The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-25

l only hope she may be more happy in
her loving than have been. She is,
any rate, very happy now. and Roger
seems contented-yes, and happy, i
think. often find him looking st me
with a sort of pitying expression. ]
wonder if he does not guess my secret.
try to control myself, but sometimes,
when / see them starting off together,
can hardly keep back the tears. l fear
1 am getting nervous and cross, for
Annie asked me only yesterday if 1 was
not well, which, perhaps, was her gentle
way of showing me 4 was NOT god
| natured. Well, this torture will not last
much longer, for he is Only waiting to
spend his Christmas and New Years at
home. Ten days will soon pass, sup
pose; be ore he leaves he will ask my
consent to take Annie away. Heaven
knows the old house is dreary enough
with her; what will it be without her !?
December 23-Have been very busy
the last few days. We determined TO
have a regular old fashioned Christmas,
with Christmas trees and arches, and it
takes considerable preparation. Our
few relatives are so be invited for dim
ner, and then the neighbors-in the
evening. / have gon into this with
more than usual animation, for don't
want to give myself moment in which
to think. Annie says am looking thin
and pale, and expOstuiates with me
because ! will do SO much. She can't
understand, she says, why l should be
SO uncommonly busy some one else
could do part of the work. She does not
know that constant occupation is my
only relief just now. One thing for
which am thankful is, although they
seem to think so much of each other
in my presence, they are not lover-like
He treats her more like young sister
The time is very short now, and yet,
anxious asI am to have his stay over,
dread to have end. What will there
be to In Ike life entiurable after he is
gone? If 4 could onl = travel or go away
Somewhere but can't, and to prevent
thinking of it, will go down and see
how. the best room looks since the car
pet has been taken up-that is where
we expect TO do our dancing Christmas
night VIZ i9.ssski
December 24.-Christnas Eve has
passed. kept too busy all day to think
much. Rhoda and have worked as if
4 ali the world were to dine with us to-
morrow. What notable house
keeper" said Roger, as Annie brought
him into the dining-room to see the
great centre-piece of fruits on the dining
table, and what she called "Ruth' noble
array of pies" upon the side-board. Her
work of preparation, dear child, had
been TO weave garlands of Christmas
greens and bright berries to decorate
our sober rooms. Roger helped her,
and the work seemed we'll fitted for
them both. Their cheerful voices came
to me across the hall as /, the maiden
sister, unromantically worked in the
kitchen. Lightly they chatted, and
sometimes sound of happy laus hter or
a snatch of song fell upon my ears,
mingling with the droning tones of old
Rhoda's complaining voice, as she gave
me an elaborate history of her battle
with the rheumatism. And this would
be the way through life. Poetry and
pleasure for then, loneliness and dis
tasteful work for me. Did they ever
think of that?
Later, as the twilight brought cessa-
tion from labor for me, the silvery
sound of sleigh-bells came nearer and
nearer. and General Atherly's black
horses pa wed impatiently at the door
while their owner ran in to ask me TO
take sieigh-ride and see the moonlight
on the lake not yet frozen over. / went
with delight. was so tired and nerv-
Gus | could hardly have sat the evening
out with the sight of Annie and her
lover torturing eyes, wicked that 1
am to say it, when her happiness ought
to be my dearest thought. But why, oh
! why, could she not have loved some
other than he. was glad, too, that
Roger could see that was not altogether
slighted, and that even one as fastidious
as General Atherly sought my company.
| When came in, flushed and ex-
hausteds with the rapid motion and
sparkling winter air, Roger stood alone
in the library, gazing tixedly at the
boOk-shelves. AlOne?" sad, gaiIy
"and growing literaryp'
"No," he said, quietly, "not very
literary. for 1 did not even know that /
was looking at the books. lam waiting
for Annie; we are going to hear the
choir rehearse the Christmas anthem"
Then Annie came in, dressed for the
walk.
"How pretty you look, RuthieI" she
said, running up to kiss my cheek, still
cold from the out door air. Your
eyes glisten like stars, and you're so rosy
and bright that am sure you enjoyed
your slcigh-ride." :.
Then said lightly Q was SO glad o.
an opportunity TO say it before Roger)
Yes. have had a lovely time. There's
nothing / enjoy more than sleigh
ride" rzTa9 Z.
"Behind General Atherly's fine
horses, with the General for an escort, >
added Roger.
"Yes, Of course" was my laughing
reply.
Then they went of, Annie, as usual
in se widest spirits. Roger quiet. but
undoubtedly as happy as she. How
could he be otherwise? Then / sal
down at this cd secretary, which wa.
my grandfather's, with my cloak still
on, to write these trivial records of my
daily life. But even the written con
fidence to this unresponsive book are
relief. 1t is better than sitting lonely
watching the strange and ghostly flicker
of the freight on the walls, and tracing
sad pictures in the glowing embers al
they fall from the great, half-burnt
logs
But there was not much time for rev
erie; for, before 1 had fiHshed my
writing, they came back. The rehearsa
was short, and it was not late. but Rogel
would not sit down again. He took my
hand to say goodnight; we were alone
for the moment. Annie he'd Ieftth,
! room-probably the werds he had sale
to her on their homward walk were e,
tender and precious that she could no
/ take leave of him with even a sister
eye upon the parting, 80 she waits TO
him in the hall.
l Tomorrow will be Christmas" b.
! said, still holding my hand. +" VII
5 your friends keep sou SO busy then tha
, ! dare not claim few moments of you
1 time? / have something to say. Will