The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-17
Stranger Than Fiction.
CHAPTER VII.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY
NEW YEAR.

Christmas Eve came to the great world
of London, and especially, 50 it seemed
to Mrs. Calcey, to the large house in the
questionable square.
Such a season for gifts was never be.
held. Such people for giving as the
Montrelles it would have been difficult
find.
Outof their small income they contrived
tosmake more homes happy than many
with ten times their wealth.
As for Miss Molly, sum of money
had been sent to her on the morning of
the oath, anonymously, which quite
turned her head.
On the inside of the envelope was
written in an unknown hand:
"A trife to aid in helping your hum
bic friends to spend merry Christmas. "
And to be sure the money did not long
burn her pocket.
To one she sent Goals; to another a
Joint; to third some warm apparel; !;
where there were children, toys; where
there was illness, the nourishment or the
attendance which seemed most needed
Ellen was about with her all that day;
and Ellen watched her in the evening.
when Mr.. Mason came and kissed her,
not under the mistle toe, but away from
al the others.
"My darling" he said 'I wonder if
3fore this time next year you will agree
tomake me as happy as you have those
p~r people to-day"
And there was hopeful tone in his
vCce, and glad light in his eye, Ellen
hal never heard in the one, or seen in
tn other.
That night, as they gathered round
III hearth, after all the guests had de-
ps'ted, his talk ran on Martinly Hall.
|'Now would be the time for you to
re the place, Mrs. Montrelle," he said,
while it is tenantless;" and then they
IL laughed at the idea, as though it were
capital joke; and one of the boys in
listed on the ghost story associated with
the Hall being repeated at length, and
the younger girls said they should be
afraid to go to bed after hearing it, and
Molly smiled softly with tender love-
light shining in her sweet face.
The next morning what kissing and
making of presents there was before
breakfast! 1t was pretty sight to see
the family gathered about their mother,
wishing her merry, merry Christmas,
and papa wiping his spectacles with sus-
picious persistency, and saying: "There,
there, that will dol Why, you might
still be babies"
Not a servant in the house was forgot
ten. Even the boy that cleaned the
knives and polished the boots found his
present lying ready directly beside his
brushes, and bright half-crown folded
in tissue-paper for him to take home to
his grandmother.
They all went to church, and after an
early dinner spent quiet, cosy evening
They never had much company on
Christmas Day; only their own, very
own people-mamma's sisters and broth
ers, and papa's only nephew and niece.
There were no reconciliations, because
there were no preceding quarrels; but all
family ties seemed to be knit more close
ly upon each succeeding Christmas Day;
and the children learnt from the looks
they saw passing amongst their elders
many and many lesson, which served
them in good stead when the time came
for them to 60 out into the world, and to
strive and keep their hearts untainted by
it.
Before they separated, Mr.. Mason
pressed into the hand of each one present
little note.
ut is only an invitation" he ex-
planned; and then went away, to let
them read his words at their leisure.
81 want you all to do me the great fa-
vor of attending Twelfth-day at Martinly
Hail." that was what he said; "Mr.
Montrelle will arrange about the journey,
if you can do me this kindness.
Then there was a great cry.
He had not been jesting, then; some
thing wonderful had happened, and papa
was in the secret.
"And Molly, too" added the boys.
"No," said Molly. 81 know nothing;
but | think there is something to know,
and that papa knows it."
"And papa is not going to tell it," an
swered that gentleman. However, |
may inform you that most wonderful |
twelfth-cake is going to be ordered to-mor-
row, and that /, for one, mean to accept |
the invitation"
t&a lo -
"You would like to know what has
been done, and how Mrs. Wilkins took it !
ALL" remarked Mr.. Ramsden to Ellen,
when he asked to see her for minute I
ere leaving town. "There is not going
to be any trial or any prison or any pun
ishment. We ought not, of course, to
have shown mercy; but Mr.. Mason's
heart is softer than the typical neither
milestone, and he found it easier to for
give your old mistress than to send her
to prison.
II went down and had a quiet chat
with her; remarked that we knew every
thing, even to the fact of her having
vainly tried to insure her daughters life.
4 heard that quite accidentally, and it
was refused because her lungs were hope
lessly gomez