Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-30

the air; now peaiing chime of Christmas bells,
and ending with strain of such seraphic sweet
ness that the tears came to the hearers eyes.
II Ii the celestial voice." whispered Cicely,
ss the sound died away and the choir began
hymn.
Soon the noise of bells mingled with the voices;
the ringer, too, must have his rehearsal, and, up
and down, back and forth, the swinging bells
rang ont their notes. telling to the city the glad
tidngs Of great JOY with all their slvery strength
At last the work was done, the last wreath ad-
Sas all
going out in the night, Cicely and her compan-
ion walked slowly homeward.
f'Think of the old church being left there
alone, with all her festal garments on" said
Cicely. 81 wonder IL the spirits do not come
down. fit through the aisles, arrange the fiow-
ers, and even sound a few strains on the organ?
Suppose that all the dead in the church-yard
should come to life again on Christmas-eye, and
church,"
!" St. Bonte has no church-yard, little
at ought to have, then; don't spoil my illu-
sions, Seth.'
Ten o'clock, and the four-story brown front
Of Miss Rogers's clearinghouse doomed be-
"COme in for moment, pleaded Cicely.
~ cannot, dear; have something to do at the
Always business" thought Cicely: con
Christmas eve at least it should be banished.''
So she said goodnight" with an i'll grace,
and. entering the hall, glanced into the draw
ing room ON her way up stairs There stood
Blanchard de Voltage, and as he fastened to
meet her a CLEAN of pleasure soothed her an
noyance, and, shyly accepting a seat by the
register, she listened to his honeyed phrases
with complacent pleasure. In the course OF
conversation, Mr.. de Voltage discovered that
Cicely had been listening to the rehearsal at ST.
BOntes.
"Ah, yes >" he remarked, Every pretty little
choir, believe. For myself, always attend
old Methuselah's. There we have two choirs of
boys, two hundred and fifty voices in each; six
hundred tenOrs, and a thousand bassos. On
Christmas day, in addition to the four organs,
we have as many brass bands. The effect is
truly soul MISUNDERSTANDING, and yet so soft
The congregation, too, is truly elegant; the very
air is fragraIt-incense waited in from con-
cealed gratings-so aesthetic! Let me advise
you to go there to- morrow, Miss Wild"
Some time atterward, in speaking of Christ
mas presents. mr.; de Voltage said IL, m1,saningly:
Cicely confessed the admiration.
d" Pretty stones. truly; and Aladdin has some
fair specimens-that is, fair for America. The
ear rings especially are quite tasteful"
"Fringed?" inquired Cicely, eagerly.
Ah, yes-as you say, fringed. For my part,
l consider diamonds the only appropriate gift
ers, telicate TRIES, more enduring than the real
blossoms, fitting ornaments for iOwer-like faces.
Did you notice any necklaces or tiaras that
pleased your fancy, Miss Wild? ?"
81 was particularly attracted by the ear
rings"
"Ah, yes-as you say, earrings. A pendant
gem from the shell-like ear OF beauty no doubt
enhances the starry CLEAN of the eyes. As Ten
nyson says
And she is grown so dear, 50 dear,
That would be the jewel
That trsmbles At her ear
I hope TennysO is your favorite poet, Miss
And so the conversation rippled on, in matter
rothiDg, in manner much, until the sound of a
carriage at the door reused Cicely to a realiza-
ton of the hour.
" 1t is after eleven" she said, rising; 81 must
CO." and escaping up the staircase, she heard
-Wilhelmina Van Airytop, the tall blonde
with the aquiline nose and pale-blue eyes. whom
she especially dreaded.
Christmas morning and bright sunshine, with
just enough clear crispness in the air to keep
the snow from melting could any one ask more?
Little Cicely thought not, as she ran upstairs
after an early solitary breakfast, to prepare for
before her. knock at the door announced the
severe features Of Priscilla Ann, with why hand
below thrusting in note :" The young man
waits for an answer" said this grim damsel,
cycling with grave disapproval the dropping
plume on Cicely's little hat.
But Miss Wild for once remained untouched
by PIiscilla's glances. With swelling heart she
read the following lines, hastily written in
pencil0n a leaf torn from a notebook:
I" Dear Cicely: am grieved to dsappOint you,
but unexpected business will detain me all day.
Hope to see you this evening and bring good
news. In haste, SETH"
From the rosy summit of hope, down dropped
Cicely to the depths of angry despair. After a
moments hesitation, she wrote the following
words in reply:
"Mr. s. Austin-Dear Sir: After such Christ
mas greeting. feel disposed to express what
has long been in my mind-we are not suited to
each other! From henceforth, consider yourself
free. Anything you have to say had best be
Tritten. Farewell Jorereri "CICELY WILD"
hand of the infexible Priscilla. Cicely sat down
to take breath. Anger flushed her cheeks,
shone in her eyes. and beat rapidly in her pulls s.
A crowd of thoughts filled her mind, and wounc-
ed pride sw elled her heart.
After my long anticipation, my plans, and
the open delight manifested only last evening,
to be so carelessly thrust aside' she mused, with
bitter feeling. "Seth has changed; there can
be no doubt of that. For two months, at least,
1 have noticed how absent minded and abstract
ed he was, evidently thinking of some one else!
to me, not the least; but, whoever
she is, 1 hope she understands steam-engines,
and takes pleasure in being trodden down to the
As the last thought called up a vision to
Cicely's mind, she rapidly transferred it to pa
" Very tall shall you be, miss, and bony," said
known rival; "high-shouldered, leathery, and
tough. A roman nose, my lady; spectacles, and
q high, beetling forehead, with plenty Of room
for your steam-engine knowledge. Long, fat
CATERS, liSe-thread gloves, water proof cloak,
and an umbrella, shall complete your outfit, my
dear, and hope Won feel ready to be trodden
down to the very dust"
Some time being required to finish this sketch,
the first flush Of anger subsidized, and left an
aching void; but dormant vanity awoke, and
displayed q rose-colored vision, In whose vista
cupids, perfumes, showers OF diamonds, and the
dark eyes Of Blanchard de Voltage, fioated in
bewildering confusion. Lost in contemplation,
Cicely sat dreaming until the sound OF bells
aroused her to reality. Putting on the plumed
hat, she tripped lightly down stairs-one, two,
three, four fights-and opening the front door,
stepped out into Christmas, the bells far and
near pealing out for
Merry, merry Christmas,
Down through the crowded street,
While all the city chimes In ringing chorus
The Gloria repeat
- And sounding onward over hill and valley,
Buried beneath the snow,
The village spires take up the joyful story,
Eehong to and fro.'
Cicely's feet did not turn toward St.-Bonte's,
but, crossing the avenue, they carried her into a
car; Just standing room for the two little soles
and no more, while the fresh robes were crushed
and the plumed hat knocked out of shape by a
swaying, struggling crowd. pull at the bell,
the horses stop, and the wedged mass sways
wildly from north to south as female is pushed
in from the rear platform. The hangers-On be-
hind climb on again, and the horses struggle for
ward. Another pull, another stop, and the
wedged mass sways from east to west as another
female from the extreme forward end Is crushed
and hauled down the line, and handed out to