The Goderich Star, 1898-12-16, Page 7'!;. GOFER ICII STAR,
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_- / s i.. r,.
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44RISTNIAS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
"What means this glory round our feet,"
The magi mused, "snore bright than
morn t"
And voices chanted, clear and sweet,
"To -day the Prince of Peace is born."
"What means that star," the shepherds
_eak1,
"That brightens through the rocky
glen?"
And angels answering overhead
Sang, "Peace on earth, good -will to tnen."
'Tis eighteen hundred years and more
Sluce those sweet oracles were dumb;
We wait for Him like those of yore:
Alas! He seems so slow to come.
But It was said In words of gold
No time or sorrow ern shall dim
That little children might be bold
In perfect trust to cpme to Him.
All round about our feet shall shine
A light like that the wise men saw,
If we our loving will incline
To that sweet life which is the law.
So shall we learn to understand
The simple faith of shepherds then,
And, clasping kindly baud in hand
Sing, "Peace on earth, good -will to men.'
And they who do their souls no wrong,
But keep at eve the faith of morn,
Shall daily hear the angels' song,
"To -day the Prince of Peace is born&
OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER.
BY MRS. L. M. RAYNE.
My chum, John Meredith, was go-
ing home, He was always sighing for
his home, and at times this longing
possessed him so completely that he
seeme.. on the point of abandoning his
becoming a rich man.
res
H acts of be D er 8
Meredith had been In 111 health, but
ten years' residence in the West had
made a new man of him. Success
at last had home our way, and he
suddenly announced that he was go-
ing home for his Christmas dinner.
He was a quiet, queer fellow, any
way you put it; lately, however, he
had seemed wonderfully alert. The
arrival of the weekly mail found hirfi
In a state of great expectation, and
after he had read his letters he would
sit quietly all evening looking very
happy and smiling as he read them
over again. He always was anon-
committal chap, but this time there
was no mistaking the signs, so I sus-
pected his homesickness, and judged
his case, as one 1s apt to do, by the
light of my own. No wonder, poor
fellow, that he wanted to wipe out
the 1,600 miles which alone stood be-
tween him and that Christmas tur-
key : For my own part, I can swear
that no power as yet known to man
could keep me back from Jim Mc-
Kenzie's Christmas dinner, for Mary
was to be there -Mary whom all
these years 1 had remembered and
loved so Well. I had never forgotten
her heautlfut deep, dark eyes, which
seemed to search one's soul with that
t.enetratinz look one sees sometimes
in a naby's eyes.
There was but little out here In the
mountains to relieve the tedium of
our long evenings, so Jim Mclienzie'e
weekly visits were always heralded
with joy. We made merry over his
coming, and our carefully prepared
dinner we regarded as a feast. We
talked it over In the morning, and
when evening came we began to plan
for next week's coming. No wonder
McKenzie was always welcome. His time before she spoke again; and then
mind was stored with the thrilling It was to ask why It was that women
adventures of early days In the
mountains. We never tired of listen-
ing to the story of his own good
luck; how, way down near the stream
on the side of the mountain, his quick
eye had deteeted the bite of shining
gold; how, day by day and all alone,
he followed up the little thread of
gold until he had discovered the secret
of the mountain's heart, the generous
yield of ore which had made him the
richest man in " Golden Point." With
touching pathos he would tell us of
the brave -hearted men no less worthy '
than himself who had come out here
to meet only bitter disappointment
and blasted hopes. At rare inter -
vale he would speak to us of his own
early trials, of his dead wife, to 1
whose loving care and gentle sym-
pathy he confidently and proudly at-
tributed his entire success and all
that watt good In him. Then, ton, he
always brought us news of his daugh-
ter Mary. At first her letters were
only outpourings of her homeslclt,
loving heart; she was born to live Ind
the mountains, and declared she must
have the freedom of the mountain
bird. After a while her letters breath -
id a more contented s frit. In an
•
XEMBM 1898
Jim would bring. Sometimes Mary's
letters were only of her life at school,
her books, her new friends -and MY
heart would sink -for then she seem-
ed so far, so very far away ! Again,
she would write of herself, of the love
she bore her father and her home,
with an occasio.)al-a very occasional
-message for Harry, at which, of
course, my heart would beat with
joy, and I would cough or light my
pipe, do anything to hide the tell-tale
light I knew was in my eyes. Dur-
ing the lett year she had written
most of her home -coming; and lately
her letters had taken a tone of great
seriousness, with many allusions to
her " duty as a woman."
In her latest letter she begged that
het; father would take her more seri-
ously; she " could not be a butter-
fly," and she spoke of " woman's
sphere being broad and far-reaching."
McKenzie only laughed and said,
" Poor child ! she is sighing for the
mountain air." He wrote her of the
beautiful fitly he had trained and
made ready for her use, and she
would soon see for herself how very
long and broad her woman's sphere
could be. At Mat a letter came telling that
she was surely coming home, and
telling how anxious she was to be
with him on Christmas day. She
complained ever so gently that she
feared he had not taken her exactly
as she wished -that she wee no long-
er a child, and that her mind was
quite occupied with the problem of
Woman's Mission." In fact, she had
lately been made president •of the
Woman's Emancipation Circle, which
organization had originated In her
school with every promise of becom-
ing a power for great good among
women. " I subjoin," she added, " the
principal maxims for which we pledge
ourselvea to labour without ceasing :
" We claim equal rights before the
law.
We ask equal pay for equal work.
" We ask that men cease to impose
upon us by their empty flattery, and
' That we be recognized as reason-
able human beings with eyes to see
for ourselves; hands to work as we
will."
This time even McKenzie could not
looked
catchMeaning; he o e
fail to her g.
said :
puzzled and troubled and finally
' In the morning she will be half -way
home and I shall go to jneet her. I
think," he added slowly, " I think
Mary needs her father. Yes, I'm sure
-dead sure -she needs,- her father."
Meanwhile I had registered a solemn
vow that every claim and every as-
sertion of this New Woman should be
disproved and contradicted by Mary
In her own sweet self. When I closed
my eyes tnat night it was to dream
of Christmas Day and Mary, and I
ready believe that in my sleep I heard
the sweet sound of wedding bells.
. . . . . . • •
For some time the next day Mc-
Kenzie was shyly making his daugh-
ter's acquaintance. He could not for
the life of him see the slightest trace
of the dread phantom her last letter
had created. He thanked God that
she was womanly and gentle; that her
heart was right, whatever error of
fancy had gotten into her head.
" Why, dea • Mary," he answered
her, " you don't want to work like a
man. You can't do It. When I was
your age I could handle a pick all
day; I could do It now. A woman's
work cannot be equal to man's; so it
le hardly fair for her to ask equal pay
-besides, it was to Adam the com-
mand was given ' to earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow.' "
Poor Mary ! She could not help
being disconcerted. Her father's opin-
ions, she knew, were always based
on common sense. So it was some
e
Incredibly short tin e the mountain
bird had ceased to flutter against the
bars of her cage. Her quick and re-
ceptive mind soon yielded to the guid-
ance of those about her, and with the
full force of an ardent nature she pur-
sued the work of her education.
'thus from wank to moist '.lie ns en-
et1 w1tdoilgl t to ttio "ltellkDdui budget
tering with your rights or hear of
any law that would be unjust to
yen ! By Geo: ge ! I would soon
show that your' rights were my rights,
and that the law exists solely for
the benefit of mankind, which you
know, my dear, Includes womankind,
even the ' New Woman,' too."
Poor Mary was confounded. After
ail. were men and women really equal
before the law ? If that were so,
what became of the enormous in-
justice and gigantic abuses that wo-
men had silently and patienriy oorne
all these years ? It all seemed so con-
fusing, so difficult, so very puzzling;
she could not doubt that her father
was right -he always was on practi-
cal questions. She looked out of the
car window, and was silent. Her
eyes ware full of tears. It was hard
to believe that the Woman's Emanci-
pation Circle was, after all, to have
no existence In the world, and that
all her .line arguments, her broad
views on the woman subject, were
surely disappearing -melting away be-
fore her father's clear and convicing
assertions.
did not have equal rights with men
before the law. tie alewered that
women surely do have equal rights!'
before the, ISA, "icon see, my dear,'•
he went ofd,, " their rights are really
identical, their litterresta the same; and
it ill 6 MO first notion of duty to
see that thstille tights are respected. i
imPUI Mut to tee any pip Inter -
caret a woman use her hands and help
herself ?"
Of course, I was disconcerted, and
saw at once that I was treading on
dangerous ground, but I only laughed
and said :-
" She can. She certainly has the
right, hut why not allow a fellow the
privilege ?"
Then, In a defiant tone. she re-
plied :-
" We don't want privileges or aid;
we only want what is just."
" At your hands," I answered, " 1
don't ask for justice, at all; but I
do yearn for privileges."
She tossed her head In reply, and
stood ready to mount.
In a few momenta we were off,
scouring the country, riding up the
mountains and walking our horses
slowly down again. Near the base
of the timber line Mary's horse sud-
denly shied, her saddle turned, but
In her terror she called to me. In an
instant I was by her side and just
saved herfrom falling to the ground.
Of course, ., I had to straighten the
saddle; and I simply asserted '•
U
tightest and best of the sons the mornln$,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us\\ the tied.
Star of the Fast, the h01.40n adorni11,
Guide where ourintant Redeemer lslald.
5 J
ace r !111111
Cr W(iT0
Cola on (s Cradle the de
C N
4 �•
Low lies alis hes ,' 'n the beasts of the stall;
Angels, odor ellim,in slumber re c,1 fl .
Malcer,andMonarch,and 3avtour til all.
eSay, shall we yield Him, In costly devo'ton
Odors of tdom and oiiertngs Divine
Gems at the mountain,andpearls dt eke ocean,
llyrrit 'ro n w iorest,ot goldlt'omthe rnrne?
�/t�lnly we chker each ample ob\ca; oIv,
Vainly with grits would Nis flavor secure;
Picher,byiar, is the hearty adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers at the poor.
-reeves. 'see
She recognized. at once that she had
met defeat; andIth all the bravery
she could comma)) , the conversation
was turned to other things. In a
short time they would be home and
enjoy Christmas day together.
• • • • • •
Was It in truth neeessary for me
to see MrKenzle at once about that
broken fence, or was It only the crisp
mountain alr that tempted me from
the house three hours before I was
expected to arrive at Jim McKen-
zie's ' One thing was ceetaln, I
could not watt another moment, and
In half an hour I was speeding along
and nearing his plaee. As I rode up
1 saw her standing on the porch. She
came.qulckly forward to meet me. i
blushed like a sehoolboy when I took
her hand and looked into her eyes
Yes, there was still the deep,searrh-
tng, truly baby look. 1 telt relieved
at once and thought. " It won't be
se very hard, after all; she could not
nook like that and be really a New
Woman."
in a few moments I had forgotten
about the broken fence, and we went
together to nee the beautiful brown
filly. I suggested that there was
time enough to try her before Rin-
ner, and Miry acquiesced at once.
She had a fhney to saddle the horn..
herself. I never thought of interfer
-
1, , until she came to tighten the
girtrn; then I simply said
" fou would better let me do that
for yo
" Nevis' mild," she answered; " why
{
women," I said. This time she would
give me no answer, but In her eyes
I read that I had scored my second
point.
In s few moments dinner was ready.
and a happier trio never sat down to
a Christmas feast. Mary had for the
moment forgotten her misadventures,
and a more charming hostess could
not be Imagined.
In the quiet joy of Mary's return
McKenzie looked blissful and content -
en. t confess to having felt a little
nervous. Bo far the day had gone
well with me, but I wanted to snore
my third and last point, and anxious-
ly awaited my opportunity, which
presently came In the shape of the
Creat American turkey. The turkey
was brought In just as I was telling
In a triumphant tone of Mary's prowl
refusal of my good offices to adjust•
ing her saddle, and how she did not
hesitate to demand my obedience whet}
she really needed my services. Jim
ordered the turkey placed before
Mary, and explained that her moth,•• -
had always carved; no one knew P.
well as she how to select the cholcea'
bits and give to each one just the
dainty morsel most coveted; and now
Mary must learn to do the mine.
She took the large knife to her
hand and gazed at 1t, looking very
dubious; then she stuck the fork well
into the turkey's breast and made an-
other attempt to use the knife.
She looked at her father a mo
ment, but his attention was alto-
gether bent upon selecting a choice
bit of celery. Then she gave me a
hurried, appealing glance; I moved
my chair a Ilttle, but said nothing
At length she turned to me again and
put her hand on my arm and gently
said •-
.
"t ,. .,3oar
tiger and Mares than.
• , Mir
please carve lr
for me ?" " '
My lost pole .. ..,.: :^lifdfd'ran
you wonder that 1 Consider Chrlet-
mas the greatest day of the year, and
the American turkey the greatest of
birds ? But. here we call It the fat•
con -it sometimes catches mountain
birds,
" You see, I am stronger than you,
and I ylelied my right too easily.
You will always let me .,.,dd1e your
horse in future 1"
I suppose It was the shock that
made her blush and look so baffled
as she glanced at me, and I felt
sure that I had scored a point. After
this we rode quickly home. At was
almost time for dinner, and McKen-
zie was waiting for us on the porch.
We went together to look after the
broken fence. When we retut'ned to
the house I found Mary In the par-
lour, struggling with a big log of
wood that had rolled from its place,
and I further noticed that her gown
was in danger from the flames. Po
Intent was she to her efforts to re-
pinee the burning Inc that she AIA
not notice my approach. I stood there
quietly, watching the amoking Ing on
the rug, which momentarily i ex-
psrted to see burst Into flames.
She looked se Wilful and helpless
that my heart softened entirely, and
r was about to go to her, when she
turned and saw me quietly looking
nn.
" Why don't you enme ?" she said
" Don't you Pee I cannot budge this
log
Surely Dila was my day for luck 1 1
saw another ehnnee and took H.
" Btep anile," I said " let me take
It up."
It upp. With the aid of the tongs and
a ehbvel I eeslly put the log back In
plaee.
Yeti see, Hien are stream than
t H1UST3IAB EVE IN PARIS..
orpitornmalia.T.
ab, It t}ltal-Vbristw.s Day.
Deana *Wk. golden more,
you On** you sOtne to a waiting world,
W illido tidings that Christ is born.
YOU trItttt zt liateuibg ears,
The atoll'ott grand' ss. true,
Ob, itNtgllt111. bssut ani Christmas Day 1
The story (la old, yet new.
You wh iiptle of fay and hope; -.
You tell U* of Heaven'. great plan ;
Of peace. *wort peace. and joy on earth,
And of god's good -will to man.
YOU say to the sad t "Look up 1"
To the weary ones! "Now rest 1"
Ob, beautiful, beautiful Christmas Day,
Of all bright days the best.
Ring opt, ye Christmas bells,
And carry the tidings on,
That we may have a heaven below
Through God's anointed Son I
Let the men and maidens sing ;
Let the cbildreu all rejoice;
While a ransoined world lifts up
Its universal voice.
Oh, beautiful Christmas Day,
Shining forth like a jeweled crown,
With cheer for each trusting out,
From the aged patriarch down 1
Let us wipe away our tears,
Of sin and sorrow born,
On this beautiful, beautiful Chriatmas
Day,
Begun with the golden morn.
On Christmas Eve In the homes of Paris,
when the children are fast asleep, with the
bonnes to watch over them, the older ones
and the parents gu to grand high mass,
lasting from 10 o'clock to roldutyhl. This
is a very solemn service, and is sung with
great ceremony and row upon row of white-
veiled
hiteveiled nuns, whose narrow belts of 1,1111',
orange or red show their peculiar order.
kneeling in the transept.
Just at midnight the mass ends, and the
altar boys snuff the tall candles.
The family returns,; and there 1s the re
vetllon, or the supper of waking -the one
meal of the year at which are gathered
the brothers and sisters to the home of the
oldest married child. There are placce for
the grandparents, too, and, if a child line
been lately born to swell the family circle,
a seat of honor next the grandmere for Sts
mother, who is queen of the feast.
The "supper" is a great dinner at which
good will is the order, where aro drunk In-
numerable glasses of harmless, lode
toxlcating grape •wine and where toasts
are offered to every conceivable good luck,
past and to coma.
At. the reveillon aro discussed all the
affairs of the family. 1f during the year
the relations between two of its members
have become strained, all is often forgiven
and forgotten in this family love feast.
So with toast and rally and story the
hours creep by until the small hours,
when the party breaks up. -New York
Press.
TOO COMMON.
Mr. Swelset-" ',ft me ree. Chrletmas
is almost here. It comes on the 26th.
doesn't It 1"
Mre. Swelaet-" I believe that is the
date observed by the people generally.
but it has become so common, don't
you know, that thin year and hereafter
I shall observe it a week earlier."
A Christmas Wail.
CORAL'S WEDDING -DAY
By Away Randolph.
ID was Coral Hyde's wedding anufver-
ssry-her arse -and it was Christmas Day
as well -a sort of dual festival.
The old housekeepers on jhe western
shores of the Paolllc laughed at the assi-
duity with which she sought wild red -
berries and Leathery fringes of silk -white
alotnable to deck hor little one -storied
cabin in the Redwood Forests.
"It's all nonsense," said one. "Tho
berries lose their color right away, and
the clematis seed -pods burst all apart.,
and tnakei such a litter as never was 1
Mrs Hyde'll get sick of all such sort of
things before she's been married as long
aa we 111110 I"
"Besides," added another, "this Cali-
fornia country ain't like down East. Not
but what it's a good place to settle In, cud
very sightly among these hills, but one
somehow misses the frost and snow.
Christman don't fairly seem like 'Christ•
mew here 1'
"Christmas is Christmas everywhere,"
said Coral, with the pretty positiveness
that belonged to her nature. "And It is
my wedding day, tool"
So else gathered wild mosses and
branches of black -green mistletoe and the
scarlet mountain -berries that glowed as
if they were touched with fire, and made
her little house beautiful. And she hung
spa auow-scone-evergreens all mantled
with white and a cabin drifted up, all
save the militia of one window ceruse the
steely river -on the wall, and worked a
MknlbY CnRISTiaAn.
wCJ'uoorotG'#
+ ot
ptdeirbtrgsarlthcbaftfohel99ksrlttodir .rttR4Il i
fit 1r0- *41
mOAs, ilpd. Bang them tit A NOW 19041 the
lioQr. And Omni** loci 0 p -the hose,
put the k*y In hie pocket. sna,loaterkty
a sh*wl dung over her head, sha llfaltt up
the lop*ly toountatrl road. port too Mat
powder magazine, across Wee 'Popular
wt.odi, Into Pipeclay Morino. Wham Ured
Mrs. Atwell, her await n$i»hbola
iOADl nts111AttttyeUetlbowuseaksapeotntbuwhom
raetwkayd
babied
in their calculationa rite skit
was, site had only just sent out her freckle -
faced tittle boy to catch the chicken for
the morrow's feast,
"1 did reckon on herla' a turkey," mid .. -
Mrs. Atwell, In her spiritless Whine, "Bat
our turkeys they're so dreadful wild.
They roost up in the trees, And hunt the
[Haddon all day, end there aln't uo latttoh-
in' tem• So cavil has to put. Upp whit
chickens. Atwell he was Raised ha Kheds
Island, and he sets store by e. realer
Christmas -Day dinner. But it's band on
Me 511100 my Chinaman went away, and
I've bad all the work to do."
"I'll help you, Mrs. Atwell,^ acid Coral.
rolling up her dress sleeves and looking
around for a kite!. , apron. "Are thew
mashie to be atoned 1"
"Ain't Mr. Hyde come home ?" said Mrs.
Atwell, staring at her guest.
"No," said Coral, seating herself by the
latticed window to tie the shoe-etriugs of
a neglected little At ecU, who Was running
about with a very dirty face end ameek-
fug ditto, loo;:lug for a nail to hung it on.
lest Santa Claus should by any passibility
Ignore his wants. And I've coin* tospeed
Christmas with you, Mrs. AWvoll."
"Well, I'm sure I'm glad of lt," whined
tho unfitly macron, shuffling across tits
floor to frighten the oat away from the
eream-pot. "1 s'poso it le pleasanter in
Santa Cruz than out In this wilderness. 1
don't blame the Wren -folks for etopplug
there, although It is trying to watt until
midnight for one's groceries and things;
and Atwell la always half au hour behind
every one else. I wish to goodness they'd
shut up them tiresome liquor stores. Not
that Atwell ever drinks too much, but k's
so bandy to ant round and rend the papers
and talk politico,. Abel, it you don't bring
in that fowl It'll never get picked in this
world, and you'll eat pork and fried apples
for your Cbrtsttntw dinner to -morrow 1"
So Mrs. Atwell droned on, while Coral
sat stoning raisins for the pudding, which
was as yet in Its chaotic elements on dl[
brant cupboard shelves, and thinkiug,
with a certain angry 'satisfaction, bow_be-
wildered and probably how vexed Alexis
would be when he tame home and found
the door fastened, the house (deserted, no
light to greet hint, no wifely smiles to
welcome hint.
"Very well," she kept repeating to her
coli. "Thee he need not have stopped In
Santa Cruz with Clytle Vail I Let him
spend his Christmas where he pleases I I
am uo dupe I 11 he wishes to be free, 1
shall cittirn a like privilege."
The chicken was captured at last, and
duly decapitated. The puddlug had final-
ly boon compounded by Coral, and the old
olock outhe kitchen window -sill struck
eleven.
ht another hour It will be Christmas
Day," thought -Coral, with a little sigh.
"Olt, 1 never-nevor expected to feel so
wicked and Maffei on a Christmas Eve as
I feel now 1 Oh, what evil shape am I
growing Into -.what hideous spelt te,trans-
fornilnq all my life !"
"'1'hure cornea Atwell now," whined his
wife; "an,l the house Is all topsy-tiut+y-
aud Cho children are not abedl What will
he say Y'
But Mr Atwell probably was used to
uhle$Isjulu nd atnte of things, for he only
nodded gouektnt uredty tolio two women
as be came in, while -tore Irdi rm of chil-
dren, taking courage, began tii question
him whether lie bad met Santa Claus,
"S'poso you've heard of the accident.
Mfs. Hyde 1" he said to Coral, as soon as
Chore was a lpeat o.
"cc1" Nile gasped.
"Wo Alnideat't bittleean! nothing. We never do
hear Anuthiug 1" said Mrs. Atwell. In ber
injured
tone"There's nobody to 11u
s.
"
"On the Broad (:Huge Rod," said At-
well, "just .'other side of Santa Cruz.
011, don't look so scared," as ('oral grew
white and staggered up against the wall,
"Mr. IIyde ain't hurt ; but one of the ro11s
got warped, sohu•ho%ev, and tin train
off rhe trilvke fain ever so many were hureventt
And the pasty' -tart -clic took afire, and
every one wunll lot' been burned to death
if It hadn't bee', for your husl,rutd, Mrs.
Hyde. Ile hung his overcoat over the
burin' panel nu' put it out ; but he got
pretty badly scorched shout the face and
hands; and when the meseeugor came
away he was helpin' the womenfolk and
qulotin' the scared children and doln' the
work of throe men at once. He'll get pro-
moted astep up on the line fur this night's
work, now see if he don't; and- But
where bo yo gN• i n,•
"Homo I" xald Contt"
i, who had caught up
her shawl, and wit, hurriedly wrapping It
around ler "Borne, of emir-tr. Where
else should 1 go
"*Val', there nn,'t no 11-5 In bele' In slob
amortal berry," lana Mr Atwell; "he
can't he back of .re two o'clock. i toll ye
he's su,ppl u' , have his hands dressed at
tbo drugstore. He
But 1 most le t!,•r,• t.. meet him when
hed.xscumel" ct t .rel. breathlessly.
"Don't keep me 1 1 •.-11 you I am going
home t"
"Well, i never !" said Mrs. Atwell,
looking h•lpiesaiy .iter the flying figure
an it vanished int- the purple glow of the
California "Anil she said she
w goio' to Rpr.,d Christman with ane!"
Hut Coral 11)de never state! her foot-
steps
absteps along the dint. ,n„drona-shaded road
until she stool a more in her own little
hnnse where the lolly and clsni.,tta sod
radiant redben•n's were all hart; e,1 nn the
floor where she had snug then. to 0 hours
before In the ,rosysm of her jealous t'aa.
slim, With f,,, .tie heart she 1'-ghtednp
the lamps nal drew aside the c instils to
make the little house smile lis b, tghirst
Christmas welcome ; and then she pat up
all the wreaths and frstoons just as tloy
had been before, and made all speed to
prepare the little supper tm do fitting honor
to Alexis and to chi, firo aenivortary of
their weddl"gelev.
And then she knell down and prayed a
prayer of ming "1 thankfulness and ro-
morwfnl petl1'.
"Recanso 1 lute•o 18.00 so wicked, so en•
of these sweet -voiced coquettes, was allow-. vlos, Iecwue• I have judged so harshly,"
tag himself to fail into her snares I sheu), htspterrd
And the prufiemil dark grew Into a trio The ,Botnar twits of S ata ('•'u8 `wet'.,
let blot knese, ntnd,ied here and dere with chinunq their 1'11. .rain+ see •meas when
et lase Aleti+r,tn,r hnn,e, sn•i..ing cheer
stars. rind the madrona thickets wnvwt (illy np the path ,end *s hintliug M be ad•
softly In the air, and the iteent from the vn,a.A,st
m ('
Swcct I/xY trePt floated np the valley, and ",,Herhrt.tatas, r darling! A
Li. IftI le elrs•k on the mantel, all wreathe) merry a...sidingday he ealmbd nut, as she
around with spiked holly -leaven, struck ran, s„bbn.g, roto 11. arms
ni i Hu. fora, ,-caul only answer:
in ahtaled wools to put above the mantel.
"Alexis shall see Hutt the dear old fes-
tival I,Atfot forgotten,” mild she. "But It
seems so strange to stand here on Cbrl-t
Mos Eve and see the roses all In bloom and
Qua. manzanitt► and ma -drone -trees all
'elated in their superb, magnolia -like
foliage, and the blue -birds darting lu anti
etit of the woods I"
• Coral had conte all the way from Maine
to share the fortune of her sturdy young
western lover. It would be scarcely true
to may that she did not, at times, pine Inc
r home
and think longinglyof
her caste a
the mullein -studded matures and bilberry
.swamps along the Androscoggin River.
But she had determined to make her
home where her heart wits, and to a great
measure she
had succeeded.
the
And so she decked the house for Christ,.
Mae and took out all the little presence site
had secretly contrived for Alexis, passing
them Ih careful review to make sore that
tie stitch had been omitted, no flulsliing•
touch left out. And then she looked at
the turkey, all stuffed and skewered our
the morrow's oven; the howl of ruin -red
cranberry -sauce ; the dainty mince ole,,
tt bleb she herself had chopped and se' a.o•t
ed according to hor mother's recipe ; tt,e
solid "Now England" pudding braked to
the tin -pan, with plums and lumps of ole•
aginous suet and blanched almonds
scattered along Its crust.
"Everything's all right," she Raid to hor-
self ; and there she stood, 1n the glow of
the Christmas Eve sunset, waiting for
Alexis to come.
But Alexia did not come. He was a
baggage•master on the train which ran
daily between San Francisco and Santa
Cruz. Of eimrse, there were aliownnces
10 ,e made for all possible and Impossible
detentions; but even taking nll these
things Into consideration, he surely should
have been here, Coral thought, before t!••
purple sunlight which was now shrew;
Ing the mountnlus had darkened into such
an oecldental glow.
"Ho hew strip{ed In Santa ('rax," said
Coral to herself, a sudden tide of jealousy
merging up In her heart. "('lstle Vail Is
visiting her cousin there- --CI)t1.', his old
sweetheart., with her blue eyes and red.
gold hair 1 Of all colors red Is the most
hideous for the human hair; and 1 don't
see bow any man alive can Lutry one of
those washed-out blondes 1 Oh, i see it
all now ! She has persuaded 1:in,, with
her wiles and fascinations, to .Ino lu
Hants Cruz , and now Ina will no• be hn. k
ontld after ten, rind I am left I ,•te
just as 1 was last week 1 A,.'1 nee., 110•
unnivcrsnry of our wedding its.
it 1s al range upon how stead.'. , r ,,,,
tion n woman can build her...1 op n.t
edifice of misery Anil Corns ll,de is.
came miserable all atones -misers!!• s ,d
vindictive and Inexorable. She hail al
we%s entertained a secret aversion to
('lytic Vall: now she was venom tits(
this siren was trying to undermine her
wifely' lutppiness; and Mettle. bili, 1, mal,
Infstetare.l as all men leromo In the toils
Mute -It's a wanner yon wouldn't drop
a little corn In that mess. Don't you
know that to -day 1s CI,rtstmns
Man -Ob, you are always kinking.
ne. „ "ph Aicx`.s I (1'.• mr love 1"
"I am to have no Christmas I said
Coral with a clinking sensation In her jetlon v and p.etslott.
Atoll be never knew of bet iiivu" it of
throat. "Very well. Sime he has so • 1,. , mew," she 'swanned tO lie �t tfli
chosen, so let it be And be knew -he wind.' not have him know, n%yfrNtttsb
knew how much 1 had counted on this. hotel, that I ever couul btateh11M1ithMedl
the first anniversary of oar wedded life enough tgdouht.bit. w,
s