The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24


herself and Reginald Emily wisely kept
secret which had better have but one keeper.
Emilys father was greatly disappointed at the
result of this visit Tne simplehearted old
old man had thought that Reginald would have
made some presentation to Emily, such as the
piano or some of the books.
He's shabby fellow very shabby fellow.
After all the kindness he has received at her
hands, he might have made some recognition
of it.
But has he not forgotten you dear, replied
Emily.
'Ah, yes that's nothing. Mine was a free
gift and he has made good use of 1t. I've
nothing to say; I'm content with what have
But the old gentleman had thought of what he
had done for the orphan boy, and felt keenly
his desertion in the time of tribulation, now
happily passed away.
Turn on Old Time, as we must hasten to an
end. In two months more Christmas was com
ing and Emily had decked her pretty, small
very small, we must own drawing room asd
dining room with the cheerful red berried holly
and other greenery, although her opposite
neighbor, who came home on the same bus as
Waller had declared it to be vulgar, exceed
ingy Nevertheless, Emily knew her dear old
fatter loved to see such Christmas emblems
about the house, and Walter was not 'genteel
neither was she, and so holly and mtstletoe aad
bright bay leaves were literally distributed in
'parlor and kitchen and hall
1t was Christmas-eve aud Walter had ar
ranged to bring home one of the clerks with
him to make merry. Aud Walters sister, Laura
who r, ally was a nice girl, and had met the
tami y troubles like saint $50 said her mother),
bad all eady arrived, and so had papa, who was
busy in the little pantry brewing gin punch, the
secret of which he had from great author
whose brewage was known to be superex-
cellent.
Emily was too busy making her preparations
to think of Walter and his bus; and Laura too
was decking with winter flowers the dishes of
tarts and other delicacies all homemade and
There's Walter, said Emily, as the street
door was heard to open. Il had no idea it vas
so late
Emily called Walter, from the top of the
kitchen stairs, come up, dear; want to intro
duce YOU to some friends
Cant, Walter was the reply, I'm in the
middle of my tipsy cake. You and papa must
do the honors for the present. And when she
had finished her household cares for a time,
and presented herself in the small dra wing
room, she was surprised to find an unexpected
yisitor-Reginald Wainwright.
Il f1und Reginald in the city, as | was leaving
the office; aud as he had no engagement he has
come on to spend Christmas eve with u.s. said
Walter.
What could Emily say but that she was glad
to see him? though she almost expected to find
blister on her tongue for telling such a story.
If Emily had needed any extra stimulants to
eXertion TO make her little AT Home joval
one, it would have been found in the presence
of Reginald. He had come, she fancied, to spy
the nakedness of the land, and she was resolved
he should find it fl owing with milk and honey.
The good spirits she displayed became infec-
Eve could not have been found in Chrstendom.
The dainty supper was highly applauded the
gin punch eXtolled immensely did the ladies
refuse to sip the subtle compound. Laura could
not sing at frpt without piano; but when Emily
had trilled forth old ballad that all (the
junior clerk excepted) remembered to have
heard long ago, she thought she would venture,
and really sang very sweetly. The only one
whose mirth did not appear to be real was Regi-
nald, and at times he might have been seen
taking stock as it were, of his little room
where the hand of taste was as visible as it had
been at Cedar Lodge. At times he fixed his
eyes on the bright, happy face that ever and
anon regarded Walter with look of ineffable
love that could not be mistaken, even by the
man who had hardened his heart with vice and
selfishness.
The party broke up as the neighboring church
clock struck eleven, Reginald offered to see
Mr.. Mainw airing to his lodgings, but the junior
clerk had already undertaken that duty, having
had bed engaged for him close by. AS the
guests departed, Reginald offered his hand to
Emily, which she accepted.
Good night Emily. he murmured rather
than spoke; see you do not covet Cedar
Lodge
Mo- replied Emily, emphaticaDy; good
night
There are good angels abroad on Christina
Eve-the same perhaps that watched over the
stable at Bethlehem. Such is our belief; aud
one stood by Reginald's pillow that night or,
debauchee that he was he would hardly have
thought, that where honest, hearty love and
pure lives were TO be found together, it required
very little money 60 make an abode for peace.
He thought also that q good man. such as he
knew bis uncle to be, could bear reverses with
patient resignation, and look forward to the
great change with that hope which robs death
of it terrors. He thought of the fret aud fever
of his own life-of the Dead Sea fruit to which
it had turned, and what must be the ending.
Old teachings of good came back to him, and
though he strove to chase them from his
thoughts, they would return again and again
He recalled the incidents of the past evening
of Emily's loving regard of Walter answered sc
eloquently though silently by her husband, who
Looked his love into his lady's face
He could no longer doubt that they were One in
all things, in life, in death.
These reflections came back to him so otter
during the following days that his old habits
became distasteful to him, and after a time the
good angels were heard with love and reve
renee.
The first good result which came from this
happy change was proper consideration TO
the reverses in his uncles fortunes. Uncle
Ralph was surprised one morning at receiving
letter from Reginald, stating that he haC
transferred to his account at the Bank of Eng
land three thousand pounds, with nine years
interest thereon. This tardy act of common
justice Che said) would have been made earle
but for the unsettled state of his affairs whicl
had only taken a favorable turn on Christina
Eve.
Mr.. Maipwaring felt himself quite at libert.
to accept of this voluntary restitution, as it EN-
abled him to find partnership for Walter an
to add to the comfort of his child by removing
some of those anxious fears for the futur
which must always beset the struggler wit
fortune.
So ends our story, and may all good angel
have us in their keeping this Christmas time.