfortuIhaveogiveanythingto.WillyouletmeseeyouhomeandwishyouaMerryChristmasatyourdoor？"

Andso，tothesoundofmanybellsaofhappypeople，PeteRidagirlwhosetohear，walkedoutintothebeginnidaythatbriheworldforusall.