The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-25
OVER THE SNOW.
A Christmas Story.
Fr ON Demorest's Monthly. ....
By MRS. NAY AGNES FLEMING

Rang out from the choir, and the organist,
slender pale-faced girl, with grave, beautl-
full brown eyes, joined in the anthem, all her
soul in the triumphal words.
twas the last piece of the rehearsal The
choristers threw down their books, only too
glad to get away The organist alone re-
manned, to play over once more new volun-
taT saood n;ont Miss En- u,sn.rt,n ueooa n;n,+
Miss Katherine!" ''Good night Katie, and
merry Christmas Evem were the cries, as one
by one, men and maids, left the choir, and
went down the stairs, and out into the bright,
white Christmas night.
Miss Englehart's gravely 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.
A flare of gas lit the organ loft, but this she
lowered. and with rapt face and dreamy eyes
she played over and over again the jubilant
new voluntary. She might haye gone on for
hourS-she was quite capable Of it-but 8
eiteous yawn from the boy at the bellows re-
called her from heaven to earth.
"OhH' she said, stopping suddenly, with a
half laugh, had forgotten you Jimmy. Well,
won't play any more; and here, take this for
your Christmas box"
Jimmy jumped up and seized the proffered
coin with glittering eyes.
"Thanky, Miss Katie Merry Christmas,
please ma'am," cried the boy Selling his cap
''Ah! she's brick, she is" said Jimmy to
himself, as she clattered down the steep stall
case. Nobody among all the singers ever
thinks Of the poy that blows the bellows,
'cept her. Don't jest hope she won't marry
that long-legged rooster that scorts her here
sometimes, and leave The choir for goodw
Still few moments longer fingered Miss
Englehart on her knees. Then, she, too, hur-
ried down the staircase and out into the shin
ing GOODNESS Of the starry December night.
High and white and cold lay the Christmas
snow. No green yule" this year to make fat
the kirk-yard. Cloudless and blue spread the
Ky, filled with sparkling char stmas stars.
"Katie!'
With great start the world came back
from the land Of dreams. A tall man had
started up in her PATH and spoke her name.
"YOu-pap!' the girl said in doubt and sur
prise, the color that had arisen to her face fad
Il, Kate" He drew her hand under his
arm with laugh Ibid you think it was
Haray Hatton? Well, it is almost as good,
for have come to talk to you of him."
Miss Englehart looked up, q sudden trouble
il the brown. tender eyes.
Il thought you had done talking of him,
papa" she said, a tremble in her voice. II
thought yesterday had finished the subject
forever"
Let nae see. What did say yesterday? 2"
says Mr.. EnsleEart blandly.
All! remember that my stif-necked, dot
ing old client, John Hatton, had made up his
senile mind to forgive his runaway daughter,
and disinherit Harry. Under these circum-
stances l very naturally told you that you
were to meet Harry no more. You are a
good girl, Katie "a very good girl'-Mr
Enslehart pats paternally the little hand on
his arm-"and at any sacrifice to yourself you
would have obeyed me, am sure. NV dear,
it 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
. SIS he is? papa! I am not afraid of poverty
not afraid OF work; neither is Harry, and
"Oh, pooh! my dear-pooh! nothing of the
changed: and never will. No, no; it issome-
thing infinitely better than that. Old Hatton
died suddenly last night before making the
proposed new will, aks all is Has)sy1s.' y =
Katharine Engleha.t uttered 8 faint, start
led exclamation.
and the old will leaving all to Harry
stands, and his only daughter is disinherited
and left out"
Left without silver, my DEAR and serves
her right says I. She ran away with worth
less scamp, against her fathers will and
like all fools, has paid the penalty of her
folly. She supports herself aud her five
children by sewing, so have been told, and
you know what kind of support that means.
Serves her right, I say again. John Hatton
has done what it was his duty to dO-what
would have done in his place-east her off,
and left her to starve with the pauper she
chose"
In the moonlight the face of Miss Engle-
hart grows white as the snow itself, but She
walks on and does not say word.
However," cries her father, cheerfully,
that is not what want to say. Rose Hat
toms case need never be yours. All is Harrvs.
SnO. eXneDt his nOvprtv T had oh
Jectlon to Harry as a sOn-in-law. So when he
comes to wish you merry Christmas, my dear
Katie, give you leave to name the day"
A strange light came into the brown eyes, a
strangely resolute expression sets the pretty,
soft-cut mouth.
SIS he coming tonight, papa?'
You will find him, have not the slightest
doubt, at the house before you. It would be
hypocrisy for him to profess any grief for that
oldskinfint uncle, aud Harry is no hypocrite j."
de2th?'
Certainly, Katie, and wa the first to con-
graduate him. I trust you Withdraw your
objections to my suit now, sir" he says to me,
in his naughty way. am John Hatton's heir,
after ALL A trifle hot headed is Harry. but a
good fellow in the main-oh! very good fell
low! l have no doubt Katie, he will make an
excellent husband"
"He means to keep this fortune, them" his
daughter says, and says it in so odd voice
tnaI her 1aJher looks at her puzzled.
Keep it! What do you mean? What
should he do but keepit? By George! should
think he did mean to keep it, A cool hundred
thousand if "a shilng' May ask what you
mean by the question:
Not now, papa, please. I will see Harry,
hrst," she answered, in the same strange
Voice-a very quiet voice. though It startles
her father.
"Look here, my girl" he says stearnly, 81
know you of old-know your highfown,
Quixotic notions about things in general, and
points OF honor and conscierce in particular.
warn You don't let us have any of them here,
if you want to be Harry Hatton's wife. The
lad has come fairly by his fortune let him
keep in peace"
They are at the house with the last words
words harshly and menacingly spoken. They
go together into the drawng e DOM, and there
as Mr.. Englehart has predicted they find
young Hatton alone. A tall and proper fell
low, this Harry Hatton, with a handsome
face and eager, happy eyes.
"At last" he cries, coming forward, both
hands outstretched Gust as patience was ceas-
ing to be virtue. Thank you for bringing
her Mr.. Englehart. Come to the freside,
Katie, and warm those cold little paws. Has
our stately papa been telling you the good
rewsY
He draws her forward, eyess Smile, all alight
with love and Joy. Last night he was in de-