The Goderich Star, 1898-12-16, Page 90
!P.$Ei OO ER.[CH STAR.
4,4
rf
i
,�j�r,
iY
44RISfiMAS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
"What means this glory round our feet,"
The magi mused, "more bright than
more?"
And voices chanted, clear and sweet,
"To -day the Prince of Peace is born."
"What means that star," the shepherds
a�tmid,
"That brighteus through the rocky
glen?"
And angels answering overhead
Sang, "Peace op earth, good -will to men."
'Tis eighteen hundred years and more
Siuce those sweet oracles were dumb;
We wait for Him like those of yore;
Alasl He seems so slow to come.
But It was said in words of gold
No time or sorrow ere shall dim
That little children- might be bold
In perfect treat to come to Him.
Ali round about our feet shall shine
A Tight like that the wise men saw,
If we our loving will incline
To that sweet life which Is the law. '
Bo shall we learn to understand
The simple catch"ot shepherds then,
And, clasping kindly hand in hand
Bing, "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 horn!" •
•
XP471.13EN: 1888
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 I Again,
she would write of herself, of the love
she bore her father and her home,
with an oeoasioaal—a very occasional
—message for 11 trry, 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 lat.t 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
her father would take her more seri-
ously; she " could ntot be a butter-
fly," and she spoke of " woman's
sphere being broad and far-reaching."
McKenzie only laughed and said,
" Poor child 1 she is sighing for the
mountain air." He wrote her of the
beautiful filly he had trained and
made ready for her pse, and she
would soon see for herself how very
long and broad her woman's sphere
could be.
At last 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 was no long-
e{{ a child, and that her mind was
,ri' $ occupied with the problem of
- . .Woman's Mission." In fact, she had
lately, been made president of the
Woman's Emancipation Circle, which
OUR CHRISTMAS DINNER. 7ganiza-t►on had °r, .
--• BY MBB- ..Z. -M _P &Y1 .
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
prospects of becoming a rich -man.
Meredith had 'been In 111 health, but
ten years' residence in the Wept had
made a new man of him. Success
at last had come 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 him
to 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 a non-
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 1,100 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 T had remembered and
loved so well. I had never forgotten
her beautiful deep, dark eyes, which
seemed to search one's soul with that
penetrating It,ok one sees sometimes
in a oaby's eyes.
There was but little out here in the
mountains to relieve the tedium of
our long evenings, so Jim McKenzie's
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
mind was stored with the thrilling
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 detected the bits of shining
gold; how, day by day and all alone,
he followed up the little thread of
gold until he had dlscot•ered the secret
of the mountain's heart, the generous
yield of ore which had made him the
richest man In " Golden Point." Wtth
touching pathos he would tell us of
the brave -hearted men no less worthy
than hlmmelf who had come out here
to meet only bitter disappointment
and blasted hopes. At rare inter-
nale he would speak to us of his own
early trials, of his dead wife, to
whose loving care and gentle sym-
pathy he confidently and proudly at-
tributed his entire success and alt
that was good In him. Then, ton. he
always brought us news of his daugh-
ter Mary. At first her lettere were
only outpourings of her hompelk,
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 lettere breath-
ed a more contented spirit. In an
incredibly short tin a the mountain i did
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
bull force of an ardent nature she pur-
I sued the work of her education.
Thus from weak to Week 'We listen -
00 .wish tit11gi11 tit the *enzyme budgst
:..1 ...
princib�' ai maxims fo'r vVhich we p d $e
ourselves 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
fail to catch her meaning; he looked
puzzled and troubled and finally acid :
• In the morning she will be half -way
home and I shall go to meet 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 he
disproved and contradicted by Mary
in her own sweet self. When I closed
my eyes treat 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 waa right, whatever error of
fancy had gotten into her head.
" Why, dee • 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 l She could not help
being disconcerted. Her father's opin-
ions, she knew, were always based
on common eenae. So It was some
time before she spoke again; and then
it was to ask why it was that women
1
Ie
L
tering with your rights or hear of
any law that would be unjust to
you! By George 1 I would soon
show that you: 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
all, were men and women really equal
before the law ? It that were so,
what became of the enormous In-
justice and gigantic abuses that wo-
men had silently and patfenrty borne
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 were full of tears. It was hard
to believe that the Woman's Emanci-
pation Circle was, atter all, to have
no existence in the world, and that
all her fine argument., her broad
views on the woman subject, were
surely disappearing—melting away be-
fore her Lather's clear and convlcing
assertions.
not have equal rights with men
before the taw. .11. answered that
women irately do have equal rights
before the IAW. "You see, my dear,"
he went oil, "their rights are really
ldenticel, their ihtet'eMs the same; and
It is a man's first notion of duty to
see the these tight.* are respected- I
rro1lj4 like tri see any person inter -
ran t a womaa.Islita ,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
prftvliege ?"
Then, in a defiant tone, she re-
plied :—
" We don't want prlvtleges or aid;
we only want what 10 just."
" At your hands," I answered, " I
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 moments 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 her from falling to the ground.
Of course, I had to straighten the
saddle; and I simply asserted '- -
4:111
E? i
Tp„ T.•• r•e•
4111111111th,.ii�ith n1
11RICSTMRb ki 't k
righteat and beat of the Sonso\ the moron,
Oawn on our darknesa,and lend ki.Thlne std%
tar of the C.ast, the horizon adormns,
Guide where our Infant Redeemer tslaid.
Cold smuts cradle the dewdrops are shinint,
Low lie h\Zial head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels,adoreslumber reclining, n
Maher.and Manorch,anti avtour al all.
eSay,shall we yield Him,ln cosily devotion
Odors of Edom and otierings Divine ;
Gems of the mountain,andpearls of the ocean,
llylTh from the re st, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we Aker each ample oblation ;
Vainly with ts would Nis ‘aver secure
Richer,byiar, is the hearty adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
PECE Gbo6W1
She recognized at once that she had
met defeat; and with all the bravery
she could command, the conversation
was turned to other things. In a
short time they would be home and
enjoy Christmas day together.
• • • • • • • •
Was it in truth necessary for me
to see McKenzie at once about that
broken fence, or was It only the crisp
mountain air that tempted me from
the house three hours before I was
expected to arrive at Jim McKen-
zle's ? One thing was ceataln, I
could not watt another moment. and
In half an hour I was speeding along
and nearing his place. As I rode up
I saw her standing on the porch. She
came•qulekly forward to meet me. I
blushed ilke a schoolboy when I took
her hand and looked Into her Dyes
Yea, there was at111 (he deep,search-
Mx. truly baby look. I felt relieved
at once and thought, ” ft won't be
so 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 Pence, and we went
together to see the beautiful brown
filly. I suggested that there was
time enough to try her before din-
ner, and Mary acquiesced at once
She had a fancy to saddle the horse
herself. 1 never thought of interfer-
Ins% until she came to tighten the
siren; then 1 amply said 1--
" fou would better let me do that
for yo'l
" Navbr mind," 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 a 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 M(ary's return
McKenzie looked blissful and content -
ea. t confess to having telt a little
nervous. So f r the day had gone
well with me, but I wanted to score
my third and last point, and anxious
ly awaited my opportunity, which
presently came in the shape of the
treat American turkey. The turkey
was brought In just as I was telllrnr
in a triumphant tone of Mary's proud
refusal of my good offices Iii adjust •
ins her saddle, and how she did not
hesitate to demand my obedience when
she really needed my services. Jim
ordered the turkey placed before
Mary, and explained that her motile'
had always carved; no one knew P.
well as she how to select the choles'
bits and give to each one just the
dainty morsel most coveted; and not.
Mary must learn to do the same.
Bhe took the large knife In 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 char
bit of celery. Then she gave me a
hurried, appealing glance; I moved
my chair a little, but Raid nothing
At length she turned to me again aa•�
put her hand on my arm
said :— "
' I say, Harry, I believe men are
stronger and hlgger and braver than
women. Won't yap please carve this
for me ?"
My In.t point was scored, and can
You ,yonder that I consider Christ-
mas the greatest day of the year, and
the American turkey the greatest of
birds ? But here we call It 'the fal-
con—it sometimes catches mountain
birds.
" You see, I am stronger than you,
and I ,lotted my right too easily.
You will always let me «.idle 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 quitkly home. At was
atmoet time for dinner, and eKen•
ale was waiting for us on the porch
We went together to look after the
broken fence. When we returned to
the house I found Mary In the par-
lour, struggling with a big log of
wood that had rolled from Its plate,
and I further noticed that her gown
was In danger from the flames. So
Intent was she in her efforts to re-
place the burning log, that rhe did
not notice my approach. I stood there
quietly, watching the smoking log on
the rug, which momentarily 1 ex•
petted to see burst Into flames.
She looked en pitiful and helpleso
that my heart noftened entirely, and
I was about to go to her, when she
turned and saw me quietly looking
on.
" Why don't you come ''" she said
" Don't you pee I cannot budge this
log '•'
Surely this was my day for luck ! 1
saw another ehnnec and took It.
" Step aside," 1 Bald ; " let me take
It rep,"
It up." With the aid of the tongs and
a shovel 1 easily put the log back In
place.
Yen see, men are streusel. than
CHRISTMAS EVE IN PARIS.
t **IYTM.0 DAT.
Ob, ltaii5+1ilo,10briatmas Day.
*OA l.'*tt14t e golden morn,
Yon COO% rat CO1I1e to a waiting world,
With Ike Wings that Christ is born.
You tell tt$Qi listening sant,
i 1S1lrit.tiol Vaud, so true,
Ob. 4aH►tX4 II1, beautiful Christmas Day
'I.'bleStE11f bo Old, yet new.
You whisper of jay and hope;
You tell tut of Heaven's great plau ;
Of peace. sweet peace, and joy un earth,
Anti of"Qod'e good -will to man.
Yen say to the sad ; "Look up t"
Tothe weary ones: "Now rest 1"
Ob, beautiful, beautiful Christmas Day,
Of all bright days the best.
Ring oat, ye Christmas bells,
And carry the tidings on,
That we may have a heaven below
Through God's anointed Son 1
Let the men and maddens sing,
Let the children all rejoice ;
While a ransomed world lifts up
Its universal voice.
Oh, beautiful Christmas Day,
Shining forth like a jeweled crown,
With cheer for each trusting soul,
From the aged patriarch down 1
Let us wipe away our tears,
Of sin and sorrow horn,
On this beautiful, beautiful Chrlatmss
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 therm, tate older one-,
and the parents go to grand high mese,
lasting from 10 o'clock to midultht. This
lea very solemn service, and Is sung with
great ceremony and row upon row of white -
veiled nuns, whose marrow belts of blue,
orauge or red show their peculiar order,
kneeling In the transept.
Just at mhie igbt the mass ends, and the
altar boys snuff the tall candles.
The family returns; and there Is the re
veilion, or the supper of waking—the one
meal of the year at which are gathered
the brothers and sisters to the home of the
oldestmarried child. There are places for
the gratat parer' ts, too, and, If a child IIso
been lately born to swell the famlly circle,
a seat of honor next the grandmero for Its
motber, who is queen of the feast.
Tho "supper" Is a great dinner at which
good will is the order, where are drunk in-
numerable glasses of harmless, twin
toxicating grape wino and where tossts
are offered to every conceivable good luck,
post and to come.
At the revelbbon are discussed all the
affairs of the family. If during the year
the relations between two of Its members
have become strained, all 'soften forgiven
and forgotten in thin family love lead.
So with toast and rally and story the
hours creep by until the small hours,
when the party breaks up.—Now York
Press
TOO COMMON.
Mr. Sweleet—" Let me Fee, Christmas
is almost here. 1t comes on the 26th,
doesn't it r
Mrs. Swelset—" I believe that is the
date observed by the people generally,
but It has become so common, don't
you know, that this year and hereafter
I shall observe it a week earlier."
A Christmas Wali.
Mole—it a a wormer yon wouldn't dro
a little corn in that, mega. Don't yo
know that to -day 1s Chrlstnta*
Man—Ok, you are always kicking.'
•
CORAL'S WEDDING -DAY
By Amy Uaadolph.
Itr was Coral Hyde's wedding antilver-
sary—her first—and 1t was Christmne Day
es well—a sort of dual festival.
The old housekeepers on the western
shores of the Pacific Laughed at the assi-
duity with which she sought wild red -
berries and feathery fringes of silk -white
clematis to deck her little one -storied
cabin in the Redwood Forests,
"It's all nonsense," said one. "The
berries lose their color right away, and
the clematis seed -pods burst all apart,
mid snake such a litter as never was 1
Mrs H dell get sick of all such Bort of
things before she's leen married as long
as we have 1"
"Ileafdes," added another, "this Call.
forma country ain't like down East. Not
but what wt's aimed place to settle in, and
very sightly among theso hills, but ono
somehow misses the frost and snow.
Christmas don't fairly seem like Christ-
mas here I"
"Christmas Is Christmas everywhere,"
said Coral, with the pretty positiveness
that belonged to her nature. "Aud it Is
toy wedding day, too I"
S. she gathered wild mosses and
branches of black -green mistletoe and the
scarlet wouutain-berries that glowed as
if they were touched with fire, and made
her little house beautiful. And she hung
up a snow -scene --evergreens all mantled
with white and a cabin drifted up, all
save the shluo of one window ncress the
steely river—on the wall, and worked a
Mtaae CIIRIATM AA,
In shaded wools to put above the mantel
"Alexis shall flee that the dear old fes-
tt, vat fji not tnrgpttop, " said eho, "But It
.;3tand here on Chrf<t
mas .. vo adtreee the roses all in bloom and
the manzaolta and madrooa-trees all
clothed in their superb, magnelle- llkc
foliage, and the blue -birds darting to and
out of the woods 1"
Coral had come all the way from Maine
to sharp the fortune of her sturdy voung
western lover, It would be scarcely true
to say that she did not, at tunes, pine for
her enstorn home, and think longingly of
the mullein -studded pastures and bilberry
swatnps along the Androscoggin River.
But she had determined to make her
home where her heart was, and In a great
measure she had succeeded.
And so she decked the house for Christ-
mas and took out all the little presents she
haul secretly contrived for Alexis. passing
them in careful review to make sura that
no stitch had been omitted, no fliiishing•
touch left out. And then she looked at
the turkey, all stuffed and skewered for
the morrow's oven; the howl of ruby red
cranberry -sauce ; the dainty mine,. pies,
w Idch sl,a herself had chopped and ee , .o•,
ed according to her mother's recipe : u,5
solid "New England" pudding baked lu
the tin -pan, with plums and lumps of ole-
aginous suet and blanched almonds
scattered along Its crust,
"Everything;is all right," she sald to her-
self ; and there she stood, in the glow of
the Christmas Eve sunset, waiting for
Alexis co conte.
Hut Alexis did not come. Ile was a
baggage -master on the train which ran
dally between San Francisco and Santa
&Cruz Of courw. there were allowances
to be tnaule for all poa,lble and 3mlanwslble
detentions; but even taking all these
things Into consideration, he surely should
have been here, Coral thought, before tl:'
purple sunlight which was now 'throe,:
ing the mountains had darkened Into suet,
an occidental glow.
"He has ncopped In Santa Cruz," sand
Coral to herself, a sudden tide of jealousy
surging up In her hear. "('Iytle Vail Is
visiting her cousin there—Cly tie, hie old
sweetheart, with her blue eyes and red,
gold hair 1 Of all colors red I.1 the roost
hideous for the human hair : an,l i dol',
see how any man alive can Is s -y one of
those washed-out blondea 1 Oh, 1 see I;
all now ! She has persuade.) lam, with
bar wiles and fascinations, ro -roti 111
Sants Cruz ; and now he will mol be ism k
u,,til atter ten, and 1 am left 1
just as I wan last week 1 A4.41 ,Ipo.l ill.•
an niverasry of our wedding 'is, r.,u »'
It In strange upon how aleu'1.' , hounda
tion n women can build lo.r-e f rep n„
edifice of misery And rural 111.1e 1e,
came inlserable all ntnnre-mew•rabut rood
vindictive and inexorable She had sl
wale entertained a secret aversion 10
('lylie Vail : now she was certn n that
this siren was trying to under mule her
wifely happiness; nail Aletls, bill I, ma 1,
infatuated as all men become in the toils
of t hese sweetrvolaed coquettes, was allow-
ing himself to fall Into her snares 1
And the proton all dark grew into a vlo
let fila, knew,, studded here and there with
stare, and thin n,sulrnna thicket, waved
scatty in the air, and the scent from the
sweet her tree, floated up the valley, and
the little clock on the mantel. all wreathed
around with spiked holly -leaves, struck
nine.
"I am to have no Cht'pm,set "id
Coral, with a choking sensation In her
pthroat. "Very well. Since be has so
chosen, no let it be And he know—he
knew how much 1 had counted on this,
the Sr■t anniversary of our wedded life.
ltit it.M Wake more etCI t*'V'egttja t*
ala this aha
pordomatehiretet
ate gti411d OW, ab. tats delet ,the ail,
eery trlajles of cleltstttis, ib sidgmrs:it
pgIi.bb4 LIdbsrriee,: the mei** of gray
mesa and Haug theta its It keep gplllg taut
Boot Aad then site locked Up the house.
put Ells kty in leer ppcket, and, with only
*shawl dung over her head., ehewent up
the lonely monnteln road, pest the greet.
powder magazine, arrows the hairline
woods, Into Pipeclay (Clearing, where lived
lift's Atwell, her nearest neighbor.
Mrs. Atwell was Otte of chores aumetbod'
!cal shiftless housekeeperswhoarsislways
behind to their calculation. Late as.11
was, she had only just sent out her (teals -
faced little boy to catch the chicken for
the mor'row's feast,
"I did reckon on Navin' a turkey," said
Mrs. Atwell, in her spiritless whine, "Hat
our turkeys they're so dreadful wild.
They roost up in the trsis, and hunt tits
medders all day, and there ain't ao catob-
in"em, So we'll have to put up with
chicken& Atwell he wee raised In Rhode
Island, anti he seta store by a realer
Christmas -Day dinner- But it's hardoa
rue since my Chinaman want away, and
I've had all the work to do."
"I'll help you, Mrs, Atwell," said Coral.
rolling up her dress sleeves and looking
around for a kltch. . apron. .Are these
raisins to be stoned t"
"Ain't Mr. Hyde come home 1" said Mrs.
Atwell, ataring at her guest.
"No," said Conal, seating herself by the
latticed window to tie the shoe -strings of
a uoglected little Atwell, who was running
about with a very dirty face and a stock-
ing ditto, looking for a nail to hang it 00.
lest Santa Claus should by any poeslhility
ignore his wants. Aud I've coque to spend
Christmas with you, Mrs. Atwell."
"Welll'm euro l'm glad of it," whinedthe untidy matron, shuffling across the
Moor to frighten the cat away from the
cream -pot. "I s'poso it is pleasanter in
Santa Cruz tutu out In this wilderness. I
don't blame the amen -folks for stopping
there, although It is trying to waft until
tnldnlgbt for one's groceries. and things ;
and Atwell is always half an hour behind
every one else. I wish to goodness they'd
shut up them tiresome liquor stoma Not
that Atwell ever drinks too much, but 11's
so bandy to set rouud and read the papers
and talk politics. Abel, if you don't bring
lit Haat fowl It'll never got picked in this
world, and you'lleat pork and tried apples
for your Christmas dinner to -morrow 1"
So Mrs. Atwell droned on, while Coral
sat atoning raisins for the pudding. which
was as yet lu its chaotic elements on dif-
ferent cupboard shelves, and thinking,
with a certain angry eattsfactlun, how be-
wildered and probably how vexed Alexis
would bo when he came home and found
the door fastened, the house deserted, DO
light to greet him, no wifely smiles to
welcome him.
"Very well," she kept repeating to her-
self.
erself. "'Then he need not have stopped in
Sauta Crus with Clytle Veil I Int him
spend his Christmas where he pleases I I
un no dupe 1 11 he wlsbes to be free, 1
shall otolnn a like privilege."
Tho ahloken was captured at last, and
duly deem:etaced. Tl;e puddlug had final-
ly been compounded by Gentle and the old
clock on the kttcheu windowsill struck
eleven.
"In another hour It will be Christmas
Day," thought Coral, with a little sigh.
"Oh, I never—never expected to feel so
wicked and sinful on a Christmas Eve as
I feel now 1 Oh, what evil shape am I
growing Into—whet hideous span is trans.
farming sill my life 1"
'"'lura, i,ues Atwell now," whined his
aIle; "awl the house Is all topsy-turvy—
turcttho children are not abed! What will
Ila• .may P" s
Ilut ale. Atwell probably was need to
I Isis disjuiatad state of things, for he only
nodded good-naturedly to the two women
as he came In, while the swarm of chil-
dren, taking courage, began to question
him whether he had met Santa Claus.
"S'pose you ll, heard of the accident.
Mrs. Hyde P" lie said to Coral, lie soon le
there was a little peace.
"Aooldeut P" ofin gaaxped.
"We ain't lea riI nothing, We never do
hoar nothing I" said Mrs Atwell, in her
Injured tone. "'There's milesly to tell us."
"On the Broad Gauge Ro,ut," said At-
well, "jttat Vother side of Santa Crus
Oh, don't look KO scared," as ('oral grew
white and staggered up against the wall,
"Mr Hyde uh,'t hurt ; but one of the rails
got warped, I, somehow, and the train went
aft the track, nil ever w many were hurt.
Anti the pnsse•1ger-car took afire, and
every one would) Ie,' been burned to death
If It 10e1'1'r lee, for your luslsaud, Mrs.
tly'de. Ile flung his overcoat over the
buntln• panel fah' put it out; but he got
pretty badly scorched about the face and
hands; and when the messenger came
away he was helpin' the women•folk and
qutetin' the scared children anti down' the
work of throe men at once. He'll gat pro -
mated astep up ori the line for this night's
work, now see 11 he don't; and— But
where be ye gwinv'"
"'Hoene i" said Coral, who had caught up
her shawl, and was hurriedly wrapping 11
around ler "home, of con r., Where
else shnnld 1 gi
\i'al', there nu,'t ho use in Iola' in 'dohamortad hnrrp," sant Mr Atwell; "he
'elnck. 1 toll ye
mails dressed at
rl"1't Is' t,nek of .re two n
110', 4101111th' 1 , 110ve 1110
the drug stare. Ile
''hut 1 mast be there r,
he does conte 1" en , i I
"Don't keep mo t 1 •'•II
home I"
"Well, I never !" said Mrs. Atwell.
looking h-Iplessly .iter the flying figure
ata it vanished int.' the purple glow of the
California mldn:.;It "And she said she
wits 'coin' to spy—l Christmas with tree 1"
Hut ('oral hair 'lever stayed her foot-
steps along the dun. mndrnnrs-sha.lel rand
until she stood 011.• more in her own little
hoose where 11,.' hr.11p "red C10014t10 Alla
ra.Iant redberrl"s were all Ileal ed .01 the
floor where she bud flung them two I.onrs
la•fere In the I'nr"tysm of her jenlnns ams•
,fur. Wltb 1.,1 ale heart she I'ghted up
the lamp, and .crew aside the co mons u0
make the little hoose smile stn b-lgnrest
Christmas weleoie ; and then s',e put up
all the wreaths and festoons just as tiny
loud been before, and made all speed to
prepare the little supper to do fit, Ing honor
to ,lexis and to this first anniversary of
their wedding-da1,
And thea, nshe kelt Mown air prnr"d a
prayer of il ng..•.n1 than k fu it
and rr
n,orsvfnt petition
••flecolno 1 bare ,s•en sn wicked, so en-
vi1111s, because 1 have judged ,so harshly,"
she .a hispererl
The diataot hells of S uta Cruz were
CI111111 hg their I'lr.-Hilo', ""0 •10081. when
lit last Alexis 03ne h"nne. otrh.ing cheer•
fully rep the path anew w hustling as he ad.
vaut,si
"A merry Christmas, my darling A
uteri.) wedding dal " ' ne ended out, ata she
ran, sobbing. into his arms
lint lora, ronid only .,elver:
"Oh Alvxls 1 I1:., my cove 1"
.til he never k oeav of I e fever.dt of
jenlotlsp sand passlott.
H>, aus.h" aha' relssnnal LCy kt a,tt
wo,11r1 not have hlu knows i lit ktll�
tail, that 1 ever coulai `1t,b*M;
enough tp,donht t I'a ea
meet IIIm when
•real.
breathlessly.
you I am going