Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-12-25
BELLE.
Dec. 2ith, lS-.

Miss Belle Courtney TO Mrs. Harry Boiand:-
DEAR, DEAR ADA: Do you remember how we
used to laugh at the old adage in our copy
books, sTruth Is stranger than fiction?"Well,
shall hunt up one of those scrawled vol
umes and preserve thunder glass case-the
statement aforesaid is worthy the study of
future ages.
When l wrote you yesterday no earthly ell
oquence could have persuaded me that so ro-
mantle termination could come to my poor,
forlorn little story. The tree l told you of
was to be unveiled tonight, so u few OF the
faithful. jealous enough to Withstand the al
lurements of turkey dinner, promised to be at
the church this morning to decorate the Ioom'
At IL A. NJ, sharp, / arrived, according to
promise. Oh, how like 1t was to a year ago!
John Wilder's light wagon stood before the
door, loaded with evergreens and bright ber-
ries, which the boys had brought from the
Mountains. Queerly-shaped boxes and bum
dies were being unloaded, and round-eyed
children stood taking notes with evident de-
light. Some one had dropped spray OF white
chrysanthemum on the steps, and as passed
picked it up. Do you remember how Roy
wore them as q bOutouaiere to the opera last
Fall, because liked them, and gave them to
him? IL was good omen to find them, I
thought, and fastened them at my throat.
There was pretty sight in the old base
ment room; two or three dozen people scat
tered about the loom, busily working, in pic
turesque, undignifed attitudes, great ropes of
evergreens Oh the floor festOOns and wreaths
on the walls. There were bright flags anu
flowers, gay ribbons, cornucopias, toys, and
all sorts of pretty things. A bright fire in the
q Of
air, and the murmur of cheerful voices filling
| the room.
They had just brought in the tree; was
| standing i'm "a little group, talking to sue Day.
| Royal kenyon stood opposite, and we had
just exchanged formal bow, when dear old
! Obtuse Dr. Burleigh came bustling up. You
know he has no tact whatever, and Is always
bringing together people who would most
prefer 10 be elsewhere. With more than his
| usual dullness, 1t seemed. he paired us of
now. Miss Day, Miss Clark, Mr.. Saunders,
| your services are required by the festoOners.
| Mr.. Elliott, will you assist Miss Blanche in
| distributing candies? Mr.. Kenyon, you were
appointed to dress the tree, and Miss Court
ney Will help you, am sure; sorry we cannot
| spare more to assist, but you are both so effi-
| cient" IL was done; no use to struggle
| against fate. We went to the tree; not soul
| came near us, since the parson--dear old doc
forthwith his fine theories of method, had
given each one an especial duty. Without
word Royal mounted the ladder; without a
word handed upthe presents. Half an hour
|
| nous, as such things Will, when Judge oliver
| came up, urbane as ever. "Ah. Miss Beryl,
| you look like the spirit of Christmas: Royal,
| don't you think that tree has served well in
this capacity? Fourth time, this; but 1t won't
| do again. That hollow in the trunk swal-
lowed number of articles last year. They
couldn't have been private gifts, or we'd have
heard from them, and we made up an even
| number for the children" Roy dropped lit
tie Lucy Willis great wax doll, Il caught 1t,
| thought, and looked at HIM In amazement;
II
| came from the ladder, and, with mans
knack of making what he wants, devised a
| sort of scoop from the gas-lighter and toy
hoe. Then back into the tree, whence ne
| riched by the possession of two tin trumpets,
a papier mache doll and q morocco box, all
considerably dilapidated. Then the explana-
| tions! It was some time before l could un-
| derstand the torrent of words he poured forth,
| but at last understood something like this:
| Roy had no fit opportunity to propose to me
| in due form, as he thought, and he was so as
sured of his answer-impudence!-t he re-
| solved to give the affair q touch of romance.
| So before he left he enclosed his written pro-
| posal in the box, with ring which he begged
| me towear at our first meeting IL said "yes.''
| Some careless decorator dropped the box into
the tree-hollow, and my lords pride rose In
| arms at what he deemed my coquetry. II
| was very foolish-I thought no one did such
| things out OF story-bOoks-but Roy says that
| is owing to my inexperience in such matters.
| Well, Dector Burleigh had to appoint other
| tree-tr1mmerS, ,Dut tO-nlgnt ftOy gave the lllle
| folks carte blanche at the confectioners-said
| he wanted every one to be as happy as he,
| We are to be married next Christmas Roy
says it is not to be thought of-so far distant,
| But will 1t so, since the prominent events OF
| our acquaintance have occurred during the
| holidays, and think 1t right-the sweetest
holiest, tenderest memories of our life should
| cling, hallowed and beautiful, around this
| holiest day OF the year.
| With many loving wishes and kisses for you
| all, lam, Your happy
l., Dec. 26th. 49,. BELLE