The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-07-14

Mrs Ray sat beside aer Giving
CRATE gsztng into the embers, and ply
irg her knitting kneedles indussrisusly
Toe rude wines ii . December night
wbistled arrund the corners Of her oct.
tAge. ratified the window blinds. and
sought in vain for soms crevice tn: :ough
which 70 penetr.te to the warmth and
chesriness within The mind sf the
widow busted itself with the past
How short seemed the time sircs abe
~as . high he~rt-d. II fioiicking child.
aud father and mother lAvished upon
her that cArsssing care which spssng
ooiy from parental tsedeSnsss. How
sweetly did childhood glide into nsid-
snhood, aud hos like . bright dream
wss the msmory Of her 6rss s0quaist-
xDce with DR. Rsy. the m'nistef's sea.
Then she ihought Of the bright sum-
,ser ss"rning hat hsd vitnsssed 'hsir
nupti.ls. Ot the fresh June ssses. aad
Ut The dslicste white eloaeoms thSt hnd
been cullsd from bsr ewn 1ovss gar
den to forn bridal wreath; and she
r~memb bered hcw her heart hsd bssnd-
ed with jay and pride when the bsids-
groom bad whispered that the bride
was faiser thsn the snowy chsplst.
Thee bow swessiy the years had
glitsd by. hearing their rich freight.
Hge of joy Her ouly child. . noble
boy. had grown TO mans sssate. and
become Q commissioned officer in the
navy. aid her heart had cherished him
with mot hers fond love and pride.
Then came the memory OF darker
days; h~r husband bad been injured by
. sudden isll from his hOfse. aud be-
came Nh invalid; and soon after came
the heart .rndiug news that the good
ship Henry. of which their son WAS
commander had gone down in . gale.
aud that all Oh board had perished.
DR. Ray sank rapidly under this great
sorrow. and two months later was laid.
with Masonic honsrs. io the village
csmstery; aud Mrs Ray found herself.
ut the age Of forty live. widowed and
childless. But little property wss LEFT
hsr-ouly her pretty cottage, With its
pleasant grounds aud even that wss
mortgsged fer one third its actual
value. But just when abe hsd expect.
ed to be deprived of this last relic Of
happier Jays. the mortxags had been
sent To her 10y mail. accompanied by Q
certificate from the mortgagee that the
debt had been fully cancelled. But TO
whom she was indebted for this kind
ness Mrs Kay could never ascertain.
Du,ing The two years that had super.
vened between that time aud the pre-
ent, she had. at frequent intervals. re-
ce,ved supplies of money in the sa~e
mysterious way, quite snthcient to
meet all her wants. Who was her se
cret friendg True. che had many
friends. who seemed always seeking to
make her present life happy. aud to
win her from the contemplation OF the
gloomy past, but she could think OF
noue rich enough In worldly goods to
supply her thus beautifully. and 20 her
conjectures were Il initlrss uttonight
Mrs Ray was alone; and she reviewed
the various events Of her life, and
thought Of her loet husband and child.
The busy fingers ceased their labor. the
knitting lay forgotten in her lap. and .
tesr drop found its way down. her
cheek and fell upon the folded hsnds.
What mstt.rsd it 70 her that this was
Christmas eve? She bad none to make
her Christmas merry.
A loud rap st the door startled her.
She glanced st the clock on the man.
%. -hsli-psst nine! Who could sssk
her dwelling on % black . night. and
1t 80 late an hourY She hssNated .
moment, then vent ~ the d0oe end
s,k~d who sought adnittsoos. There
AS no reply. She hsasd . tbssdipg
step on the icy pavement; she splnsd
the door ead found . basket csataising
. large turkey. already prepared Ssr
cooking. and note tied TO the basket
handle which reed thus
"A merry Christmas TO Mrs Ray; .
contribution tos Christmas dinnsr-to
which the douor intends 70 invite him.
self and Q few Masonic frissds.'
well, this Is s.rsnse pToeesdisg.
said the widow to herself. 'Himself
aud few Msscnis friends;' Who con It
beS I wish the turkey could talk and
unravel this little mystery. But the
turkey was Mason. too, - far - ~
csecy was csncsrned. % Mrs. Ray CON.
tented herself ~ith D resolution 70 Dc
the hostess in good style, and 70 dsmos.
strats to her - yet unknown Gueets
thst she vas no second-rste ooek.
The next moraing Nrs Col Cook
dropped in lust to wish Afs Ray .
merry Chsiekwas., snd. learning Of the
mystorious advens OF the turkey. d
clared thai her bridget should come
right over and help prepare the dienar.
And you will cone With The Colousl
and diss with ns.' aid The widow.
'Csrtainly. II yoa dsoifs T. cad ]
will cone early asd help you psspaEs
the dessert
II vss singular hsw like sagie 9
splendid Christmas dinner assumed
form and shape. 4ss Cock cent
Bridget home Iue . snpply- q fFuita
and swestmoats, bat Mrs. Rsy did mol
ovsrhsar the wsrds Whispered IN
Bridget's ear, Tell Mr. Cook ws az
ready
Il think said the widow. locking
out of the wipdo~. that it 10 time ths
unknown made his appearance With hi
Masonic friend& All. here they coms
--ane. two, thses. four. I've. six. with
their wives, Mr. Baker. Col Caek. and
. s,rargsr.'
oh. said Mrs Cook. that's Cap
Howard. IN old friend of my hnsbssd
Who is whiting 1t or honss. 6ddgst
uns the turkey on the table,
Mrs Ray net her guests q the doer
rallied the gentlemes and asked sht