Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1870-01-13
gsieet Story.
A New Years Gift.
BY ANY RANDOLPH.


The old year was gliding over the
threshold of the world in the most gra-
cious manner possible, this thirty first
nghtof December, with close packed snow
Ia the roads, and all the fields shining
white like newly iced cake; while over
head the stars glittered with frost bright
radiance, and the chime of myriad icicles
made fairy music whenever breeze STIR
red the woods.
Perhaps it was not quite 80 romantic
in the city, but then it was much more
noisy. People were rushed to and fro
with paper parcels under their arms con-
tectioners were sending home their last
orders hsrrassed tradespeople were won
dering whether or not. it was best to take
leave OF their senses at once, and children
were fattening their noses against the
gas-lghted windows Of candy shops and
toy stores, Trying to make believe" what
they would buy, if only they had lois of
money
Mr.. Leslie Trevor bad just emerged
from this merry medley of the streets into
his own quiet room, where the Gre burn
ed brightly and the easy chair WAS drawn
up in front Of it with mute sort of well
come he was bright looking young
maa Of about eight and twenty, with clear
6,own eyes and brown cheeks. where the
glow OF health gave faint crimson tiat,
and mouth which displayed pearl white
teeth every time he spoke OF -lied
as he entered. he glanced eound the
recon with look that was almost discon
;cDted t<
'Nomatter though he told bmrelt
cheerily 1T viii not be for long Bafpre
this day twelve month hope that Lillian
viii be my wife, and Lilian's smile would
make home out of the drearest wiider-
ness [ wonder where that elf Of a Tom
is, to carry this box round, with my cons
pliments Hes never 10 the way when
he's wanted But the landlord will send
HIM up when he arrives from his latest
escapade And in the mean time
Mr. Trevor finished his sentences By
Lighting cigar,
Just what was longing for myself
cried minor voice b7ck Of him. You
havnt got another Of those articles about
you, suppose?
Trevor albeit not nervous man, star
ted ittle but his face frightened up
when he saw stout, whiskered person
age. year or SO Older than himself with
i seedy oyercoat, fur edged hat, and a
very chilled looking nose
Ar II
Yes, its I. said Mr. Potts, deposiiiDg
on the table paper box, the very mate
to that which had just been placed there
by Leslie Trevor. and laying his hat be-
side It, 4 just saw. q light in your win
iows as | passed by, acd | thought I'd
step in to. give you word OF warning"
.Lndeed,. SAID Mr. Trevor good humor-
IDLY. Pray take a seat
Mr. Potts took a seat and cigar at
The same time. s..s -b
"A very nice article this, he said, sniff
iiug in tie flavor ecstatically. Buy 'eln
by the thousand, suppose .Iy wife OBJ
iects to smoking! Aud that brings me to
The subject in hand, old boy. hear
you're thinking OF bling married 7
L an thinking of it; sut as | have not
yet proposed TO the young lady In cues
ton -
That makes no difference. It's a
down hill road. When you've once star
ted nothing but an earthquake can stop
you. It's just this, Trevor; don't marry
rich = 45s
But you did, frankly asserted Mr.
.lreyor.
/ know | did, nay dear fellow, groan-
ed Potts, and that's what gives weight to
nv experience I've been a fool; all the
more reason [ should advise my young
gentlemen friends not to make fools OF
themselves. taaE ~
I'm mach obliged to you, but
.Go' Ii ellop cried. hir. Potts, jumping up
as if he had been electrified by the sound
Of the little mantel clock striking nine /;
is thai clock right? Won't | get peel
| ing for not being home at eight, as |
promised. She's vixen-a shrew- aud
| i can't help myself Trevor, take my
advice. and don't do it ! st.i
Leslie Trevor burst into laugh as Nir.
Potts ca ught up one OF. the paper boxes
the wrong one OF course iii be had taken
the right one, our tale would never have
had a moral to point-and rushed down
stairs three steps at a time. Nor had the
CLEAN of The laughter died out ii his eyes
when Tom, the GRAND boy of the hotel
presented himself for Mr.. Trevor's orders
that paper box, Tom, said our hero,
searching in his pockets for quarter to
reward the Ga0ymede. Take it round
to Mr. Dare's No. - street with my
compliments to Miss Lillian, and this
Gard g
A.Yes, SIR said Tom looking rather har-
der at the quarter then he did.at the box
and van ishing swiftly W l.li
Mr.. Potts approximations had not been
altogether without foundation. MRS. p
was waiting his coming with a cloGded
She was alrieh, ill-tempered old maid
whom Plilo Potts lad somehow been de-
Iuded into marrying, with false hair, false
teeth, and in fact everything. about beI
false except her temper, aud that was eex:
aisstys geaplne, sssisls4 -, fsl,i,w