The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-02-04

Aunt Alice was more precious to
her husband than anything else in
the world. Wherever his eyes
wandered, they always seemed to
come back 20 her as their resting
place; and however deeply, to all
appearance, he might be engrossed
in conversation with others, he was
always able, by some magical pro-
cess of intuition, to divine her
wants or wishes, and silently to |
supply them. Her furs were the |
warmest, her silks the softest
nothing was too costly, no trouble
too great, that ministered TO her
pleasure. There seemed to be no
such thing as forgetting, no posi- |
bility of mistake, wherever she was
concerned. If she had found q
four ieaved shamrock, and had
good FAIRIES constantly attending
her, she could hardly have been !
served better. Nor was Aunt /!
Alice behindhand in returning her
husbands devotion. He was many
years older than she, but 1 fancy
sas diiisTssanYfhsg saYhg, her pride and pleas
ure in his love. She never did
anything (indeed she had no need
to test or draw attention to his de
votion, but she quietly abandoned
herself to his tender care. She
seldom thanked him in words, at
least in company, but he was
thanked enough by the look of
perfect love and perfect peace
which was the habitual expression
Of her gentle gray eyes.
On the present occasion Uncle
Herbert was seated in high back
ed oaken chair, with Aunt Alice
on footstool beside him, and the
rest of the party grouped around
in a semicircle before the blazing
fire. The candles were not yet
lighted, but the dancing flame shed
ruddy light throughout the room,
throwing into bold relief the cary
ed work Of the oaken furniture, and
Frightening with genial glow the
red berries and dark green leaves
Of the Christmas evergreen. 1t
was just the moment for a freside
story; and as Uncle Herbert was
known to be learned in legends
and German fairy tales, which he
was wont to narrate with much
quiet humor, our little Cousins re-
quest met with general approval.
Uncle Herbert did not imm Mediate
ly reply, bat sat apparently reflect.
ing; and the Pickering fire light,
playing over his face, showed us
that he was in serious mood.
Aunt Alice glanced up at him in
qniringly and thought to myself
that / had never seen her bright
young face (for she was many
years younger than the rest Of oul
aunts and nncles) look more per
fectly beautiful than it did tha
night; and l caught myself won
dering, halfuncmsciously, how i
had come to pass that she shoult
have married one so much older
and to all appearnce SO unlike her
self, as sober, gray-headed Uncl
Herbert
"Well, my dears," said Uncl
Herbert at last, Il will tell you
story, true story. don't thinl
it is quite what you mean By
Christmas story but the event
about which am going to tell yo
happened at Christmas-time, o.
this very night, indeed, twenty
seven years ago"
, We all settled down to lister
I and after minutes pause he wer
|. on:
cit was Christmas eve, or rathe
Christmas day, for twelve o'cloc
had struck, and the few people le
In the streets were getting fewe
G and fewer, till it seemed as thoug
: the policemen and the waits woul
shortly have London to themselve
1t was a bitter cold nj BIT, an
;, snow was beginning to fall. Mo-
Il Of the houses were dark and silen
though here and there lighted vii
dows and stray sounds of mus
and of happy voices showed whel
household was seeing Christm'
in, and giving a merry welcome
the happy season. Olt Of bri
liantly lighted house in one of Il
"a West End streets there camo
>, young man who looked as thous
d he felt but little share of the ge
"a eral rejoicing. He was bare
wenty years Of age; but thong
re SO young, his cheeks we're flush,
r ard his g"it unsteady with win
J. and his lace was contracted with
e ! Ok Of hopeless despair Al
10 little wonder! The house VIII;
g he had just left was noted gami1
I'd house He had been tempted
n bed companions and had gambl
rt and lost--lo-t tar more heavi
Il than he could afford. Oae s
ur brings on another In the va
ly hope of recovering his losses-wi
he the insane persuasion, common
~ all gamblers, thai he must win
r the end if he could bat play lit
OF longer-he had taken without lea
ly large sum OF his employers mt
Is, ey, had staked it and lost. A
'ul then, all at once, a horrible
he morse, a mad despair, seized up
Of him. Now that it was too late
10 saw the full magnitude OF
m crime he knew too we'll that
mt money which. when he expected
,is be able to restore it secretly,
to had thought Of as borrowed,
he law would call by very differ
he name. lie knew new that disgu