The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-25

cracked many joke at the expenseyof
their poor victim. |
"Santa Claus may take pity on him, v
said Bob Norton, "and fill up his bag
with Christmas presents, if he waits
there long enough. That would console
him, perhaps"
"He wouldn't appreciate them,' ~
chimed in another, "unles Santa Claus
certified that the toys and things came
from that leading notion house which
he represents"
"I don't think he would have con-
sented so willingly to hold the bag if l
had not worked upon his cursed vanity
so well," said Morgan; "and then Kate
Andrews made him believe that snipe
had long, beautiful red and yellow
feathers, and that she wanted him to
bring her one to wear to the party to-
morrow night"
"I'm thinking his own fine feathers,
which he has been strutting about in
ever since he came here, will be much
the worse for to-night's work." OBJ
served another.
And so passed the time with them till
long after Christmas had been ushered
in. Meanwhile Raymond was standing
patiently in the water. No sound dis
turbed the stiffness of the night except
the occasional splash of a big fish in
deeper part of the stream just above
him.
"This is a delightful manner of
spending Christmas eve," he thought to
himself. "What would my New York
friends think if they could see me in
this position ?"
His feet and legs were as wet as they
possibly could be, and he shivered with
cold. Several times he was on the
point of giving up, when the thought of
Kate, the party, and the promised
feathers came to him. Nor could he
bear the idea of provoking the ridicule,
and perhaps the wrath, too, of the
young fellows, by deserting his post.
Nearly an hour thus passed and he
was not only drenched with water but
nearly benumbed with the cold, when
suddenly suspicion dawned upon him
that he had been outrageously duped.
"They have made fool of me-" he
muttered, with an added imprecation
as his teeth chartered involuntarily,
and throwing away the bag lie hurried
off in search of the wagons.
cur WIS W Ills rage anu HOT
tification when he found they were
gone, and that he was left entirely
alone in the wild solitary place. Fortu.
nately it was a straight road back to
town, and he had no difficulty in follow
ing it. He ran most of the way, yet
did not reach his hotel till some time
after midnight, and it may be readily
surmised took the first train next morn
ing for home.
Henry Morgan accompanied Kate
Andrews to the Christmas party, and it
was remarked by all their friends that
SIG never looked 80 well nor seemed IN
such lively spirits, and that he appear
ed to be unusually happy.
Neither was ever again troubled by
the attentions of New York drummers,
and just one year later there was a
grand wedding in Helena.
The happy pair included New
York in their tour, and in a Broadway
store met their old acquaintance, Ray
mund. He greeted them pleasantly,
and, after some explanations on both
sides, inquired
$50 Mr.. Morgan was not your cousin,
after all?"
No more than you were yourself"
"And suppose he escorted you to
the party. see through it all now.
Well, though it was a most unhandsome
trick you played upon me, it has turned
out for the best. By hurrying home
then got here in time to be of great
service to our house at a critical juno
ture, and as a reward, have since been
taken into the firm. Besides, have
found another lady-love, the accom-
plished daughtea of our senior partner
you shall be present at our wedding"