The Red Cloud chief., 1875-12-30

come back. And to think the only re
turn we can make Is TO decorate thcil
graves! We did q grea. many last yeai
and there will be more thar ever, I'm
afraid, when this campaign is over"
After this it struck Miss Mehitabl,
that the conversation became very gen
eral; so much so that she could not catch
the opportunity TO ask Cousin John q.
many questions as sic would like, or &c
be particularly polite to the Professor
However, everything seemed going or
delightfully."-, though. she noticed The
same general carelessness Of enuncia'
ton; still, she was used to that, and she
would catch Cousin John after they re.
turned to the parlor
But Cousin John wasn't to be caught
he was very busily engaged with some
r else whenever she passed near him
and, indeed, every n grew very talka'
tive, and even the candles and fire light
seemed to Miss MehItable gayer than on
other nights.
"Strange ways New England people
arc falling into" said Cousin Johns
nearest neighbor "Chr istmas dinner
at early candle light is something
equally new and nice"
as it new or old2" asked Phenix, and
then came a tree discussion of dinner
hours in times past, present, and to
come.
81 wonder what time Abraham diuedT'
said Miss Pamphylia, suddenly.
Cousin John said that was a tentative
question; it would be easier to say what
he dined upon and some M answered
"Oh, yes, that was on a Mess-o pot-a.
main plain"
Miss Mehitablc nodded and smiled,
but the Professor thought he would
make it a lsttlc more distinct for her.
"We were wondering at what time
abraham dined," he enumerated, coming
very close, on pretense of picking up
the handkerchief which had slipped
from her lap.
"Oh, he dimes at 4 o'clock;I was
timately acquainted with him." said
Miss Mehltable, a glow of pleasant rec
objection snffusing her face. But, at
the same moment, she caught a very
peculiar n on the Professors. She
glanced at Cousin Johns. Was it
possible the turkey had not agreed with
him that he was looking so very redo
She looked at Phenix-he was white
Pamphylia was blue, and the rest were
all looking the other way. A sudden
and dreadful suspicion seized Mehitable.
A professor of ~e,ocution must enunci-
ate we'll; if she had misunderstood HIM
whose fault must it be?"
"Cousin john" she said turning to.
ward the white necktie that had eluded
her so many times that evening, "who
did you understand the Professor 10
speak of?
abraham" replied Cousin John, with
truth aud distinctiveness united in
tremendous force.
"Did you, Pamphyliag"
Miss Pamphylia, and, one after an
other, Phenix and all the rest, nodded
assent.
Two round red spots came into Miss
Mehitable's cheeks, and she dropped
her hands On the handkerchief with q
gesture of surprise. Then she looked
up with the unfaiiing smile.
Then, Phenlx, will you have the
kindness to bring that instrument you
have been keeping in your DON 70,
meg"
Phenix cast one look at Miss Pamphy-
liza. She stood petrifcd, and her brown
eyes seemed leaping upon him as he left
the room. Hettv had asked for the
trumpet!
But by the time he came back, Miss
Pamphylia had vibrated to a "~refec-
tion," and found her balance again.
"Still," she was saying to herself, cit
is a great comfort to feel that IT will be
keeping a promise; and I've got on my
new black silk, and Phenix is q great
deal too good for mc-that is the only
trouble"
"Now, Phenix," said Miss Mehitable
inserting the trumpet in her ear, ale,
me hear something pleasant through
this, if you can.
He looked nce more a: Miss Pam.
phylia. Her eyes shOne this time, and
he went across to her with the tread OF
a conqueror. With his right hand he
led her o Miss Mehitaple, and with the
left he raised the mouth of the trumpet
to his lips.
"If you will give US your blessing
and allow Cousin John to perform The
ceremony, l believe we are ready" hs
said.
1t is strange how much less time i,
requires to do things than to get ready
for them. 1t did not seem five minute.
to Miss Pamphylia before it was al
over, and Phenix was showing the last
guest out at the front door.
Miss Mehitable sat holding the trum.
pet as if she would never let il 20
again.
"lf l had only had sense enough t.