Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
A SORRY CHRISTMAS.

n CohhI SIIttS UfFsSs
ga merry Christmas and happy
New Year, sirp said Dame Spsrlit to
Robert Dyson, minister of Redlands, as
he passed her cottsge on his way to the
Manse. "Doubt but you'll have busy
times at the church this week. Miss
D'Almaine 'sa rare one at decoration.
It did look that beautiful last year, You
couldn't Think"
Eyes, we begin them tomorrow,
dame" laughed the young clergyman ;
land all work under Miss D'Almaines
orders. She declares this year shall
excel the last. A merry Christmas and
a happy New Yearl" he repeated, as
he proceeded on his road. "Surely, If
any man is certain Of that, I am"
And the Reverend Robert Dyson
whistled secular air below his breath.
Indeed, he was remarkably happy; and
bat for his cloth, was light-hearted
enough to have liked to Join the young
sters skating on the pond, their joyous,
free.from-care shouts that echoed in
the clear, frosty air, harmonizinS with
his humor.
Robert Dyson had reason for his hap
pinoss. Not only did he love, b':t he
had been accepted by Helen D'Alm aine,
and their marriage was to take place the
early part of the New Year.
His whistling, there being no one to
condemn it as unclerical, continued I'm.
til, crossing the churchyard, he reached
the small gate leading into the Manse
garden Then he stopped, for he per-
ceived man leaning over it-a fair, far
from Unlocking man, but with furtive,
shifsy eyes, and with, taken altogether,
q very poverty-stricken appearances.
On beholding him, Robert Dyson
halted, darby frowning, and exclaim-
ing, in startled. angry tones, "What,
you here again?'
Yes" replied the other, fronting
rounl, and laughing easily; "like the
proverbial bad penny, 1 am sure to turn
up. How arc you, Bob? l called at
tho house, and found you weren't IN"
"What right had You to call? What
do you want"
6What 3 question after these years
OF experiencol Money! I want two
hundred and fifty dollars to save me
-"
stop! Do not trouble to utter
falssh ools for excuse I" broke in Robert
Dysoo, sternly. "When Igave you the
last, I vowed never to yield again to
your extortion. 1 value my word and
shall not break it"
"You know the consequences z
Perfectly, and accept them. ] was
an idiot ever to pay you for silence"
"ReallyI lau ghed the other. "Do
you fancy, then, the world has grown
more generous since you did SO? ]
hear you are going to be spliced. What
will Miss D'Almaine say to a husband
whose father"
"Yours, not mine - broke In Robert
Dyson. "My poor deceived mothers
husband, but not my father. No blood
of his flows in my veins. Yes, / am go
ing to wed Miss D'Almaine but do not
imagine do so with such secret hid
den from her, and she knowing, the
whole world may know. You see, John
Buchanan, your power is gone-all is
over between rs"
AS he spoke, he moved toward the
gate. The other stepped back with q
peculiar expression in his countenance
but when the minister was about to pass
through, he caught his arm, OBTAINING
him, while he said:
"Do you mean this, Robert Dyson9
Have care! J"
"G mean it p was the firm response.
"Be wise. Give me the two hundred
and fifty this once. You are rich l
am poor"
"There are both poorer and more
honest in this village. Togive to them
would be charity; to give to You, q
sin, for it would go to be lost, or enable
you to cheat others at the green:cloth.
Never! You have my answer. I will
not give you another shillingp
"You will repent i'll" remarked the
other, through his teeth.
Robert Dyson slightly shrugged his
shoulders, and went on.
Very WE'LL" exclaimed John Buch-
anan, leaning over the gate. $50 ; but
before the week is out, Bob Dyson, you
shall curse this day-shall wish that
you had given me thousand instead OF
fifty; but then it will be too late. My
father was forger, was he?-but you
vote not his son. No; but / know
moro than that-so shall all Redlands.
Waltz
What did he mean? Involuntarily
Robert Dyson Dalted, half q mind to go
back. Tut it was but threat. Had
not this man, his dead mothers step
son. used such for years9 Now was the
tins to make firm stand and cast this
incubus from him. Reaching the house,
the minister looked round. John Bach
anan had disappeared,
Before two days were over, Robert
Dyson had ceased to remember the visit.
II had far pleasanter matters to think
ebout. The fine old church was to b.