The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-17
Of this piece Of elegance is a myth,

\
nastened down. ese.af Frsr Egff[
! There were merry doings al Barly
Holt that night, Squire Martin Barby,
children of his many sons and daugh-
Lady Ursula, his high bred genial
dame, always gathered large circle
around them at Christmas. And
where could you spend jollier Christ
mas than at the Manor?--and who
could make such mince-pies ard tur-
key stuffing as grandmother's old house
keeper at Barby?
| Well, as Isaid, there was granddoings
at the Manor on Christmas Eve Lady
Ursula in her black velvet and Mechlin
lace, and the Squire in his low shoes
and silver buckles, led off the stately
country dance from the top of the hall;
the married sons and daughters came
next, then the young people, the chill
i dren, and "Grand-father's guests" as
all who were not related were styled by
the rest. &s
The dancing was at its height; the
holly and ivy quivered on the panels,
and the oak floor was becoming more
and more slippery; when unannounced
and with a powdering of snow on his
cloak, tall figure dashed among the
dancers, seized the Squire's hand, and
wrung it violently, fell on Dame Ursu>
las neck and gave her hearty kiss
before any one had time to think what
the disturbance could he about.
But the Squire's eyes were keen, and
after the first moment he returned the
grasp with hearty 'God bless you,
my boy! welcome home!' and "Wel-
come to Barby, grandson" said tho
kindly voice of Dame Ursula, albeit
some tears of joy shone in her soft ey es.
"Cousin Jack! Cousin JackW came
from twenty mouths, and the favorite
grandson threw aside his cloak and
flung away bis hat to shake hands with
all the aunts and uncles, and many of
the guests who remembered him.
And one of these guests, seated under
the holly decorations of great oak
panel, leant ne. white, terror stricken
face against the woodwork, and pressed
the slender gloved hand against heart
beating strangely fast. ,rl..t & {
| "What can it mean?' she thought,
"Why am so struck at the appearance
of an utter Stranger" rf.
| Alu YET IL was IlOt q StIduSSI. lu6
face of the favored grandson was the
one whose image lay between the
leaves of her Lara, up stairs. Ah,
| Maggie, it is dangerous to have deal
ings with astrologers. Here was this
girl, who had answered a mysterious
advertisement for more fun's sake,
astonished and terrified beyond meas
ure at what seemed the sudden reali-
zation of the astrologers mute prophesy.
Not the folds of her crepe dress look
ed whittier than her face; all the joy of
the Christmas party was gone for her
and sickly feeling of superstitious
terror possessed her. The spirited girl
was now faint dropping figure, with
only just strength enough to creep up
stair to her bed room, where she crouch
ed down before the fire, crumpled
mass of white clingiDg crepe, shivering
with fright at every vail of the wintry
wind bowling around the house.
ooh that had never written to that
| terrible astrologer-that horrid, myste-
rious nan! Fancy the very person ap-
pearing in my path-ihe very person
al 1 declare should have known him
among thousand though he Is not
terrible for he looks very NICE. Oh, it
is dreadful! / have heard of such
things as fates in the stars, told by wise
men, but never believed it do now
though. How fortunate it is that no.
body knows it! Twill take good care
they never do"
With this thrilling secret at her heart
Maggie set and shivered another twen-
ty minutes. Then came footsteps, fol-
lowed by troop ofgirls rushing in.
"Why, Maggie, where have you
been?' cried one: "We wanted you
for a cushion dance"
ooh, Maggie, where are you? Have
you seen grandpapa's !pet-such ,ro-
manic stir " hen he arrivedv' exclaim-
ed rosy girl, with forget-me-nOts in
her hair. ~.
"And he's adorable!r said third.
"He's the dear" chimed in another
"He's a son of grandmother's eldest
daughter. and she is dead, SO the old
gentleman thinks the world of him."
said a matter of fact young lady, ad-
justing her chignon. 81 have heard
he is terrible scamp" said another.
"Rubbish!" cried another. "He is a
regular jolly fellow, Mary. 1 never
saw such eyes; and he gazes, SO anXi-
ously around, one would think he was
looking for somebody"
And so he was, you know, reader.
The girls fingers had been as busy
as their tongues, and wreathes being
settled to their satisfaction, they made
move to go down for snap dragons;
and Miss Barton, with the awful secret
locked in her breast, went too, for fear
of exciting surprise
Meanwhile, Mr.. Jack C.rleton was
in his element. All the time he was
joining in the dancing and games, his
eyes were diligently seeking among the
guests for the signor's fair correspond
ent. A dozen times he thought he re-
cognized her in some fair, yellow-haired
lady, till some unfamiliar feature alter
ed his opinion. "I'm sure l should
know her." he SAID to himself, "though
all the girls are exactly alike"
Mr.. Carleton's eyes, therefore, did
double duty; and presently, when a
pale girl, with dropping geranium in
her hair, entered in the rear of a dozen
more, down went Mr.. Carleton's glass
of sherry; and, forgetting the lady by
his side and Lindley Murray, an ener-
getic 'sThat's herw burst from his lips.
"That's who, Mr.. Carleton ?'' in
quired his astonished companion.
"That? Why-she-will you take
some egus, Mrs. Allerton ?" he said,
suddenly recollecting; but his eyes
were following Miss Barton, and he
ccasrcely heard the reply. "That's her
yes, I'm sure OF it. How scared she
looks! There's something unpleasant
on her mind, conclude. She's very
pretty, though. 1 wonder if she has
got my carte. ,Ha! ha! what spree
Lemonade? Yes, madam, I'll fetch
you some." And he darted away, fully
determined not to return to that part of
the room for some time.
A servant was standing near the
door, and Mr.. Carleton addressed him
in an undertone.
"What is the name of that young
lady standing near the fireplace and
talking to my grandmother ?"
"With the red flower ip her lair, sir?
That's Miss Barton, sir. She came with
MIR. Frances and his daughters. She
was here last Christmas, SIR"
Jack worked his way dexterously
round the room, and by the time he
was within ear-shot of the young lady,
there was cry to put out the lights for
snap dragons; and while they went
out with a Whit, a sharp spring placed
him at her side.
"Miss Barton--Maggie-how do you
do?n
There was a little glow from the fire,