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The Goderich Star, 1898-12-16, Page 5TEF- 001=0II STAR. 4- • �; IN ,w First Publisle4-411 'lettere; 4. Fifty years ago Serena Ann lived in Braintree. and Christmas -keeping was no' yet much the tasbton in Neer England." Serena Ann was ton years old, and she hurl never seen a Christmas -tree, hung up her stocking, or had a Christmtaspresent even. Serena Ann's father wall a harmer; she had a mother, and an Aunt Love, her mother's sister, who lived with them. and was to be married in February, and a brother Ebenezer. Ebenezer was two years older than Serena Ann, and went to the district school winters. Serena Ann herself went to school only in the summer. She was a delicate little girl, and the sch(lohhouse was too far away for her to walk in cold weather. So she stayed at home, and her mother heard her spell every day, and she did sums on a piece of old slate, and was reading the Bible through, a chapter every morning. So her education was not neglected. One night In the first week in Decem- ber, Serena Ann was sitting beside the fire, with the piece of broken slate on her lap, trying to do a sum about ten gray - hounds running a race, and bow long it would take for one to catch up with the other, when Ebenezer came home from sohool. There was a light snow falling, and Ebenezer was powdered with it. Be came in stamping lits cowhide shoes and shaking himself like a dog. Aunt Love was sewing green velvet on her wedding pelisse, and Mrs. Bagley was paring ap- ples for sauce. "Don't stamp so, Eben. ezer," said she. "And don't shake the snow on my pelisse," cried Aunt Love. Aunt Love was very pretty, with smooth brown hair, and pink cheeks. "I've got to get the snow off," panted Ebenezer. "Oh, mother -1" get It off 'a ash d "You ought to 114 h shed, then," said his mother. "Oh, mother!" "And not shake it ail over the clean floor, and your aunt's pelisse." "Oh. mother, Sammy Mora say1 he's 4, STONED IN B; • rEN AUNT .08H SIMMONS. "golni to Inuit by hitt Mocking before Christmas!" Then Arena Ann 100 of slate and her grayhon "I don't want to hear sense," said Mrs. Bagley. "Ile says hie folks are goingput some- thing In it for him." "If they want to be so silly they can." "Mother can't I hang up my stock- ing?" Yes," saki his mother, "you can hang 1t up all you want to, but you won't get anything in it, You have all the presents your father can afford to give you, right along. Now go out in the shed and bring in an armful of that apple -tree wood for the fire." And Ebenezer went out disconsolately. Serena 4,t.'1 pulled her mother's apron. "Mother : n't I hang up my stocking?" she whispe.•'1. "You can hang it up, hat Isbell tell you what I did Ebenezer. You won't get any- thing in it. I shan't treat one of you any better than I do the other." "I never flung up my stocking since 1 was born," said Serena Ann, plaintively. "Neither did I," said her mother. "I never thought of such a thing when I was a little girl. Now, tend to your sem." And Serena Ann attended to her sum; but the thought of Christmas seemed to gain upon her chi lei at Mind much raster than one greyhound upon the other. She could not quite give up the holly that possibly, if she dill hang up her staking. somebody might putsomething in it. If not her mother, AitnttLovsf or her father might, or even Jou8�bua8lt tmons, the young man whom Attnt` seeeera, going tOmarry: he sometimes gave her a peppermint. And after all her mother was a pretty tender one, and she might relent. So Serena Ann hung up her stocking the night before Christmas. ItIleQuite possible if Mrs. Bagley' bad seen that poor little blue yarn stocking banging in the chimney corner ebe might have slipped at least a bunch of raisins, and a cinnamon stick of two, Into it, and Aunt Love might have tucked in a bit of blue ribbon. But nobody saw it, for Serena Ann, with the want of calculation of her innocent heart. slipped out atter every- body was in bed and hung it up. At breakfast the next Morning Serena Ann's month drooped pitifully at the cor- ners, and she did not eat much. You are a silly girl to act so," Raid her mother. "You knew what 1 told eon." "I s' pose Snowily Morse has got hie stock- ing chuck hill," Mid Ebenezer. He felt Serena Ann's injury -__to be bis own. "Go ort In theslitd and bring In some more of Dint ripple -tree wood, If you've finished your brettkfasty" said his mother, and then she selit'Eerena Ann upstairs to make her bed. As soon as tbe door closed, Aunt Love turned to her Matey. "Suppose Josh en and I take Serena Ann to Boston with ns," said Rho. Mrs. Bagley looked at her doubtfully. "I'm afraid she'll be In your way," she said. "No, she won't, and it will make up to her for not. having anything In her stock- ing. rt tIt sorry ter her Serena Ann Is a good litte girl." Well, I felt *Wry s heart," said Sere AL ft's a silly cmtOtfl, the night up from piece such non - to begin it. I suppose she would be tickled to death to go with you and Joshua. She never went to Boston but once; Ebenezer's treat twice." She must conte right down and get ,'Andy it she's going," Bald Aunt Love, "for toshua well be here with the chnlee." And Serena Ann was called and- told, to her joy and wonder, that sbe was to go to Boston with Aunt Love and Joshua Mut- inous. "But you must be a good girl feud not make tiny trouble," said her mother, "for your Aunt Love has a great deal to do. She hg going to buy some of her fur- niture, urniture, and her welding bonnet and shoes, and she is very kind to take you." And Serena Aun promised beamingly. She had never felt so happy in her life as she did thatCbrlstina menthe-, when she set forth to visit leo+tau, tucked in bet aeon Aunt Love and Joshua Simmons in the shake. It was very pleasant. but cold; there was • slight rime of snow on the ground, which shone like silver. Serena Aun wore her thick wadded coat, her lambswool tippet and her wadded brown silk hood with cherry atrium,. She was quite warns, and her face was so Mink and radiant with bliss that Annt Love and Joshua looked at her, and smiled at each other abova her head. Serena Ann, moreover, had, tightly grasped in one red-mlttened hand, her mother's silk purse, and It contained two ninepences. one of which she was to spend for herself, and the other for •1 hack -knife for Ebenezer. Her father had given them to her when she storied. she made up ner mina, as they jogged along over the frozen road, that she would spend her nluepence for an apron for her mother instead of anything for herself, because she could not go to Boston in a chaise. When they reached the city they stopped et the Sign of the Lamb, where Joshua ainmons put up his team; then they all went shopping down Hanover street. quo bad been quite auto eke had seen a !title gjti just like Serena Ann int ii !mobs• wool tippet and brown silk hood, run down a side street a little way back. So Aalnt Love went down the side streets, lacking and inquiring at everybody. She Almost cried as she wout along, Car'ry1en her big green bandbox, looking In vain for .Serena Ann. She did not know what to do, but finally it occurred to her that it was nearly the time for her to meet .IOU a Simmons at the Sign of titel:,amb,apti that in all probabilityaome hetleXelent person would have taken Serena Alin thither. So B,nnt Love has- tened. to the Sign of the Lamb, but it took her aome trine, for she had wandered quite w distance• But Miss Pamela Soley was nut wise enpugb to think that the best plan was to takfe Serena Ann 10 the Sign of the Lamb at oboe, eine they could not find her Aunt Love on Hanover street. She was quite a young lady, in spite of her stately manners. and not bad much experience in resouing lost little girls. She stood for some time in Hanover street, holding Serena Ann's hand, deliberating what to do. But Anally a bright thought struck Miss Pamela Soley "My brother Solomon Is coming for me in our chuiee to take me home to Jamaica Plain, where we live," said she: "Ile Is going to meet me at the corner just below here in about half au hour. We will make your purchases and then we wilt ask him what to no. My' brother Solomon always knows what is best to do. He is older titan I,etnd carried off ninny boners nt Harvard college. Don't cry, Serena Ann. He'll be sura to find your aunt for you." Serena Ann was somewhat comforted, for .the young lady bad a way at once sweet and commanding, and she went hand in hand with her and purchased% beautiful jack-knife for Ebenezer, with one nlnepeuce, and a piece of white nails - where the fashionable stores were at that time. Serena Ann enjoyed buying Aunt Love's and Joshua Simmons' wedding furniture quite as much.ats they did. She thought there was never anything quite so hotel - some as their hairclot.h sofa, and 'mahog- any card -table, and looking glass, and she trudged after them to till the shops where they priced articles and then back to the one where they found them cheapest end best, and never thought of being tired. But she was glad at noon to go tdaek to the Sign of the Lamb, and have some lak- ed beans and a piece of pumpkin pie. They seemed to her far enperior to the baked beans and pie nt homeP .After dinner Joshna=St` `-'sleft them. He had to go a little farther to see allottt his own wedding suit, and Aunt Love meanwhile was to buy her wedding bonnet and shoes, and Serena Ann mike bet pur- chases. Then they were to meet at the Sign of the Lamb, and go home. Serena Anu went with her aunt from shop to shop, and watched her try on hor- nets until she finally bought a beautiful one of green uncut velvet trimmed with white plumes and white lutestring ribbon. Then they started to buy the shoes, Aunt Love carrying the bonnet in a large green bandbox.' There was quite a crowd in Hanover street that afternoon. A great many ladies were out shopping. Serena Ann could,not walk beside her aunt very well, she was so jostled, so she tell behind. Now and then she took hold of the skirt of her auntie's blue delaine gown, so as not to lose her. Nobody ever knew bow it happened, but suddenly, after she had been pushed by the hurrying people and had caught hold of the blue delaine gown, the lady who wore it looked around and she was not Aunt Love. She was very pretty, but her hair was black and fell iu bunches of curls, in- stead of smooth braids, over her red cheeks. and her eyes were black instend of blue. Moreover, ,she was very finely dressed, wearing a velvet pelinye and a rich fur tippet, and bearing before her a great fur muff. The blue delaine gown was the onlyt'thing about this strange young lady that in the least resembled Aunt Love. She stood looking with great surprise at Serena Ann, who looked up at her quite pale with fright, still keeping fast bold of the blue delaine. Filially the young lady laughed, and then her Lice, which bad appeared rather haughty, looked very sweet "What is the mnt.ter, Raid "and why are you lel 1- MgtolttrIOW n7" ' "1 -Weight you were A tint Love," fal- tered Sereno Ann, and the tears beguu to come. "Were yon holding your amt's gown?" "Yes, ma'am." The young lady la"ghed again. "My name in Miss Pamela Moloy," said she. "Take hold of my luind, and don't cry, and we'11 go find ynur aunt. So Serena Ann curled her red mlttened hand timidly around the khl gloved fing- ers of the t emu belt , and t hey went back down Ileteiver stn•,•t.. They walked nn took 1t so to a mother, "but Mat know how Rnew Matey were on the Mad tg Bralles tree. It had grown vary cold, and tbe sled blew. Mr. Solomon got out a gree t phdtt cantles cloak from under the chalet seat, and put it on over his mulberry -colored one. Then presently, because Serena Aun began to shiver a little, tucked in between the two as she was, he threw an end of the monist cloak around her, over her brown silk hood. She was quite warm under that, and also quite bidden from sight. No- body meeting them would have dreamed that there was a little girl to the chaise. In the meantime, Aunt Love and Justine Simmons returned to the S1gu of tbe Lanib, and the hostler, who had forgotten they were coating, told her that a gentleman In a chaise had been there with the little girl and said he WAS going to take her home to Braintree. "Guess you'll overtake 'em," said he. "Gentleman was alone In the chaise with the little girl, wore w Reuther- ry-colored oloak." Aunt Love fairly wept for toy. `Ohl Joshua, I am so thankful," she cried. "I never ootid have told Sarah I'd lost Sere- na Aun, And I haven't got my shoes, but VIM iy reached Braintree and Rivet vow A LAY OP A LAUGH. tilSlwithIn • half mile of th4 B,IIg%y atrtnblouse, Joshua Slnimoas turned..jntp' Weather -.sad, which was w ltttlaahQitar Gut, Auut Love was impatient tit tllajtlt Serena Anu bad reached home. And wait happened, educe Soiotnou Sole" twee was little taster, that botheA llastnrged into the Bagley yard at the same time, and *netts ret'. 'ned from her Christmasoat- With so.ua thlpg more exciting then a flourish of trumpets. Serena Ann herself wets so tired and sleepy the' she could not fairly realise any- Idng. It seamed to her like a dream; the Chorus of surprise and delight, Mr. Soler Metes and Miss Pamela's coming into the heave and getting warm, ant eating sup• per, and borrowing a footatove before they .started on their hamewerd journey, and everythlug. She scarcely even grasped In its full measure of delight the fact that Miss Pamela preeeuted her with the rose- wood workbox and the doll when she kissed her good -by, but Serena Ann had gotten one of the pleasantestntemorles of her Me, and bad her first Christmas keep- ing. THE GAME OF SNAPDRAGON. - Players meat lie Qttlek and Not .Wind Bunted ringers. Few "Christmas gambols" exist in their original form. But the old games modi- fied to suit modern mile as well as the new ones are just as full of tun and are enter- ed ntered into le the young folks nowadays with as much seta as were the rougher gambols over which in old Englaud the "Lord of Misrule" presided. Although the authors ity of this (ofd was geuerrllly acknowledg- ed at Chr'Istmaa merrymaking" 900 at 100 yeast ago, necktie made things very lively, such disorders flually crept into his brief burlesque reign that he was suppressed. One of the most quiet and genial of the aRE HURRIED BACK AI.t1OST oRyiNo. not') sides, they looked in every shop, but n11 In vain. The truth wresting poor Aunt love hall missed Sereno Ann much intoner, and hal 'started off on a wrong lark to eearrh. When she had dine/were(' that her lit tie niece was not behind her and looked around in dismay and lost t he color ant of her pretty pink cheeks, govern! aymptu.hiz Ina ladles bad gathered around her. and Sere 1 silt. pIteked as at Ape• case cum $401110$ the laugh of some onsaen atm 'float cotAaa rip plbng up trout settle Motu otu la the Jest below thea ltcrelag. noon end night 1 can hear her Babbling away with her ..,atter and chaff Aad it tc(u * ea it all creation near her Waft just a'langh. Picture hart Isn't her Lace jurat made fur t - Crinkled and curved fur the laughing cot Qoultl she be solemn, dye think, u prod tar iti Devil a bid Hook for her mother's apron with the other. Miss Pamela Soley herself made two purchases -a little rosewood workbox, with scissors, and thimble, and ivory bod- kin, all complete, and a doll in a very handsome spangled dress like a pritti.en The last purchase rather surprised Serena Aun, for she had thought the young holy too old to play with dolls, but she eyed It admiringly. She had never hail a doll herself, except one tvhich Aunt Love made for her out of a corncob. She sighed when Wee -Pamela Soley tucked the doll with the rosewoad'workbox out of sight in her great muff. . Mr. Solomon Soley was waiting in the chaise on the corner when his sister ap- peared with Serena Ann and told her story. Ne was a handsome young mnu, In a very fine mulberry colored cloak. "We must take her to the Sign of the iamb nt once," Mr. Solomon Soley said, decidedly, and Mees Pamela and Serena Ann gat promptly into the chills. and they In Ade haste -to the Sign of the Lam!). 11 owever, putt before they reached the t teem, Miss Pamela remetnberod an errand which her mother land begged her to do at Mr. Thomas Whitcomb's .tore, and had her brother leave her there, -eying she v'ould join them in a few min- utes. But when Mr. Solomon Soley ingnired at rho Sign of the Lamb, he found that iodine Simmons and Aunt Love hod driven away in their chase some half an hour before, and the hostler, who had been told, die not remember that they hod merely gone to look about the pity "Ljle for the missing child, and were tt j7 •end Ing hack to the tavern to see 1f khe r.,. In the meantime been brought there. How ever, another hostler remembered'that the lady carried a largo green bandbox and was nrvin . "That was A tuaxere,.tt Wald Soren n Ann, and she began to cry, tiro. "Don't cry," said Mr. Solomon Soley. "Yon shall be taken hone safely to- night." Then he turned the el rise around, end drove hack to the stOrt;, wheys his slater had stopped, and bcf'ii'e'&stens Ann fairly I don't care. I'll get married in my old ones. Let's start right away, so we'll overtake them." Joshua Simmons started up the horse, and the chaise rattled out the tavern yard end down the road toward Braintree. But their chapter of a tcid,ints was not quite finished, for Mt they were crusstng Neponset bridge, peering ahead to see if they could catch n glimpse of the other chniac, a gust of wind took off Joshua Simmon's bat and tossed it into the river. IL. had a cold in his head, too. Aunt Love pulled her hood promptly. "Putihison," aurid she. "Don't say a word. If youdon't you'll be laid up with influenza, and the, wedding will have to be postponed, and that's a bad sign." "What'il you do?" askgd Joshua Sim- mons, hesitatingly. Aunt Love untied the green bandbox. "Put on this bonnet." said she. "it'll be so dark when we get home that the neigh- bor.; rnn't see it." So Joshua put on the hood and Annt Love the wedding !sonnet, and It happened Hint when they finally overtook Solomon Sol -y, who hail not much the start, and whew- horse load got a stone in his shoe 'once and mase a delay, that the occupants of the two chaises looked hard at each other and saw nothing that they were looking for. For .1oshnn Simmons, who was natural- ly sem-what ashamed of his woman's head - rear kept his face tamed well awar, and 1" tlt Solomon Soley and hteslster, Pamela, thought there were two ladles in the chaise, and not the aunt and the young Man for whom they werelooking. As tot Serena Ann, she was fast asleep under the camlet cloak and saw nobody, and her Aunt Love and Joshua never dreamed she wall there. M, reover, they w..re looking for one gentleman in the chalwe with her. and here was a young lady also. He wore a camlot cloak, too, !!!.teed of a mulberry cloak, as they had been told. So the two chafer.% rattled on almost abreast for quite a streteh on the turnpike. butt finally SolonlOn Soley'a forged ahead a little, for his horse was fresher. 1 can fancy the dimples her cheeps ua(.rtnttns And see the mouth corners upward run. lean catch iter eyes with the trollu glutting. Brimful of fun She must be pretry to laugh so prettily - Hoch a laugh couldn't belong to a trump Bwtuoreua, too, to see things wittily - Probably pluton. There. now she's off agate. Peal upon peal of It Clear as It carillon, soft se • hell. Why. We lafectiottsl I'm catching the feeler It Chuckling as well WhatI Wt' 1 dreaming t That musical melody Trips up the male, arpeggio, So like a voice that was hushed -ab. wolladay- I.otra, long ago. Haigh hol To thick of what little straws tie kle us! Just a girl's laugh -end my laughing one Its. Silent. and 1 -well, now, Lids is ridloulou_r- Teare in my eyes. -Pall Mall Garotte THE GOLDEN WHEEL. Jack Addison had not been married more than six months 1 had soon oath ins of him since 1887 -Jubilee year -when we had taken our degroee In the sanly botch Wo had been Mende at ('ria bridge, not perhaps very htthuate. but with that kind of friendship that ounslsts In playing whist or poker in each other's rooms and walking together down to the boathouse most afternoons. I had thought of Addison perhaps half o dozen them Woe 1 came down from the varsity. Prob Jbly my image had creased hlsnmind about as often Nevertheless, though 1 would not have walked more than halt a tulle for the pleasure of seeing hint. It was with unaffected cordiality that we shook hands In I'lccadilly the other day Chanoe meet Ings are always Agreeable, and even to conte across en old enemy is better than nothing The pleasantest evening 1 have @pent for years was after a ensue' enema] ter with old Larking, who used to lick Ane regularly every day during my first torte et iohoul Of course Jack asked the to dinner, 1t Is the Englishman's custom, when, hay ing exhausted all the obvious topics of conversation, he oan think of nothing else to gay 1 accepted, because just then 1 was not awry to got a dinner for nothing Beside'', one Is always curious 10 Sett rho sort ut girl who has oared to throw her self away upon an old friend ,luck, It seemed, was now partner in a firm of brewers and apparently had plenty of money These brewers have always rather routed any envy -probably because 1 do not know anything about the bull Ilona To the casual observer from the out side they all aoeln to enjoy a sufficient to conte without overworking themselves Any how. Jack had a very comfortable Int tie house. nicely furnished, and gave me a very lair dinner, good without being us teutntkuus. The wine was excellent, and Mrs Addison proved to be a charming woman. She was extremely pretty, with that Irish combination that I have always thought so effective -blue eyes and heir rather darker than common She was also gambols over which he was master has been handed -down under the name of "Snapdragon." Raisins are pat into a large bowl, covered with spirit, which 1s ignited. Lights in the room are extin- guished, and each one attempts in turn to grasp a raisin, a feat requiring some skill and -curage. Meanwhile an apprupriat' accompaniment Is the "Song of the Snap dragon," beginning time: Here he comes wt' h flaming bowl Don't he mean to take his toll? Snip! Snap! Dragon! Take care you don't take too mech. tie not greedy In your clutch, Snip! Snap! Dragon! With his blue and lapping tongue Many of you will he sting, Snip! Snap! ftragonl Christmas Sermonettes. At Christmas Ino more deeiro a rose Than wish s show in May's new. tangled mirth. -Love's Labor Lost, Act 1, So. L The gift of gifts le love, and there is no other in the world that can hide Its lack or make up its scantloeas. The principal Christmas problem Is to extract a variety of pretty presents from • lint ted financial area, sod the amount of wearing brain work spent on its solution would solve the tariff question If it could all Ise gathered together and applied. Clt ristmas should be .the home festival because the coming of Christ has changer altogether the position of women and has put in their proper light the rights of cblldhood. . Henceforth the wife and mother is the chief figure in every home, and • little child is in the midst thereof. Mra Nuhrtde-1 want a box of your best oigarn to give to my husband for Christ - mite healer-Yee'm. Uses are some very dna Henry Clays, 'm. Mrs NO bride--iR that Henry Clays Why. I had no idea he was en homely. No; 1 don't want those. (live me that box with the pretty Spanish girl on Out ceetea Herds at about sit1111dght it was p••rhap.1 the joints% thea )l over bad In toy 1 " 1 ° "Except of aware* just now." 1 ouggces cd mildly Jack ciceled td*aeyclid 'Exactly, " he count/and. `AWOL this sort of thing wont fur seine the as Weeks.until [was toad- Either calls aro Witham. Iltttr! salsa me ly to love. I tOttnet rho matter over It W `Yflk mind and 00ated to snake an effort, 1 Bother coils me Wyllie -but the fellers fan had n little wonept.0f nay own—not touch,, me 13511 you;know, heft enough W marry on It we flighty glad 1 elnk a girt-rutiter la ahoy did tt ngs quietly-4and 1 thought, some- N'Ithuut them sashes, curls and Mugs thisee bow, that Dolly was aware of my Luton.' orhi !n by i• aato- untleroyt tient', and did not altogether disapprove lore to ehnwnk green apples an' go ewtmmtn' of them '111„4 holiday, tum, was eagles to wIn c m and, and I could, not prolong it for Hato to take the castor -Ito they give rr hally- more thew a few days urther. Su I made' eche! up toy mend to propose on n certain Sat ur ay. It was net fortunate choice, and, of 1 had pot beau one of those men who hate changing their utlndt"-1 -nulled, for ,lack was known at Cambridge fur the most vacillating Of ince-" 1 should ocr- talnly have put it riff Nothing had guns well that day. The general had been alto- gether off hie play and Was not In the test of tempera, I myself had tousled every other drive, and you know what that means. 1 had beaten hint, but thorn herd been no pleasure ateut the game Even when we got back, a gond deal earlier than usual, 1 retuomler uuttuing that Dolly was not quite as pieaennt to neo IIS usual However, 1 asked her to conte and have a game of bllllnrds after tow. meaning to get tato job over." ,lack stopped. and there was a long pt' use "Well, I said, "what happened? She 10 ()opted you, 1 suppose.' '• No l" he eamttnutet. "She refusal tut point blank. The fent wits, I roust have hurried it too notch, you know i was do termtned to gut 1t over, and 1 suppose 1 wits toe abrupt Tho poor child was taken cumplet'Iy by surprise, or said she. was So, for that matter, was 1. It was all overt in ten minutes." 1 begun to grow Interested. "%V bat did you du then?" 1 asked "There was only one thing to bo done. 1 got on my mamhlno anti rode otT. 1 tan toll you I was In a devil itf a state. I nnitbot looked nor oared whom 1 was going. Alt or about an hour's herd riding -it was just 7 o'clock, for 1 remember looking at my watch -I found myself about iltteeu miles from home, and beginning to gat hungry 1 tat dow0 on a milestone and reviewed the slttlutlen, It was vey sad. 1 felt int If my lido had tomo suddenly to 0 blank wall. It was no longer worth ilv ung These are the Initial sylilptnitte. I be Ileve. You will understaud my sense done' "hike Marius among the ruins of Car Otago," 1 suggested "1 entt afford to laugh at 1t now, but 1 can tell you that just then It was no laughing matter. 1 trust hove sat there for more than nn hour. thinking 'Shen 1 n,altzod 10 was time to he gutting hone. for, after all, even a disappointed Inver must have supper. 1 thought sadly of what 1 should do Of courses. 1 had to go I could never Rea her again, never play the aril general at golf or billiards again Well It had boon a very pleasant time while It listed The next morning would w11men no. departure --forever 'I u,uttntetl the old bltyelo, and Art off ivrarlly homeward Then n Sudden re solve uetzed neo t nuns more 1 would gu by her huuta and c,'d a glance at the roof that sheltered her It was a fine Hummer night anti I should still he home well he fore dark 1 entrust, first slowly, then, as the thought of my felly 'wino ermee rue, faster nod faster. until 1 was riding o gond 1a3 or 13 tulles to the hour -not such a lad pace on one of those old tikysartl,rre "('lose to where old Trefusis Ilaed i here Is a long hill, with n sharp turn mar the bottom It has now been marked with u r•�- danger board, but at that time there were F,''•, .• Y but few of thosetttl inventions 'shout t -•+ ` s:• - . ..._ . beet! s'duxoq,'lt;4s -' ,. teem t .a',... rar•rd.o4.e .n n w }tea .air tie" have broken my leg. perhaps rtrn lay . i ni'c'k -would horn rather pleased neo than , s otherwise. S„ at least I fancied as I t 6. d my logs offer the handle bars, preparatory to it good rush town "She simply whizzed along Never be. tore, or $ine., hace 1 felt the nor rush post mo with surto velocity 1 hati n011111 10 the brow et the 1111 tit a good pare, and made no effort to check rttyw•If before the de scent There was 110111Ing for It but to keep cool nod watch 1'.r the turn I Galt 1, ta,xtrateyd exhllttr,t•d to mad nests by the Spred 1 htnglnal aloud and gave a shrill halloo mf triumph 1 was [nearly nt the unr, "A a•nnuan a st•rerl.m for help rang nut. es 1 nng"ttoted the r'r,t•r IA too n st reek of light meg 1 shot round, the angle Judged tt a runty, though 1 stinted ea stone at the edge of the grass by a helmet.. h if yards farther down were two figures. n man and a woman, their harks toward ate, running The woman was In front 11 wits n -hese "1 Saw at nano rug game and hold on without a wand The Iieyelu was rim- ing along at ulnae on fin miles an hour the rubber tires making ns noise in the hard ground -1 here were none of y"mr clanking rhnln. I" Ousel days '1 hr pc id - for 1 conkd now sr.. Ihit It can. n girl ran nnhly, but the rufllan wan gaining upon her In three ns•,"uts 1 should hats caught blmt ' Sudseniy In n hash 1 reog,liei the girl It w,te Il.,lly' '1ho sight tu•rt,•,I too 01 a frenzy, tool, nn „y wheel caught 1,. r pursuer In the hack. I uttered it 11 .1 Mood t -trill rig y. II ..f t ri amph "The anuwh wow t. rr:0 -. and If 1 Ir,d WA put. nit lens,t er Ikebandb's I sl..•,,1•11 , Mist have It.kist to n rrrtab,ly ,\' 't wan, 1 tante elf remarkably well alb n� 'mules or two anti rather rut about 11: hands ' - Thorn was a eau." "That vies how 1 hnpls.nel,' rancl",1r.1 •lar k riot!! ss 4' oiljninl In I11.•,Ir•.411 g -.non,'. "!.lu• w.ts n, 1'.4) 1 m1,1.1,....• Inv yew her, t„n'' 1 Hurn. ,-e17 n. vgs' e. +,• "11. II--y„n a•r• 1 had to r, r•v h. -r ho exrbitn,e,l .la, k w•hi re•'.'.7 r•' it 'haat to fini.h t PIP st•+ry rhe ha l faint.•d nt th•- - r'trrtl n •-aunt "1 H . 1n,1 In'w n7.,,tt the ral,'n•r JerkY Inngh"i 1 7 rt 711411 th,r.• nn- I what .. ..4 r, h, r e1•r••71• 1 rtry r •.,•-. I.• a -or the remain - :n,- , .u.• r i..r that ',totter .g'n. I7'- arm w•:'-.•elr n J•..' at"nnc n Iru"p ,,, e1.1-.1 n. b, 11 • ',el t that m.c.tnnt.H! I, r 1 h .bet'de d1•n11. p.var . nitre (Ine it ore Beset1 Oarenfe I 1 n'. ' fuatn-- 11r• .\.I•, • try lame ale,' 1-. 1' No[ In not „it to ,, .,•t '- omnly •' • • (Pe 'rev( (et'fji►n • • • man i over knew. but It is n cent i))utple.* _.".Stereet thin sort sheep] contrive t, He cure the best wives, 1 oonfess"she fairly fasclnatod me, and we talked together the greater part of the dinner. When she mete to leave us, I noticed she wore in her hod Sae a little gold brooph in the form of a bicycle wheel, with a largo diamond for the hub As I held tbo door open for her to pass out I asked her, laughingly, if aho too, had fallen a victim to the general orate. "It is my talisman," she said, with n smile at Jack " You must ask bum about It. ' 'Hello!' 1 said to .lank when Rho had gone, and he was putting out the elgars A romance, eh? Out with It, old chap'' "It was my wedding prosent W her,' replied Jack, handing mo•a Cabana "'1 h,• mason why 1 chose It Is a long story " "Armed wfthi a cigar and a oup of coffee -black, please, and ono lump -1 can stand anything.” Jack handed me the oup and began with a preliminary cough. "It was two years a I ter ....ermine down,' bo said, "that 1 made the acquaintance of the lady who is now my wife. tiho was then Miss Trefurde, and lived with her father, old Ooneral Tretusle-poor fellow. he died before we were married -in a re• tired village In Devonshire The general was et good old chap, and 1 won hie heart by allowing him to beat um at golf The tact is, 1 had gone down W Dovunahtro so an to be near Westward Hol You return bee I was one of the few mon who were enthusiastic golfers before It became the rage?' 'You got your bine for 1t, 1 remember ' •' Well -If you call that getting a hlete Anyhow, Westward Ho has always been ono of my favorite Ilnks, and there it was that I first met the old general l can re member as well as anything the first time I sew him He had driven off from the seventh tee and lost his bell In the rashes 1 was just behind him playing it round myself and aft he bad gone well off the line and seemed to have no chance of getting on to 1t again I thought 1 might as well play on Unfortunately, as frequently happens in such cases, 1 polled my drive badly and landed In a clump of rushes jnet in front of his nose. 1 never roment bor hearing more violent language In my life. However, 1 apologized profaaoly. and by a curious oolnofdenee we found the two balls lying close together In the same clump. That pacified hint, and as he was Shed playing alone we finished the round together That was the beginning of quite an le Minato friendship Wo got to playing to- gether frequently, and at last he aakel me over to -tine et his place 1 had brought my bicycle with mo -it wen one of the «nod old sort, with n to Inch wheel, you know --and 1 role over In the afternomn, earrylne my dress elnthe'R in a bag 1 saw Dolly that evening fit the first Iline. and I meal not t.'II r'•i that 1 lout no op portonl,y of seeleg her agntn Boon It he came golgo the n•guitr thing for me to ride over In the nenrnnty for 1"nobasrn- II was skeet fiv.. ",Ile.. off -and strive le' k with the genuao tar n gpn.e In Ue e. ern, a Then we ...mid return to din net and 1 would ride hack on my ata Nuns after. • cheroot and • game of hal 0 • N os t all the time the hull year rout' their ain't not Mogan me. I 11•.' 'lure Christmas I'm as good se I kis 15,1 lot a yeller dog named Sport -sick 'Im on the rn1; 'sat thing she knows she doesn't know whore she Is at'. lot • cllppor'alsd, an' When ne boys goes net to' slide ,..hg comes the grocery cart an' we all hook a Adel - •'ut, smun-Umea, when the grocery man is worrlted and cross, .lo roarhne at too with his whip and larrape up hie Lost tetthen 1 lair and holler, "Oh, you never I(•a•i,ed inn."" liar Ju."fora ('Itrtetutas I'm as good as I kia hs: IreWine Rays she hopes that when 1 get to be a man 1'11 hs u luhulouer like her oldes' broths Dae. JJ (N-- sft t` `•d / 4 -. 4 ,nr et up us the rnanibl's that lives le ` 1 eylun'e Where every pro,prck pleases au' only man le 1111 gr a m•rmt she had never been to see • Wild `1 est show, '1 1,:, 11, I,t.• u, Uau,el Bu,.ue, or else 1 wee. she'd know That Buffalo Bill an' cowboys le good enough rr Ereep' Jee"titre Christmas, when I'm good •• 1 kln bet Tbrn t'1' Sport ho hangs around, so collum like and still - Ills et rs they seem a -Ant In': "What's K me11r tor, little Bf114" The rat she sneaks down "R her perch. a-won- ,Irrlt,' what's tlo,"ine t'v them twn en,•mle• itv Inert, haat ase toy mako things hint' Inst 1 ant so perll:e and slick a, earneetlike fa bis. tort mother sea b, 2:4114-: "!love improved nor \\Tills to' 4't fel hrr, hay In' here a Goy 1 !',self, snspil• i•a.+ uu•, Irs"for« ('hn•t rue., I'm as Beni v 1 n be! •, ',''•1n •1 .'4771, t• n'% au' ittn "r ran• •1104.1 ,n, • 11' '7 1 0, \Yui Inn Ir. 11 , , s1 . t'r proper kids. Rea not 1 r mond,' 1, h•. - 4y ler fie r-, and lir•. err p'. nret t„ -1,' t ht'•, ,4,1 ver pt' . ems, an' •4 ,11$1 y«r elle!... '.•,,n, 1., the Ia.! . t •,'.they's ....men f rt' -ni e4 again; n,. tbl In' nv tMes+ , •'v' 1 tike to see upon ,hat tree. 't•,r.' Christmas 1.0 a4 goal as you kin bel Eroaxs ,•, balr, an' min' on't '' Yen it 7., the o'1 pass yet. elate TF.N1tl:it 444 5l?TFD. n 1 erg. .1 ria we !iris to n 4 le•orgla gr. owe story 11 !,c w"_ v1 ,.. -I r• 't'" .• grn'I-men a .ere Hlatlding on • , ;tor g r , n'ni,l street turn -r when !hey were op- . Itha yu.•4 'r e,., heti try a roan nff„ring for sale ., dressed geese They derided to I 1 ar' breis, but 1 h'• rl••n ler Insisted nn . t sal,! ,I•e t 501 ..allies the 7,ve r,wlw to one man. ,..I'.- 1. • • •-• - - ..,,r,llnaly 4011,• - f them bought the ons h'• oirig•- I • ' t - •• and 5.Hd t. ram tm hip friend ' , , .. -1•e `1f'••r the rain.,,'' -••n wan Pompleted might hnitp,•n ser n 1 n ny':"t .ng ' h,• Ion Ise ven.t,•r .' a. naked why he that nits rnl.l0 1 A -II th« h,w 1p weeptnlPly. "i have he, er alio ed bin' to r l• a Idhe eyCl- sin.•.•. slid SI... .a..i .en w rh • That nhl g'•. es. and gander have !Mlle nt We rt' trr,+l the dr Iw,ng ns.n, - ..,,, •'t)0 r "liar)' Yearn and 5 11 Litton liatom in('ountry Idle illus. • rxn. 'hent Petr any Cdta ' b•rnonm � .-t''n•,rn (.'onatitutfdll. tratod t.