Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-12-19
MRS. AFERY'S CHRISTMAS DIN.
NER.

''YEs," said Hugh Wetherill, in a de-
cided sort of style essentially his own,
''I've made up my mind to refuse ali
such invitations. If I spend Christmas
anywhere, it will be with old Aunt Nancy,
on the farm"
"Well," growled his father, the gentle
man addressed, "all can say is, that
you're fool. There's Mrs. Avery has
invited you to spend the Gay with them;
and, let me tell you, if you think any
thing of her daughter Maud, you'd better
be working pretty lively. She's not girl
to drop into anybody's hand, and John
Marvin is following her up cloge. He'll
be there, of course
81 suppose So" said the other, little
gloomily. "But that makes no difference
If she don't love him, she won't, no mat
ter how constant his attendance; and if
she does love him, can't begin to prac-
tice self denial in the keeping away line
any too soon. At all events, promised
Aunt Nancy last summer that, if could
get off, would surely spend Christmas
with her, and I mean to keep my word.
So here goes for regret" and very phll-
osophically he went to the unpleasant
task of declining Mrs. Avery's elegantly
worded invitation to her Christmas din
ner.
Decidedly cool," said that lady, the
next morning at breakfast. passing it OYER
to the little girl at her right, who flushed
rosily as she read:
''Mr. Wetheriil regrets that previous engage
ment twill prevent his being with Mrs. Avery on
December 25th, as requested
'I do think" continued the elder lady,
with considerable pique in her delicately
modulated contralto, "that Hugh Weth-
erill has much too good an opinion of
himself Previous engagement indeed
Why, Maud, don't you know asked him
in advance of any of the others, so that
he could by no possibility have engaged
himself to any ore else? and, even if it
is so, he might have broken it off for us
John Marvin would have done it with
out one moments hesitation"
Maud's little nose elevated itself per-
ceptibly at this juncture. Evidently, Mr.
Marvin was no favorite with its dainty
mistress. Mrs. Avery noticed the mo-
ton, and, with LOOK of dissatisfaction,
proceeded;
Now, Maud, it is very foolish in you
to make faces when speak of John Mar
vim. He and Wetherill are decidedly the
best parts of the season. / have rather
given the preference to Wetherill; his
family is the oldest; but Marvin is Just
as wealthy, and just as good-looking. and,
what is more, wants you. Wetherill, by
all signs," with scornful look at the
billet before her, is anything but inter-
ested."
Maud's nose, which had for moment
resumed its natural position, went up
again, higher than before, and the young
ladY's face was scarlet as she answered:
81 hate John Marvin, he is smooth. and
sleepy; and as for Hugh Wetnerill, Ihate
h Ia - kl -
them for anything. I wouldn't marry
anybody; and 1 made up my mind last
week, just as soon as you mentioned
this hateful Christmas dinner, to have
nothing at all to do with 1t.
Mrs. Avery looked at the excited girl
in astonishment, then asked:
MAY I venture to inquire what dispo
sition you propose to make of yourself
on that day?"
stOh, yes; Pm going down to that old
red farmhouse in Connecticut, where
that old couple that fell in love with me-
last summer live all alone. Don't you re
member? l was visiting the Mortimers
and went over with Carrie one day, and 6
thunderstorm came up, and we were
obliged to stay all night, and had such {
glorious time--it was SO lonesome anC
nice, after all the company I'd been with
tuat The OH couple dSkou Hle W stay dHt
visit with them, and did. / staid there
week, all by myself, and never hat
such splendid time in my life. They
wanted me to promise to spend Christ
mas with them, and told them l would
if possibly could; and can, just as wei
as not-so I'm going. Now, mamma" al
the elder lady was about to speak, "yor
might just as well let me go; for, if yot
forbid it, I'll snub that horrible old Mar
vim so that he'll never come near th'
house again."
Mrs. Avery knew her daughter thor
oughly-knew that when she said thins
she meant it; and it was, probably, ow
ing to. this knowledge that the next morn
ing found Miss Maud Avery on the steam
ears, speeding along toward the RAMBLING
old Connecticut farmhouse.
''I told you I'd come. if could, ant
here am," she said to the pleasant-faced
buxom old lady who met her at the doc
with cordial handshake and motherl
kiss. ''Were you expecting me?'
"Wal," said the old woman, leading he
guest into the cheerful sitting-roon
where wonderful log-fre blazed an