Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-02
hrs. ATERT'S CHRISTMAS DIN.
NER.


such invitations. # I spend Christmas
anywhere, it viii be with old Aunt Nancy,
on the farm
"Well," growled his father, the gentle
man addressed, call I can say is, that
you're a 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
30 drop into anybody's hand, and John
Marvin is following. her up close. He'll
.3e there, Of course"
81 suppose So" said the other, little
eloomily. "But that makes no difference.
# she don't love him, she won't no mat
Ter how constant his attendance; and if
she does love him, I can't begin to prac-
tice self-denial in the keeping-awav line
any too soon. At all events, | pr missed
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 tor regret" and very phil
osophicaily he went to the unpleasant
task OF declining Mrs. Averys 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
EOsiIy as she read:
Mr. Weheri regrets that a previous engage
i11ent will prevent MS being with Mrs. Avery on
December 18th, as requested
Il do think" continued the elder lady,
with considerable pique in her delicately
Cl0dulated c0ntTalto, that Hugh Weth-
Grill has much too good an opinion of
himself. Previous engagement indeed.
Why, Maud, don't you know / asked him
III advance Of any of the others, SO that
{,o o0r7f1 Nv M y1Crcihilifv bavn
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"
Naud's little nose elevated itself per
ceptibly st this juncture. Evidently, Mr..
Marvin was no favorite with its dainty
mistress Mrs Avery noticed the mo-
SION, and, with look of dissatisfaction,
Now, Maud, it is very foolish in you
20 make faces when speak of John Mar
vim. tie and Netherill are decidedly the
best parts Of the season. | have rather
given the preference to WetheriD; 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 scoTnful look at the
billet before her," is anything but inter
ested.n
Maud's nose, which had for moment
resumed its natural position, went up
again, higher than before, and the young
Iady's face was scarlet as she answered:
q hate John Marvin, he is smooth and
sleepy; and as for Hugh Wetnerill, | hate
him, too. I wouldn't marry either OF
them for anything. | wouldn't marry
anybody; and | made up my mind last
week, Just as soon as you mentioned
this hateful Christmas dinner, to have
nothing at all to do with ii"
AIRS. Avery looked at the excited gil
in establishment, then asked
May | venture to inquire what disp0
-sition you propose to make of yourself
on that day?'
ooh, yes; I'm going down to that old
red farmhouse iii Connecticut, where
shat old couple that fell in love with me
last summer live all alone. Don't you re-
members | was visiting the Mortimers,
and went over with Carrie one day, and g
Thunderstorm came up, and we were
obliged to stay all night, and had such g
glorious time-it was so lonesome and
nice, after all the company I'd been with
that the ola couple asked me to stay and
visit with them, and | did. I staid there
a week, all by myself, and l never had
such splendid time in my life. They
wanted ne to promise to spend Christ
mas with them, and told them I would
If possibly could; and l can, just as well
as not-so I'm going Now, mamma" as
the elder lady was about to speak, "yoU
might just as we'll let me go; for, if you
forbid it, I'll snub that horrible old Mar
vim SO that he'll never come near the
house again"
Mrs. Avery knew her daughter thor
oughly-knew that when she said thing
she meant it; and it was, probably, oW.
ing to this knowledge that the next morn
ing found Miss Maud Avery on the steam
cars, speeding along toward the rambling
old Connecticut farm house
q told you I'd come, if | could and
here am" She said to the pleasant-faced
buNom Old lady who met her at the door
with cordial handshake and motherly
kiss. Were you expecting me?'
oval, said the old woman, leading hel
guest into the cheerful sitting-room
where wonderful log fire blazed and
cracked in pleasant Righteousness. 81
was speaking to Hiram about it only this
morning, and he sorter thought you
wouldn't come. He said you city folks
alwus had your hands full about this time
of the year, an 'twasn't likely young
thing like you would want to run of
from the fun and frolic, just to see u.
4No Utu lcthS. Dut L LII poNCIIuI Sili
you've come; and you won't be so lone
some, neithe1Sor my nephew's comm
either to-nighteS to morrow morning, an
he'll be company for you. He's as likel,
young man az you'd wish to see.'
Maud began to wish she had staid a
home! Farmer Seymour and his wifi
Nancy she really liked; but their ''iike}!
young relative she had no desire to cul
tavate. But her dissatisfaction soon van
ished under the influence Of the pleasan
December sunshine, and the strange quie
and peacefulness. which was part and par
eel of this New England homestead.
The likely young man was not forth
coming that evening, and Maud noted hi
non appearance with sigh of relief.
zone evening without strangers,
she murmured, in satisfaction. zane
that is considerably better thai
none at ALL" and so, at 'sUncl
Hiram's" las she had been desire,
60 call him) request, she seated herself a
the old piano, and sang for hours tn
simple airs which the old gentleman sc