The Worthington advance., 1878-12-26
g,,,.Y, f4 i.E e.&E..l - 80 T.
] OVER THE SNOW.
A Christmas Story.
, , E,-
BY MRS, NAY AGNES TLBxIN0.


BY MRS. NAY AGNES FILMING.
From Dsnorssts Monthly.
"Hark! the herald angels Sing,
Glory to The newborn Klng"<
Rang out from the choir. and the organist,
slender pale.faced girl, with grave. beauti-
full brown eyes, Joined In the anthem, all her
soul In the lriumphal words.
Itwas the last piece OF the rehersal. The
choristsrs threw down their books, only too
msined, to play over once more new volun.
'Good night, Miss Englehart!'' "Good night
Miss Katherine!" "Good night, Katie, and
merry Christmas Eye!" were tho cries, - one
by Que, men and maids, left the choir, and
went aSwn the s'ats nss; and out into tho bright
Miss .Eogleharrs grsvely smiling lips and
gentle brown eyes answered them all. A
moment, and she was alone. only the white,
piercing moonlight streaming through the
painted oriel over the altar and the one dim
light below.
4 fars Of gas lit the organ loft. but this che
lowered. and With rapt face and dreamy eyes
she played over and over again tho jubllant
new voluntary. She might have gone on for
hours-she was quite cspable of it-but
piteuus yawn from the boy vt the bellows re-
called her from heaven 10 tartn.
.ohw she said' stopping suddenly, With
wont play any more; and here, take this for
your CHI istlnas box"
JlmDy jun ped up and seized the proffered
coin with gli.teriug eyes.
"Thanky, Miss Katie. Merry Christmas,
please mu'am," cried the boy selling his cap.
"Ah! she's a brick, she is" said Jimmy to
himself, as she clattered down the steep stall.
case. Nobody among all the singers ever
thinks Of the 10Y that blows the. bellows,
'cept her. Don't jest hope she won't marry
that lonx.legxt rooster that scorts her here
sometimes, aud leave The choir for goodr'
Still = few moments longer fingered Miss
Knglehart on her knees. Then, she, too, hur-
ried d1wn the staircase and out into the shin.
ing cOdness Of the starry December night.
High and white and cold lay the Christmas
snow. No "green yule" this year to make fat
the klrk.ysrd. Cloudless aud blue spread the
Ky z. t'!i.d !, with sparkling char 'tmas stars.
WITH a great start the world came back
from the land Of dreams. A ,all man had
started up in her path, and spoke her name.
"Y0u-pap!' the girl said in doubt and sur
prise, the color that had arisen to her face fad
Ing out. -,
arm with laugh. ibid you think It was
Haray Hatton? Well, 1t is almost as good,
for have come to talk to you OF him"
Mis- Englehart looked up, sudden trouble
In the brown. tender eyes.
II thought you had done talking Of him,
papa" she said, tremblo in her voice. II
Thought. yesterday had finished tho subject
forever"
Let me see. What did say yesterday?'
says Mr.. EngleLart blandly.
"Ahl I remember that my stif.necked, dot
Ing old Client John Hatton, had made up his
sellle mind to forgive his runaway daughter,
and disinherit Harry; Under these circum-
stances very naturally told you that you
were to meet Harry no more. You are u
good girl, Katie "a very good girl"-,Alr.
Enslehart pats paternally the little hand on
his arm-"and at any sacrifice to yourself you
would have obeyed me, am sure. NV dear,
1t affords me great pleasure to Inform you
the sacrifice will not be required"
"Papa!" the girl cries, her whole face light
Ing up. "You will let me marry Harry, poor
- he Is? o papal am not afraid Of poverty
not AFRAID OF work; neither is Harry, and
"Uh, poohl my dear-pooh! nothing Of the
kind. My opinion on that poiat has never
thing infinitely better than that. Old Hattou
died suddenly last night befere making the
proposed new will, and all is Harry's."
Katharine Englehalt uttered faint, start
led exclamation.
"And the old will leaving all to Harry
stands. es , and i his only daughter is di'nhertee
u. Left. without silver. my dear, and serves
her right says T. She ran away with worth
less scamp, against her fathers will, anc
like all fools. has paid the penalty Of he1
folly: She supports herself aud her dvt
4 children by tewing, so have been told, ant
you know what kind Of support toat means
has done what It was mis- duty to du-what
would have done IN his place-east her of
and left her to starve with the pauper sh'
chose"
In the moonlight the face of Miss Euglc
hart grows white as the snow itself, but sh'
walks on aud doss not say word.
However," CRIES her father, cheerfully
''that 10 not what want to say. Rose Hat
tours case need never b. yours. AL 10 Harry's
aud, except his poverty, never had any ob
jectiun to Harry as q son.in.law. 20 when b.
comes to wish you merry Christmas, my dea
Katie, give you leave 10 name the day."
So A strange liz ght came into the brown eyes,
soit.cut mouth.
"la he coming tonight, papaf'
"You will Ind him, have not the elightes
, doubt. at the house before you. It would b.
Hypocrisy for him to protess any grief for tha
old skiudlnt uncle. aud Harry Is no hvpocrte.
a..iS, "Yoy !, have seen him since his uncle
"Certaiuly, Katie, and wa the frst to con
Rratulats him. i trust you withdraw you
objections to my suit now, sirF he says to me
in his naughty way. l am John Hatton's heir
after all.' A tritle hot healed is Harry, but
good fellow i'll the main-Oh! very good 1el
..lowl. i have no doubt Katie, he will make u
excellent husband"
He means to keep this fortune, them" hi
daughter says, and says 1t in SO odd q voic
that her father looks Ut her puz1led.
= Keep II! What do You mean? Wha
= should he do but kPepit' By Georxel lshoul'
nhink hs did mean to Keep III "A cool hundre,
mean by the question:
Not now, papa, please. I will see Harry
drst," she answered, in the same s,ranx'
yoicr-a very quiet voice. though It startle
I her father.
"Look mere: my, girl" he says .tesrnly, i"
Quixotic notions about things In general, an.
:. .Dpirits Of honor and conscience 10 particular
1Warn you don't let US have any Of them here
Hyou want to be Hsrry Hstton's wife. Tn,
lad has come fairly by his fortune; let hin
keep In peace"
words harshiy and menaclngly spoken. The,
90 together into the drawing, oou,. and ther
- Mr.. Englehart has predicted, they hu.
-. young Hatlon alone. A tall and proper fel
low, this Harry Hatton, with = handsom
face and eager, happy eyes:
AZ laet, he eflee, cOmlnR l0rWard. Doll
hards outstretched, 'just 40 patience was ceaa
;: tug to be virtue. Thank you for bringing
u her Mr.. Englshart. Come to the dreside
Katie, and warm those cold little paws. Ha
our e.a,ely papa been telling you the goo'
He draws her forward, eyes smile, all all9h
with love and Joy. Last night he was In d.
spair; last night this cozy room had b:cn for
biden ground. sorrow and weeping had IN
,dured Tor the night, but joy had come will
sths morning. This time Yesterday he hat
been bexgar and Katie had been refused him
tonight he was rich man aud, Katie nigh
be his for the asking.
D" Aud papa Englehart, after = genial, father
in.law sort Of nod, lad slipped away-leavinl
tAem together.
"Why don't you speak little girls" cries ju
~bllant Harry. "Or has the power Of speecl
! heb frozen within you! Wish me . merr,
;Chistmas, Katie, and congratulate me on m!
! capital fortune. - -
She looks,up At him with eyes full Of wist
love.
10 .Iwish, you merry Christmas with all m,
heart Harry; but congratulate YOU on what r
why, hasn't the dear old dad been tellin,