Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-01-04
MRS. AYERY'S CHRISTMAS DINNER

"Yes," said Hugh Wetherill, in de
cided sort of style essentially his own.
1--we made up my mind to refuse all
such invitations. If | spend Christmas
anywhere, it will be with old Aunt Nan,
sy, on the farm."
Well" gpwled his father, the geu.
tleman addressed, "all l can say is, that
you're q fool. There's Mrs. Avery has
invited you to spend the day with
Them; and, let me tell you, if you
think anything of her daug ghter Maud,
you'd better be working pretty lively.
She's not girl to drop into anybody's
hand, and John Msryin is following
her up close. He'll be there, Of
course.
"Isuppose so," said the other, a little
gloomily. " But that makes no differ
ence. If she don't love him, she won't,
no matter how constant his attendance;
and if she does love him, l cant begin
10 practice self denial in the keeping.
away line any too soon. At all events,
I promised Aunt Nancy last summer
that, if | could get of, | would surely
spend Christmas with her, and | mean
to keep my word. So here goes for a
regret" and very ph,losophically he
went to the unpleasant task of declin-
ing Mrs. Avery's elegantly worded invi-
tation to her Christmas dinner.
Decidedly COOL" said that lady, the
next morning at breakfast, passing it
over to the little girl at her right, who
flushed rosily as she read:
"Mr. Wetherill regrets that a previ
ous engagement will prevent his being
with Mrs. Avery on December 25th, as
requested"
81 do thir k" continued the elder
lady, with considerable plque in hel
delicately modulated contralto, "that
Hugh Wetherlll has much too good
an opinion of himself. Previous en-
gagement,' 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 tc
any one e'se? and, even If it is SO, he
might have broken it off for us-Johr
Marvin would have done it without one
moments hesitation
Maud's little nose elevated itself per
cep'lbly at this juncture. Evidently
Mr.. Marvin was no favorite with il
dainty mistress. Mrs. Avery noticed tn,
motion, and, with look of dissatisfac
ton, proceeded:
NOW, Maud, it is very foolish in yo,
to make faces when | speak of Joh,
Marvin. He and Wetherill are decided
ly the best paris of tile season. | ba,
rather given the preference to Wether
Ill his family is the oldest; but Maryi,
isjust as wealthy, and just as good look
ing, and, what is more. wants vo,
Wetherill, by all signs" with a scornfu
look at the billet before her, is an,
thing but interested
Mauds nose, which had for momer
resumed its natural position, went u
again, higher than before, and tn
young lady face was scarlet as she al
swered:
=" hate John Marvin, he is so smoot
and sleepy and as for Hugh Wetheril
| hate him, too. wouldn't mari
either of the m for anything. wonldn
marry anybody; and l made up N
mind last week, just as soon as yo
mentioned this hateful old Christm,
oinner, to have nothing at all to q
May venture to inquire what di
that day ?'
ION, yes; Pm going down to tn
o!d red farmhouse in C,nnecticu
where that old couple that fell in To-
with me last summer live all alor
DON'T you remember? | was visit,
the Mortimers, and went over W,
Carrie one day, and a thunder.sto,