New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14
ONE WINTER NIGHT.
From Tinsley's Magazine


Tie wind blew coldly from the north.
and cut like frozen knives. Out in the dark
ening street my horse and gig stood wait
ing, and the December twilight gathered.
'.Why, bless me, Annie, might be going
to Japan" l exclaimed, buttoning my
great coat hastily, not caring to show how
unwilling l was to lose the warm touch of
my young wife's loving hands. ''Be quick,
dear, and hand me over the cases of watches
from the hall table there"
II wish you weren't going alone with
these things in your pocket, George" she
said looking upon the compact Geneva box
in her hand up to my face. cts worth
more than sixty pounds, and I'm sure it
isn't safe for you to carry it,"
"Who's to know 1 carry it" laughed
rs packed it into the long inner pocket of
nv OvercOat. Besides, it will be worth
less when bring it back, SO the danger will
be less. Cheer up"
"Oh, George! its nearly dark already"
broke in Annie, pitiously, as she shudder-
ingly turned in from the open doorway.
people oughtn't to hold clubs on Christmas
Eve. I'm sure after attending to business
all the week you ought to be left to rest and
enjoy yourself on Saturday evening. And
Pm dOubly sure that after attending to it
all the year you ought to be LETT to enjoy
your Christmas Eve"
II shall enjoy it, dear" said, as cheer.
fully as if the words were not an egregiOus
falsehood. Il shall enjoy my drive, and my
hot supper at the Miners Arms, and enc or
two other things II it had been an engage
ment for this one night only might have
begged off; but you see, dear, it is the be-
should not like to lose. Indeed, it may go
on for years, and we are not rich enough
yet to care to refuse a good prospect. Eli.
loveW
IL don't know anything about it, except
its disadvantages" fretted Annie.
II will explain once more. DEAR" l
answered, knowing she would like the few
minutes delay, Though believe it is the
hundred and fftieth time I've done So.
Twelve of the men at the Bog-mines have
formed club, which is to meet on the
night of every fourth Saturday, at little
public house called the Miners Arms.
Here 1 am to join them with good choice
of silver watches on approval. They each
pay in to me ten shillings, then draw lots,
and the winner has watch of the value Of
the six pounds There will be one winner
every night, and one watch sold, so at the
end of the year each member will have
watch. They all 60 on paying through the
year, but those who draw the lots of course
get one less in number every month. Any
one can have watch of higher value than
the six pounds by paying extra, so l take
some with me that are more expensive. l
hope you see the advantages, and will
make the best of it, even on bitter De-
cember night
'GeOrge-but George" whined Annie as
dismal after my satisfactory expla nation as
she had been before. think of my having
to spend Christmas Eve here all alone"
''Only few hours, after all. shall he
home at midnight to let you in the Christ
mas never fear
II don't believe You will, George. They
will keep you. or il will snow, or something;
and it is long fifteen miles drive each
way. You can't be sure to be at home"
81 can, and will, dear. Why, how down
hearted you are; l don't think ever saw
you 60 before"
II shall be SO dreary and lonely and cad
all night, George"
"No, You won't, love, because l shall be
home at twelve to let in the Christmas.
There, that's promise, and you know
whether I've ever broken promise to you.
Now let me 60. The shop is to be shut early
that the men may enjoy their Christmas
beef and buildings and songs. But hope
they will have dispersed before l come
home at midnight
"Quite sure you'll be home, thep?'
pleaded Annie, still OBTAINING me.
"Quite sure, my anxious little darling.
What troubles You this evening! Are you
afraid Of that funereal- looking quadruped
outside running away with me, or OF dead
and gone Duval running away with my
property T.
"And you promise to come and let in the
Christmas for US, George!'
~ promise. yes. Now good bye, in reality"
took my seat in the gig and drove off
rapidly to make up for lost time, kissing
my hand 10 Annie as she stood in the
lighted doorway watching me off. Down
the gaily lighted High street, through the
busy, slatternly suburbs. then into the wide,
chill country. 1t was an ugly drive
from the town to the Bog mines. even
on the brightest day of summer: but no
words can describe its bleak and bitter
cheerlessness or its utter solitarness, on
this December evening. Now and then,
certainly, a cottage did skirt the road. and
when i've Of the fifteen miles were travelled
! passed through small and scattered vii
lage. Beyond this the turnpike road led
me straight on through the fiat and Doggy
country. Quite the most isolated dwelling
saw was little cottage across field, about
six miles from town, which l knew to be
the home of a lame old Roman Catholic
priest, who lived there with a bedridden
brother. A good old man, always ready to
help the sick and sorrowful. | had never
seen him, but knew him well by report;
and had more than once had my attention
called to the little house-neat and well
ududEtu-WUtft Tic tWO Olu UIOlueIs llNcu
alone. After ! had passed that there
seemed to be no human habitatiOn for
miles; and as far as could see it-which
certainly was not far-the prospect was
gloomy enough a wide fiat expanse of
country intersected by dim hedge-rows, and
broken by the spectral outlines of the bare
winter trees. l drove on as fast as could,
while the evening darkened into night; and
the wind drove past me threatening snow. /
began now for the first time to wish that
the Inauguration of the club had not been
arranged for tonight and to wish more
earnestly still-what l had often and
often wished befOre-that l had for com
pany one of the dogs that used to be
the friends and companions of nv bow
hood; ever ready at my beck and cali:
eager and glad to follow me anywhere; re-
paying my fondness for them by their faith
fulness and devotion to myself. Above all.
! wished for the intelligent old mastiff
which had left the farm and had lived with
me in town until two years ago, who would
have been with me now, but that Annie did
not like him, and SO when l married l gave
him away never told her what struggle
it had been to me to part with him; because,
after all, what was his loss to me in COM
parison with the companion had gained
Afterward-when I felt at times how pleas
ant it would be to me to have one Of my
1avorItes about my house, would breach
the subject to my wife; but, seeing it was
olstastefui to her, never urged it. Now
as often at such times-I could not help re-
calling longingly my old dogs attachment
10 me; LIS pleasant cOmpaniOnship; his