Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-05-07

4
"You've made me see myself in my
right colors at last. had no idea
before what a selfish fellow 1 was"
Madge smiled brightly up into the
dolorous face above her, saying:
"You are our dear old Kit, of whom
we shall all be proud some day, !
know"
And SO, with lightencd hearts, the
two separated: Kit to repair to his
fathers study, there to make his con-
trite confession, and explain Madge's
sacrifice; Madge to lay out the two
pounds Kit had returned to her, on
buns and presents for the school-chil.
dren's feast, which was to take place
on this Christmas Eve.
The oak-panelcd parlor before de-
scribed was to be the scene of the
festivities, where forty boys and girls
were to be regaled first, and enter
tanned after by a Christmas-tree and
magic-lantcrn, the former to be pre-
sided ever by Madge and Mary Hels-
ton, the latter to be managed by Kit
and Tom.
The girls had been pricking their
fingers over holly decorations, and
making their arms ache with decking
the tree during good part of the
afternoon, with only Nellie and Bob.
and little Clara, as their helpers OF
| hinderers. The last thing was to
hang the mistletoc, and that was quite
beyond their powers.
81 wish Tom were here" sighed
Mary. ale used to be so ready to
help in this sort of thing. But when
| asked him to come with me to-day
he looked quite glum, and said he
had other things to attend to. Sc
tiresome, too, for / know he's only
moping about home, and worrying
mother with his dismals."
"And Kit has gone out, teo," said
Nellie; "and he has always hung the
mistletoe before"
The absence of the respective
brothers seemed to throw q gloom
over the party. The young ones
missed the rollicking fun that Xii
and Tom together generally set go
ing. And the two girls, think, il
the truth must be told, each felt s
certain amount of depression at the
detection Of their respective cavaliers
For poor Kit had been too much out
of heart with himself this Christmas
tide to venture much into Mary,
presence, looking upon her, as he did
as superior being to himself-ont
whom it was almost proclamation fol
such good-for-nothing spendthrif
to approach.
Tom Henston, on the other hand
had nursed his wrath against Madge
for her mercenary disposal of hel
hair; and, though sore at heart ovel
his broken idol, had yet been barely
civil to her when they unavoidably
met.
Now Madge felt this much more
than she could have believed posi-
BILE. She had always felt a great in
terest in Tom, and in his success a
school and college. But she ha(
fancied this a similar sisterly interes
to that which she had taken in Kit'
triumphs at cricket and football
Nor did she guess until deprived O
it how precious his friendship was t(
her; nor how much of her own men
tai growth she owed to the long holi
day letters with the clever, well-rea6
Oxonian; nor how much the tediun
of school-work was cheered by thu
thought of how Tom Helston woul6
expect her to be well up in this, o.
to cultivate her taste for that. She
knew now that she had disappointed
him, and felt depressed with the con
sciousness.
The twilight was creeping on, ant
the spiritless workers were sitting
listlessly on the chimney settees
when, with merry peal of laughter
Kit burst into the room, laden with :
great branch Of glistening holly
thickly besprinkled with berries, ant
followed more quietly by Tom, witt
a gigantic mistletoe bough.
"Hallo! little ones," cried Kit
throwing down his holly, ''set t.
work and strip off all these sprigs
while Tom and l hoist this fine fel
low to the ceiling. BY your leave
Miss Mary" STOPPING to kiss thu
blushing girl, as she stood admlrins
the pretty white berries Of the bougl
he had suspended.
Kit was himself again and no mis-
take, as full of fun and trolic as tho
most frolicsomc could wish. Ant
pretty Mary frightened up, and thu
children grew uproarous. But Madgt
though happy in the changed aspec
Of things, felt shy and i'll at ease, ant
uncomfortably conscious Of her crop
ped head.
While Tom, generally so full O
quiet humor, and SO ready to RESPOND
to Kits jokes, looked unwontedly
grave for him, with new expression
on his kind, clever face, that Madgt
could not interpret.
At last the mistletoc was hung
and all arrangements completed hall
an hour before the time for the arriv
al of the guests, when Kit exclaim
ed:
"Now for coze around the fire
and see who can tell the most horri
BILE stories!''
"No, MOI" said little Clare, 81 don't
like Kits stories; they're all about
ghosts and ogres. Please, Mr.. Tom,
tell us fairy story; like your sto'
ries best"
And the little maid climbed on his
knee, and nestled her curly head
against his shoulder, composing her
self to comfortable listening, with
one chubby finger thrust into her
mouth.
every WE'LL" said Tom, "1'll try"
"Once upon a time there was a
very beautiful Princess, and she was
as good rs she was beautiful. Ev-
erybody praised her; some for her
beauty, some for her goodness, and
not a few for both.
''She was always dressed, too, in
the lovcliest dresses, and wore the
most dazzling jewels in the world
And the people of that country were
n ~ i