Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-27

standing, flushed with the compliments OF he
song, talking to our hostess near the piano.
approached from behind could hear that they
were speaking about me, and caught few
words distinctly. paused to listen. It was
very wrong, but twenty is an impulsiye age
"oh, a very nice young man indeed" Lu-
able journey down. He talked so simply, and
seemed such an innocent boy, SO took quite a
fancy to him" My heart beat about two hun
dred pulSat1OnS to the mtnute.) "Such clever,
intelligent talker too, full Of wide English
views and interests, so different from our mar
row provincial Canadian lads" ooh, Lucretia,
both sides EVIDENTLY "And then he spoke to
me SO nicely about his mother. / was quite
E&Frieved to think he should be travelling alone
de was to spend the Christmas with you, dear.
thought what should have felt-"
listened with all my ears. What could Luz
cretia be going to say?
If one Of my own dear boys was grown up,
and passing his Christmas alone in strange
land.n
reeled. The room swan before me. It was
too awful. SO all that Lucretia had ever felt
was mere motherly interest in me as a soil
tary English boy away from his domestic
turkey on the 25th OF December Terrible, hid
eous, blighting fact! Lucretia was married!
The rector's refreshments in the adjoining
room only went to the extent of sponge cake
and weak claret-cup. managed to get away
from the piano without fainting and swallowed
about quart of the Intoxicating beverage by
tumblef fuls. When had recovered sufficiently
from the shock to trust my tongue, ventured
ba kinto the drawing-room. 1t struck me then
that had never yet heard Lucretia'S surname.
When She and her brother arrived in the early
evening Mrs. Pritchard had simply introduced
them to me by saying. II think you know Tom
and Lucretia already" Colonial manners are
so uDcsremOn1OuS.
joined the fatal group once more. do you
KNOW" said, addressing Lucretia with as little
tremor in my voice as could easily manage.
Its very curious, but have never heard your
surname yet"
lear me-" cried LLucretia, 81 quite forgot.
Our name is Arundel"
"And which is Mr. Arundel?' continued. 81
should like to make his acquaintance"
"Why," answered Lucretia, with a puzzled
expression OF face, you've met him already.
Here he isl" And she took neighboring young
man in unimpeachable evening dress gently by
the arm. He turned round. It required mo-
men,'s consideration to recognize In that tall
gold studs and rundown collar my rough ac-
Gua1ntance OF last night, Tom himself!
! saw it in q fash. What a fool had been!
I might have known they were husband and
wife. Nothing but pure piece of infatuated
them for brother and sister. But had so fully
determined in my cwn mind to win Lucretia for
myself that the notion Of any other fellow hav-
ing already secured the prize never struck me-
1t was all the fault of that Incompetent sible
Canadian society, with its foolish removal of the
natural barriers between classes. My mother
was quite right. should henceforth be high
and dry conservative in all matters matrimonial,
return home in the spring with heart complete
ly healed, and after passing correctly through
London season, marry the daughter of gen.
eral or Warwtckshire squire, with the full con-
sent of all the high contracting parties, at st.
Georges, Hanover Square. With this noble and
moral resolution firmly planted in my bosom,
made n, nay excuses to the rector and his good lit
tie wife, and left Richmond for ever the very
next morning, without ever seeing Lucretia once
again.
But, somehow, have never quite forgotten
that tourney from Quebec on Christmas Eve.
and though have passed through several Lon
don seasons since that date, and undergone in
creaSingly active sleges from mammas and
grow more and numerous. 1 still remain bach
elor, with solitary chambers in st. James.
sometimes fancy 1t might have been otherwise
exactly like Lucretia.-[L. Ar6thaaot wilson, In
B1LGl0rin.