The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-11
He holds the umbrella so that the rain falls

NAT. lie graSpS IL urmlY, DuL DllnQly. que
does not lift her eyes. He leaves her at the
she is not very wet. She really is drenched.
Three or four days after, Mr.. Atoms
horses are again before the door. going up
the stoop, meet him coming down. He
looks badly. He holds out his hand.
"Say you are sorry for me, Miss May, am
shipwrecked."
put my hand in his mournfully. with an
internal wish that Theo could be well shak-
en-. find her looking quite downcast. +
GLOW could you" began.
CHOW do you know?
81 met him." I answered, sand he held
out his hand; knew by his tace.'
81 am sorry, but could not help lie"
Couldn't you like hm?" l PERSISTED.
''He would be so good to you"
eyes, he said he would be; he even offered
to let me wear copper-toed shoes all my life,
if wished" This is said savagely, for
Theo. 1 cannot but laugh as hear the in
ducements and think that is what did it, so
after Christmas 1 will give him hint of his
unlucky speech, and he may have better
luck another time.
Christmas is two days off. Theo and
stage that is just starting up town; there is
but one passenger in it, a gentleman reading
a paper intently. He looks up as Theo STUN
bes in getting in. She bows coolly; it is Mr..
Lathrop; l bestow on him the rudest saluta-
| ton l know, but as it happens to be the lat
| est society bow, he does not notice. Theo
has discovered why she stumbled. The
copper on one of her shoes has loosened at
one end. She struggles vainly to pull it en-
| tirey off. Mr.. Lathrop comes to her assis-.
| lance. 1t is removed. Theo looks out OF
| the window. Mr.. Lathrop is absorbed in
the paper. Presently Theo turns and asks
him politely if she may trouble him for the
= hs.>lx y, 1,1vo no
| probably threw it out of the window: but
no-he takes it from his pocket and hands it
| to her with only look. Again she gazes
| upon the street, but this time he neglects
| his paper, then crosses and sits down beside
her. I hear him say:
"Will you be kind enough-will you be
merciful enough" -this in lower tone-''to
answer me one question? Is your bet with
| Mr.. Alton?"
She looks surprised, but says promptly:
| "Certainly not"
| The man looks electrified. What he in
tended doing do not know, but something
dreadful, am sure. At this very opportune
moment two more passengers enter the stage.
As we are getting out, he says to me, eagerly
and implorIngly.
"Will you help me? must see your sister
tonight, to EXPLAIN
I answer, "Yes," without hes itation, and
with indicative pleasure. think of the
beautiful opportunity Theo will have to re-
taliate for the way in which he has behaved.
Dinner is over. Theo in one slipper and
one shoe the other has been sent to be put
in order-is sitting at the piano playing soft
ly.
notice how pretty she looks, little deli
cate color in her cheeks, like the rose tint on
the pearl of shell, is heightened by the beau
tful wavy hair. Her dress black silk-fits
her perfectly, and the lace at her throat is
held by pin through which runs line of
pearls. She is in revery. know BY her
touch on the keys. know still more surely
by the brown eyes slightly downcast.
am bent on keeping her in the parlor, for
if she is anywhere else when he comes she
will ask to be excused. I wander restlessly
about the room.
.sTheo," no answer.
sTneo;' she turns her head a little. eff
Mr.. Lathrop should call what would you
do?"
"Treat him politely, but very coolly, if 1
could not be excused from seeing him en-
tirely."
s'If he speaks about bets or betting young
ladies % add malciously.
81 should be rude to him." replies my sis
ter composedly. 81 should say nothing, but
would walk calmly out of the room."
''Not really, Theo," I cry aghast.
"Really," she answers firmly.
This is more than bargained for. My
conscience reproaches me. 1 am actually
sorry for the man. push aside the heavy
curtains at the window and look out Just
as do so the door shuts. Some one comes
into the parlor, and then I hear voice-his
voice-saying:
"Miss Marsden-Theo-I thought all the
time the bet was with Alton, and loved
you. Oh, my darling, won't you forgive
me? Won't you let me love you?'
ic for
movement. Theo is leaving the room think
with shudder. I peep out. Theo has ris-
en- from the piano stool and is holding the
lappels of that mans coat and looking into
his face with eyes that shine. Is my reason
tutteIiuge
She whispers, "And if I dow
1 am conscious that he is kissing her,
and saying, ''My darling, my dariing,''
over and over, in the most stupid manner,
as rush wildly from the room. l seek a
retired spot and mediate. I have been
duped. am indignant. Mamma finds me at
last, and enjoins me to go down. She is
pleased, l know. She has been bis friend
ever since she met bis mother last Fall. In
vain plead he will be ashamed to see me. l
succnmb and descend. 1 lookd at him
wonderngly. 1 expected him to be over
whelmed with confusion when / appeared,
but he seems perfectly unabashed; actually,
do not believe he realizes that he has been
utterly absurd. He thanks me with great
apparent sincerity for my assistance. 1 re-
ceive his acknowledge ments placidly,
though think, from his smile, he has a
dim suspicion of the facts.
Uncle John and Papa come in presently,
and we find they know Mr.. Lathrop already,
whereupon Theo discovers to her surprise,
aud to the intense amusement of everyone
else, that she has bestowed her affections on
man ofleather. Uncle John is delighted
with the opportunity to tease, and seizes it.
But Theo says she has only exercised
woman's privilege OF changing her mind.
December Oath has wings. Tbeo wears
her shoes all day, but in the evening ap-
pears in a pair of French Kid, which are
miracles of beauty, and dazzle all beholders.
On Christmas morning Theo receives two
presents of flowers; one is a basket full of
long stemmed buds and roses, that look as if
they had dreamed of Jnne's kisses, if
they never felt them. With them is
little case, from Tiffany's containing a soil
taire diamond ring. The other is beauti-
fully made copy, in silver, of one of Theo's
detested shoes, with band of gold about
the toe. 1t is full of violets, and among
them in an envelope, is "Merry Christmas
from Uncle John" and check for $4,000.
P. .. 1t may be interesting to know that
Mr.. Wilmot is reconciled to the young lady
who made bel, and he confides to member
of the family whom he intends to marry. that
bis Indignation was purely because he thought
Phil. Lathrop was being badly treated.
He, as well as Mr.. Lathop, dined with us
on the holiday of holidays. Uncle John
came, of course, and we had real Dickensy
Christmas. Plenty of holly with its glisten-
ing leaves and cleaning berries, every spray
OF which Theo declared was a carol in itself
and so it was to our happy hearts. And not
only holly but mistletoe. Uncle John must
have put it up. Theo said she did not, and I
am positive it was not I; however, there it
was, and am not sure that it made matters
worse. There never was greater success
than the dinner, unless it may be the laughter
that accompanied it. Uncle John was I'M
mercifully rallied on his bet, but he made
little speech and said he resented the view we