The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-08-07

again
Don't be 50 silly" said Lotto, Jumping
up, and running across the room to Mrs.
Worth, waking up that yigilant matron.
Royston said good night soon after, and
went away lie walked around the Union
Square many times that night before he
finally entered the hotel, and mounted to hi7
own room And when there, lie sat al his
window Al hour or more looking thought
fully at the window opposite, in thc C.aIen.
don.
The next day Lo;tle did not fail to remind .
her consln Of the hotel BILL and he laughing
" brought i, to her, and looked over her
shoulder as she read it.
ROYsToE CROSBY,
To EVERETT House, On. .
To ten days board. ..................$4 $40 o.
Cigars ...,...,.... ...........,.. ~ w
Vine. ,....,,..,... .........,.. e.. 10 %
Received Payment.
you see it isn't paid SAID Roystou.
"Of course not" said Loitc
"a bottle of claret every Gay, you know, Lot
/ tie explained Hoyston, alphabetically,
Very well" said Lottie "Now / shall
give you blank check, which have already
/ signed, and you must fill it up yourself,
taking all that you wish, Royston for indeed
l have more than can spend, and | should
not like to think you were pinched.' /
! Roy picked up her little hand and kissed
It. He took the check, and later in the day
told Lotue that he had paid all his bills.
The days Heightened into weeks Novem-
Der passed, and Christmas was near at hand.
Louie had pretty little brougham, which
she had hired by thc month; but it presented
the most imposing appearance, and had quite
the appearance OF private establishment.
One afternoon, Mrs Worth being indlspos,
ed Lottic graCiously invited Roy to drive
with her, first 10 Broadway to do a little
Christmas shopping, and then afterward to
the Park
81 am going to hang up her stocking, -
whispered Lottie to Roy, "and yours, and
mine too Roy, dear, you must tell me what
you would like, shall, Of course, give you
something as a surprise; but would like al,
so that you would select something for your
self"
so will, said Roy. Indeed | have al
ready made my selection, If can only get it.
I'll tell you about it while we are driving in.
the Park. And, by the way, Lottie, 1 have
half made up my mind as to a Christmas
present for you. You must give me your
opinion OF it"
mo" said Lolie, eagerly I'd rather
not like 10 be surprised Choose what
you like for me, aud give it to me on Christ |
mas day; or better STILL utitlnto my stocking
Christmas eve, and | will promise not to look
at IT till next morning"
"All right" said Roy, with his usual easy
acquiesccnco to whatever Lottie proposed.
but, Roy, whatwili you have for your
Christmas gift - asked Lottle, after they had
left the noise and hustle Of Broadway, and
were bowling up to the Park. i
well, the fact is, Lottie, I'm afraid you
Will think am asking too much
Absurd" said Louie, IF | can give it,
you may be sure | shall"
"Well, Lofts, lists you | want" STAN
mered Roy with an appealing look.
"Oh, Roy, do you mean it:' she asked.
81 should rather think did, said Roy
"and if you refuse, l shall have to go away
from you, Lotte.'
But don't refuse cried Lottie, after
pause. you may have me and welcome
have often thought how sensible i would be,
and | would have offered myself If 1t had
only been proper
mo, would you?' said Roy, in great de
light "IIow jolly it would have been to
have had you to propose TO me We are en-
gagged now, aren'twe Lottie, and | may be
childish as often as | lilleY
Certainly not while we are driving in the
Park rebuked Lottic, for her rash cousin
had leaned toward her, very much As If he
position.
1t was happy drive altogether. The Park
was gay and crowded, and when they had
left the animate scene, and drove home tn the
dusk of the early winter evening, these two
children made sober plans for their future,
or rather Lottie made the sober plans, and
Roy agreed to everything, holding his cous-
ms little hand in his, and admiring the pref
ty face and figure, so well set off by the vel
vet dress with sable trimmings
Christmas day came, and Lottie had so
dressed her parlor with evergreen and holly
that it looked like little arbor. Three long,
rather limp stockings, dangled from the
mantlcplece; but Lotte studlously kept her
eyes from that tempting ncighborhood TIL
breakfast was over, and Royston had made his
appearance. And then, with much ccremo-
nv, she handed Mrs Worth stocking, which,
from its size, could not possibly have be-
longed to any other member oftEe party; and
then to Roy one, out of which were tumblingI
cigar cases, and slippers innumerable. And
at last, eagerly seized her own, she dived in
to the leg, and brought out first gift of Mrs.
Worth's, and then a little blue velvet box,
which, when opened, displayed diamond OF
marvellous size and beauty.
"Oh Roy, how lovelyl' she cried, trying
the ring on the third finger of her left hand,
and admiridg the effect. Then diving the
ornamented hand again into the stocking she
drew forth nothing more than the photograph
of country house.
"IIow pretty" said Lottie, seeming, how
ever, little puzzled, as she looked at the pic
ture. 1T is charming house: such nice,
wide piazzas, and pleasant grounds Did
you give me this, Mrs. Worth 81
mo, my DEAR" said Mrs. Worth. /
II gave it TO you, Lottie," said Roy, quiet
". 1T is a picture of "A house bought for
your Christmas gift. | think YOU viii llkelt.
It is a nice little place on the Hudson"
ooh, thank you, Roy" said Lot,lc, rather
falteringly. But do you think we can al
ford it:'
81 had it at a great bargain said Roy;
"and, by the way, Lotue, forgot TO mention
before that had little money of my own.
"And you are going to speud it all on mc!''
asked Lottle, tenderly,
mo, not ALL" said Roy, apparently suffer-
ing under some embarrassment