The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-20
A RIDE FOR A RING.

EeIaAauon as 1T is, there are often
strange mysteries brewed, as well as
punch, by the side of the Yule Log,
and there may be more potent spirits
while the fragrant fumes are rising
than the mixer thereof wots. Very,
very different in bis aspect is Christmas
IN the town, or the same time honored
old parsonage in the country house.
1t is as he appears at the latter we now
wish to introduce him to our readers
so we will ask them for the nonce to
lose all idea of streets ankle-deep in
snow or slush, or the same under sea
OF black mud aided by fops and smoke
grlmed walls to make all things des-
olate. Very different Is EdOn Hall in
the midst of it's trim lawns, fright
park, and copses of red -berried hollies.
A decidedly Jolly place to spend your
Christmas at was EIdon Hall, and
thither we will at once take our read
ers, relying on the privilege of old &C
quaintanceship.
4" am not good at statistics" said a
friend of ours, when asked how many
pipes he had filled and lighted that
day. For the same reason we decline
to state the exact year in which the
events here recorded took place.
1t was the evening proceeding Christ
mas Eve that in a somewhat remote
tower of Eldon Hall, which. by the
way, Is most Northumberland truc-
Cure, with no end of turrets and corners
generally, Evelyn Crawford sat con-
yerslng with her friend Cicely Burnett.
Ihey we're old school-felIows, and the
present evening was their first meeting
after a separation of quite two years.
Really, Cis, exclaimed the young
Sr, raising her dark gypsy-liko eyes to
ner companion, and at the same time
throwing back a mass of lefty hair,
chat let loose from its bands fell in
MASSES over her diminutive but bean
tifullY formed neck and shoulders q IL
Is so Jolly to have you here all 10 nv
sell again it seems quite like old
times, aud l could fancy myself back at
Nine. Haut-Tous."
80 cannot l, rejoined her com
panion, casting glance round the ele-
gantly furnished apartment. 'I see
OUT little here TO remind me of those
bare walls and the deal furniture save
our own dear self, and you are SO al
tered IN everything savo kindness to
your friend that nothing but the old
look can make NE think you are the
same dear Eve we used to call the little
gypsy. But must not tell you all 1
thlnk, or You will become vain"
Nay, Cis dear, we will leave that
theme for another time. Now let me
hear some of your own adventures since
we parted, and how you liked France
and Italy"
The daily round of toll a royerpess
mas TO undergo would interest YOU but
NIUE; rather let me hear from you some
OF the characters who are TO come upon
Cno sUage Tor our amusement during
Lhe next few days. For us. who are
doomed to be lookers.on rather than
players III the game, it is at least some
satisfaction to be able to get q glance
behind the SCENES"
Cynical as usual, " replied EVELYN 4;
out here, dearest, you must and shall
DC an actor as well as n spectator in all
that takes place"
30 l know you would have it love. -
SAD Cicely, imprintug a kiss on her
comp9nions brow; "but even the will
OF an helress cannot Command attention
" Needy and almost unfriendly girl. &"
IL shall mt least in Eldon hall -
said the beautiful and someTgbat IT;If,,,I
Evelyn; "but now for our programme
tomorrow; we have a grand meet
OF Forwardshire hounds here. and
nave told papa you must have
oIu Swallow, unless, indeed. Won
Moulu prefer riding my pet Excel
SiOr; swallow, they all say, is much
the better hunter, but he is neither so
bay" OO-'J 'i''lo
How charming p said CiceIv; "tbep
shall have a real hunt and dare sav
Flde great, big, ugly, raw-boned
HII,eE worm ever SO much money.
wen, Eve, must not disgrace him if
can help It; they say rode well as a
BirI When'-When L had mean ere l
was turned on the world an orphan.
Forgive me dear; it's not often I give
way IN this fashion" And CiceIv
seemed for time quite overcome by
her feelings.
There, am better now, " exclaimed
she, after having INDUCED in 3 good
cry IN which her companion perforce
Joined. And tell me, Is not this MIR
hinton, the master of the hounds.
young, and very handsome ?"
him handsome"
My Evelyn amongst the numbar
Nay, do not blush, dearest report saws
you are already .faHcec; and why should
you blush at having won the heart of n
man young, rich, handsome, and in
eVerT way suitable match ?"
report, then, asserts what it has
no warrant for saying, l assure you,"
Nay; no confessions to-ni06t {" soi5
the other, kissing her flushed and av
cited brow. q really am weary oftar
my journey, and must retire. II there
Is nothing in it, the loss of a mere fox-
ton" Jul PO'i-
he Is rot mere fox hunter, thougb
ADMIT him TO be very fond of the
sport, and all say he stands unrivaIled
as a horseman. -
There, you dear little enthusiast. I
viii concede him anything you like. SO
that l may not be kept from my pillow
70 hearhls merits or dement's discussed
Good night"
We may not follow Cicelv Burnett to
heT chamber and catch thoughts re-
Nolylng through her brain as she Law
that innocent. fair-lookiug face upon
the pillow. Many a scheme that works
oeIeaJh Diue eyes and golden linglets
90 SO, but II may not be, and only nv
the results can we guess at the specuIa.
lions which drove sleep from her pillow
Eos 1t was an unwilling guest to her at
least so she told Evelyn next dsv
though the excitement of meeting an
old friend scarcely seemed to sat'sfacto
MY account for the fact.
The morning broke clear and bright ::
every tree was silvered with boar frost
and dep rime covered the ground,
ana many an anxious conjecture was
raised amongst the party assembled as
to the probability Of It's b,iug fit for
hunting. Perhaps the most really in
terested of any, though apparently
quite unconcerned, was Cicely True.
Eyelyn's maid had discovered for her
habit that fitted to perfection. and her
hat was most OiQuaHte affair so that
1t would be grear pity not to display
them. Girls are naturally anxious TO
occupy the place in which they show TO
most advantage, and Miss Burnett knew
she shone on horseback At length the
frost ON the bows turned to glistenipp
beads, then drops began to patter on
the ground beneath, the white rime dis
appeared, and as one by one scarlet
coated men appeared before the house,
all fear as 10 the hounds being stopped
was at an end There vyas bugo faajirc,