The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-12-28
MRS. AYEkY''S, CHRISTMAS DINNER.

Yes said Hugh We'beril in decided sort
Of sly 10 essentially his own, I've made up my
mind to refuse all such invitations. If l spenu
Christmas anywh.'e, it will be with old Aunt
Nancy, on the farm.
WELL growle6 lis fpther, the gentleman i'd.
dressed, 'all l can say is, tina. you're n fool
There's Mrs. Avery has invited you to spend the
day with them; and, lev me tell you. il you think
anything of her daughter MsuG, you'd better be
working pretty lively. She, not girl to drop
into any 1ody's hand, and John Marvin is fellow
ing h., up close. He'll be thee, OF courie.'
y suppose so, said the other, n little gloomily.
sB,.t that makes no difference. Ii she don't love
him, she won't, nc matter how constant his ut.
tendance and if she Goes love him. l cant begin
to practice seit-teuial in the keeping-away line
any too soon A; all events, l promised Aunt
Nancy last sp.nmer that, it | could yet off, I
would surely spend Christmas with her, and l
mean to keep my word So here goes for a re.
greet md very .phito-ophic.lly he went to the
unpleasant task OF decli"ig Mrs. Avery elegant.
ly.wordod iuvit ,tion to her Christmas dinner.
Decidedly COOL said that lady, tho next morn.
ing at breakfast, ssing it over to the little girl
at her right, who flushed rcsly as she read:
'Mr. Wethe"il regrets that u previous engage,
ment will prevent bis being with Mrs. Avery On
December 25th, xs requested
Il do think continued the elder lady, with
considerable pique in her deicately modulsted
contralto, that Hugh Wetherll has much too
good en- opinion OF himself. Previous engage.
ment,' indeed. Why, Maud, don't you know l
asked him in advance of any os the Others 20 that
he could by no possibility have engaged himself
to any one elseI nd, even if it is so, he might
have broken it oft tor us-John Marvin would
have done it without ono moments hesitation
Msuds little uose elevated itself perceptibly
at this juncture. Evide atty, Mr. Marvin was no
favcri,e with its dainty mistress. Mrs. Avery
noticed the motion, snd, with look Of dissatis.
faction, proceeded;
Now, Maud, it il very foolish in you to make
faces when l speak OF John Margin. lie and
Wetherill are decidedly the Oest parts Of the
season. l have rather given the preference to
Wethorill; his family is the oldest; uut Marvin
is just as wealthy, ind just Yood.lookng, and
what is more, wants you Wetherill. by all signs
with scornfu look at the billet before her. is
anything but interested
Mauds nose, which had for moment resumed
its natural position, went up again, higher than
before, and the young lsdy's face was scarlet Al
she answered
4 hate Johu Marvin, he is smooth and sleepy
and as for Hugh Wetherill, l hate him, too.
wouldn't marry anybod! and l made up my
mind last week, Just "a coon as you mentioned
this hateful Christmas dinner, to have nothinl
ut oil to do with it.
ishment, then asked:
May / venture to inquire what disposition yo,
propose 10 make Q! youraot on that day.
ooh, yer; I'm going down 10 that old red farm
house in Connecticut, where that old couple tina
Tell in love with me last summer live ali alone
Don't you remember? l wan visiting tho Mo,
timers, aud went ovsr tn Carrie one day, an,
athundersorm came up, and We were Obliged
70 stay all night, aud nd such u glorious tim
lnn ,,l Al, .,llA
pany I'd beer with, TINT the old couple asked IN
TO stay and visit with them, and l did. stat
there week, all by myself and never h si sue
asplendid time in my life. They wanted inc
promise TO spend Christmas with them, and
told them ! would, il possibly could and
car, Just as well US not-so I'm going. Nov
ma"ina' us tho elder lady was about to speal
you iyht Just ss well let me 20, for, il yo
forbid it, III snub that horrible old Marvin .
that he II never come near tne house again
Mrs, Avery knew her daughter thoroughly
knew that when she said thing she meant /,
and 1t was, probably, owing to this knowledu
that the next morning found Miss Maud Aver
on the steam.cars, Speeding along toward Il
rambling old Connecticut farmhouse
Il told you I'd come il ! could, and here an
the said 10 the plcasant.iaccd, buxom old lac
who met her at the door with u cordial han
shake and motheily kiss. Were you expet
ing lie 2
WAL said the old woman, leading her que
into the cheerful sitting.room, where wond,
full log.frc blazed and cracked in pleasant ,
bplliousness. Il was speaking 20 Hiram about
only this morning. and lao sorter thought "
wouldn't come. lie said you city folks alw
had your hands full about this time OF the ye
an 'twasnt likely young thing like you won
want TO run off from the fun and frolic, Just
see Va two old folks. But I'm powerful IL
you've come and you won't be 40 lonesou
neither, for my nephew's comm either to.nu
or tomorrow morning. an he'll DO company