Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-12-23

Good gracious What's horrible po-
sition this was-evesdropping, peep
ing, overhearing. And ali quite
against his wi (! What should he do
to get out of this frightful predica-
ment, in which at any moment he was
liable to be discoveredp With sort
of desperate tiptoe rush he gained the
other end of the room, and, oh Joy
his hand struck door-knob. Noise
lessly he turned it. It was the hall; /;
there was the lighted gas, the 'front.'
door-blessed avenue Of escape
With nervous yet quiet mo~csa.s. he
opened, he shut. No burgular ever
let himself out more gingerly. Once
safely in the street, under the frosty
moon, he breathed freely, and began
to think over the scene he had wit
messed.
The mother of mischief is no big
ger than midge's egg," says the
proverb. We are inclined to think
that the deity who presides over love-
affairs may be Of scarcely larger size.
Certainly the time spent by Max
Abicht perdu behind the pantry door
could Lot have exceeded three minutes
and quarter, but short as it was, it
decided his after-destiny, ne you will
see.
Half IN hours walking in tho crisp,
cold air calmed his excitement. Con-
sulting the time, he found it eight
o'clock. So returning on his path,
he rang the second time at Mr.. He'd
dermann's door-bell. The same wild
figure opened the door. It was, in
fact, the cooks cousin, a recently i'm
ported specimen, who being tolerated
in the household as an occasional
supernumery, had taken advantage of
the situation to sally forth for q
"peep at the quality;" and thus un-
consciously to herself, twice perform
ed the part OF q deus er machina in
the evenings entertainment.
This time, however, she did not
indicate the dining-room; but motion
ing Max up stairs, followed, and held
open parlor door for him to enter.
Max advanced, the door closed be-
hind him, and again he found himself
at fault. It-was the front-parlor this
time, dedicated to the special use and
behoof of the Christmas-tree. There
it stood, green stately, bedecked-its
fascinating load of mysterious par
cells and rows of unlighted tapers re-
vealed by dim flicker of gas over
head. Max had in his pocket some
triAes provided for the occasion, and
though somewhat embarrassed at
finding himself again where he was
evidently not intended to be, the op-
portnnity of disposing ofthese seemed
too good to lose, and drawing them
out, he proceeded to quest about in
search Of proper places for their sus-
pension.
The tree was all ticketed with
names in true German fashion. Max
turned away his eyes discreetly when
he met his own, and proceeded to
attach q pretty casket of Serres to
the branch labeled "Die Mutter;"
next dainty bonbonniere in pink
enamel and silver went on to the
plethoric bough which bore the in
scription, Trudchen:" and q some
thing in paper, well tied up, on that
intended for Mr.. Heddermann. One
more bonbonniere remained; and he
looked about him. Yes, there at the
back of the tree was a small twig
marked "Annette. It was q very
small one, and held one tiny parcel,
though, by way of making the effect
gay, o couple of gilt balls and red
apple were tied on either side. Max
thought of the patient little worker
down stairs, and his heart swelled.
He hesitated, colored, hesitated
again. Then determination shone in
his face. Dropping the bonbonniere
again into his pocket, he drew ring
from his finger, tore a leaf from q
notebook, and, writing q few rapid
lines beneath the gas, made small
package, and with dextrous fingers
hung It on the neglected bough. A
deep flush dyed his cheeks, and his
eyes glittered strangely, as, closing
the parlor door behind him, he stood
in the hall. Just then Mrs. Hedder-
man came sweeping down stairs.
"Oh, my dear Mr.. Abicht, how
good you are to be SO prompt" she
exclaimed, holding out her hand.
"What acold, cold night it is! Pray
come in to the FIRE. Gertrude will
be down in Q moment. The tree
will be lighted almost Immediately
now-at half past eight, as her note
told you"
Max bowed and smiled. He began
to comprehend the how and why Of
the misunderstanding, but preserved
discreet that silence which, We are
told, ' breaks no bones"
It was all like dream to him. He
saw the company assembled. Ger
trude rustled in, all crisp and beau
tiful, in azure silk and diaphanous
muslin; he was introduced to this
person and was conversed with, and
that, connections of the Hedderman
family; he conversed and was con-
versed with, and played his part we'll
and like q man. But all the time
q vague sense Of aleep-walking was
over him, and his thoughts were
hanging with his mothers ring, on
that unseen bough in the next room.