Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-12-25
Two Christmas Letters.

Mss Belle Courtney to Mrs. Harry Roland
DEAR FRIEND ADA: l am home again; L-
has changed little during the six months l
have been away-that is, in externals. Al
most every one seems TO have shifted into
new grooves, and feel like stranger here.
Every one is absorbed In preparations for the
holidays-the very essence of Christmas Is In
the air. 1t is a study to watch the faces of the
people hurrying by, although the general an
imation makes my tristesse more of re-
proach. But what is one to do? No relative
but papa, and he across the ocean-no friend
near for whom to interest myself-there is abs
solutely nothing to do but to sit and think
and that is not the pleasantest of employ
ments.
/ can see you in your country home-all life,
hurry, and hustle; Harry and the babies con-
tributing their share, of course, to the general
confusion. | would accept your most kind
invitation for the holidays, were it not that
one so blue as is apt to be damper on the
festivities of the occasion.
You ask what came between me and Royal
Kenyon. Ihavenot told you heretofore, on
ly because did not care to thrust the affair
upon your notice-now that you express in
terest, am more than willing to tell you
what there is of it.
We were not affianced. Indeed, he had
never asked me TO engage myself to him; but
you know the hundred ways in which those
things may be told, even though not spoken.
Now that think of it calmly, all Roy's
words rather tended to elicit from me an ac-
knowledgment of affection, than to declare
his own; but eyes can speak, and II evereyes
said, az love YOU" his did, and he implied
the same, countless times.
Last Christmas Eve, a year ago to-nigat,
there was party at Judge divers. Roy had
gone alone, with Charlie Corwine. Roy had
been unusually gay and devoted all day. l
sure he was plotting something. You
know his mania for ordenOuements? so was
much surprised when, in the interval Of
quadrille, he came TO me saying that urgent
business called HIM from town for u lew days.
"And," SAID he" hope you Will accept what
the Christmas tree has for you. Good-bye."
He was gone. l wondered little at his way,
but thought nothing wrong until his return
two days after New Year, when, after our
first short meeting in public, he began paying
the most devoted attention to Josie Warner
You know how proud am. How difficult IL
would be for me to provide an opportunity
for reconciliation, even II he had been excus-
ly tried to win from me an acknowledgements
of love which he had no idea OF returning,
what could do but try to hate him? thought
Christmas of what he said about the tree,
iancying fOolishly that his words might have
peculiar significance; but, ah! it was loaded
with gifts, many of them for me, but none
from Royal. After few months of dreary
waiting went to Exeter, and am back for the
holidays. The Morley Street Church Is 10
have the same tree again this year. You re-
member that massive foreign evergreen in the
conservatory at Judge divers? It, Is to be
arranged in the church-basement. l am on
the Decorating Committee-so is Royal Ken
yon. OF course shall avoid him if possible.
Give my love TO Harry and the little ones,
and believe me,
AS ever your loving
BELLE.