Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-12-24
A COSTLY CHRISTMAS GIFT
BY MADGE Carroll.


There's always lull before the holi.
days. Society takes vacation after
ushering in long evenings. tones up
previous to Christmas and New Year
gaities.
We were a dull little group, yet, il /
mistake not, work progressed more en-
couragingly. Fingers flew in place of
tongues. it was just the girls and our
selves. Ada Alday, from next door,
the golden-feeced Walthams, Gertie
and Bess, from around the corner, and
Hilda Etheredge, our doctors daugh-
Ter, whose portrait, as Cleopatra. lad orn-
ed the academy wall. Ourselves con-
sisted of Miss Zell-Our seamstress, a
maiden lady-ma and your humble
servant, Rubina Rubb-Ruby, for
short
We were all deep in the mystery of
Christmas presents that somebody at
home was not to see, and end in being
surprised over.
Pa and the boys being our, nia cover
ed her dainty figure with her lord and
master's' dressing-gOwD, and l swung
my big brothers. slippers with the
recklessness of absolute freedom.
Suppose we each tell what WAS the
most expensive Christmas present we
ever received
This proposition, from Ada Alday,
suggested new interest to be derived
from topic much discussion had rem
dered fiat, stale, unprofitable.' Gertie
and Bess Waltham seized upon it ca
gerly.
1t has been moved and seconded
announced Hilda Etheredge, that each
member of this goodly company ac-
knowledge and confess what was the
most expensive Christmas present she
ever received. Those in favor, signify
it by saying aye
There wasa chorus of ayes. Miss
Zell alone was silent.
Contrary said Hilda.
Miss Zell was fashioning some every
day garment, she was paler than usual,
pale as the white muslin she held, yet
a faint smile crossed her lips as she
said, with an effort, If not too late
aye
Ayes have it. Proceed was Hill
da's order.
We knew we'll her costliest gift, the
diamond that for nearly twelve
month handz burned on the beautiful
hand. Her betrothed, Clement Moir,
was as good as he was rich. Not girl
of us but wished Heaven had made her
such man, yet Hilda played fast and
loose with him in a spirit of vanity
and re elk lessness before which our hum
bier, softer natures stood appalled,.
In her giddy way, Bessie Waltham
the oldest should speak first.
AS we looked from mother to Miss Zell,
there arose murmur of disapproval.
The latter checked this by saying, even
more gently than usual: 1T is my priv
ilege, but please allow me to be last
Hilda graciously consented. Mrs.
Rubb, will be kind enough to begin.'
NV fatLer gave me this house on
Christmas morning iis
so far SO good. Ada you've the ad-
of me by some thirty days if l !
not
My most expensive present was "a
watch and chain.'
And mine Hilda had hut to lift |
her lovely hand. Now, Miss Ruby
Rubb.'
Mine was a silk dress. Gertie's
pearl set. Bess had some difficulty |
deciding. Was even obliged to consult |
was piano. It had come round to |
Miss Zell at last. Laying aside her
sewing, she went to her room, return
ing with small glass case that held
simply collar and pin. q g-..ls
A lady's collar, narrow, yellow, with |
a spare, little, embroidered vine: an |
oval pin, jet, set in brassy-looking |
rim; the crimson of the velvet on which |
they rested was pale with age, and |
moths had picked it here and there.
Il know what you are thidking, said |
Miss Zell, answering our interchange |
of glances. You can form very fair |
estimate of the value of this gilt, even
taking into consideration the passage
of time since its purchase. Some |
among you recollect having given me
far handsomer articles, pet this Miss |
Zell's face was white and still, but we
thought the tiny case would drop from
her trembling hold, lis the costliest
Christmas gift ever received
II think l see a story SOMEWHERE
cried Bess Waltham, catching us all in
the golden mesh of her hair as she
crowded in to sit at the feet of the he
roine of the hour.
Hilda, with her mermaid hair, her
torturing diamond and tortured lover,
gave way to plain Miss Zell, so old, so
cold and quiet, we had never expected
to extract any interest from her beyond
the finishing of garment. Nov,
however, Toms slippers were out at
the toes, Ada's kittens waited for their
eyos, aud GeItrude's lilies fE their
golden hearts, while plain person
measured and pinned the loug, white