Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-12-22
A Christmas Tale.

first Christmas at home for ten long
years. Ten long, lonely years. Only
you and to wish each other Merry
Christmas, with hearts far removed
from merriment. No little children to
greet Santa Claus with ringing shouts
of joy. No family to gather round the
Christmas Tree. We will give TO each
other triDkets TO mark our love, we
will eat turkey and mince pies, and in
Ihe afternoon ! will go over to the
Sunday school children. And SO the
day will glide by. as it has year after
year, in Paris. in Italy. in London, in
st. Petersburg-where have we not
spent Christmas ~
''But we are at home home now,
dear" was the reply.
True. There Is some comfort in
that. | have longed so for home think
ing that we might find in New York
some trace of our lost one. Surely she
will come homel Yet, it is ten years
that the house has been in the hands
of strangers. Who can tell that she
has not been turned away from the
doora 1T breaks my heart, Aunt Ellen
it breaks my heart"
The woman who spoke was pacing
slowly mp and down long, handsomely
furnished drawing-room, her small
ieweled hands clasped tightly together,
and her eyes misty with unshed tears.
She was richly dressed in heavy silk of
a deep wine color. soft fine lace, and
tasteful jewelry, and she was very
beautiful
She was not very young, past thirty
but her soft fair complexion and deli
cate features made her appear younger
than her actual age. Her eyes, of deep
violet, were large and expressive, and
her hair, worn in close curls round her
shapely head, was of the richest brown,
throwing back golden lights In the
bright glare from the chandelier. She
was tall and slender, yet gracefully
proportioned, and her movements were
easy and dignIiied.
Her companion, who was half hidden
in the depths of a velvet armchair,
was small and very pretty, but ol6
enough to have her snowy hair folded
away under a soft lace cap, and to wear
the old-lady dress of black silk and
white muslin, with shawl OF Shetland
wool around her shoulders.
She looked with loving, tender eyes
at the restless woman pacing the floor.
and when she spoke, there was sympa-
thy in every tone.
''Remember, darling" she said, that
ii is less than year we returned here
1t is too early to be discouraged"
81 am not discouraged, but 1t is so
hard to wait. Think of the happy lam
lily that gathered year after year In this
room, of our father, Uncle Harry and
Mabel All gone. Nothing. left me
but your precious love, and the good
can do the poor"
And Mira, speaking of that, dId you
not tell me YOU had still some purcha-
ses to make for your class to-mor-
row 7" :.
True. Mr.. Morrison's call drove 1T
from my mind. There were more toys
needed. | can go now. 1t Is not seven
O'Clock. | will order the carriage, and
be back before nine"
She rang the bell as she spoke, or
dered the carriage, and sent for her
maid and wraps.
The old lady waited until they were
once more alone, and then said, visit
fully: -, - n,
Morrison brought any news !"
"Indeed | would" was the earnest
reply, and the old lady felt caressing
hand upon her own. "There was only
the old story of failure. Oh, Aunt
Ellen, | would spend every dollar L
own if it would bring her once more
into NV arms, bring her face against
INV own againl Where is she this cold
Christmas Evei How do we know she
is not cold or hungry, while we have
luxury, How do we know what sor-
row she may endure. Oh, Mabel, Ma
bel where are you =,
"She NAV be dead,' the old lady said,
very sadly. .,
a heavenly smile lit the face of Mira
Cressweli, as she answered:
"No. She could not die, and | not
know il. You forget we are twins,
Aunt Ellen, She has suffered deeply,
has known illness and sorrow-bltter
sorrow-but she is not dead. When l
feel keen pain, | know she is I'LL and
suffering. When my heart sinks with
some unknown grief, know she weeps
in sorrow. But she could not die, and
| live on. Do you know she seems
strangely near to me tonight, and she
is sad, very sad '!
"Nearer than she seemed six months
ago, dear, when You were SO sure she
was coming home !"
Eyes: even nearer than she seemed
then. Bus here is Mary with my
wraps
"Are you going alonef Take Mary
with you"
alt is not worth while. shall only
drive to the toy-shop and back"
She pressed a loving kiss upon the
sweet face raised for the caress, and
left the room.
A few words of explanation here Will
make clear the conversation quoted
above, and tell the reason why Mira
Cresswell, rich, lovely and talented,
was single at thirty, lonely and sad.
Mabel and Mira Cresswell, twin
daughters and onlv children of God
frey Cresswell, one of the leading mer-
chants of New York, were at twenty
acknowledged bellies in their own CIR
Gle of society, and brighter, happier
fate never seemed offered to girlhOod
than theirs. Their mother had been
dead many years, but their fathers SIS
ter, Ellen Cresswell, had so faithfully
filed her place, that the twins never
felt the loss of mother love or mother
care.
During their first season in society,
for the first time in their short, happy
lives, the sisters wakened to the know
ledge that there was another love even
more absorbing than that they felt for
each other. =.
Mira became the botrothed bride OF
her fathers junior partner, George
Sewell, and her family approved heart
ily of her choice. But Mabel gave her
heart to a man in every way unworthy
of the gift. A man handsome, talented:
and brilliant, but wholly unprincipled
one of whom society more than whls,
pered disgraceful tales, yet tolerated
for the sake of his old family name and