The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-23
AT THE GLAD CHRISTMAS TIME.

A small, plainly-furnished parlor,
where few Winter sunbeams were
shifting about from chair to chair and
Pickering across the carpet, until they
reached, at last, an easy-chair near the
open crate. Then they climbed slowly
up the dress of the occupant of the
chair, and at length rested caressingly
OH two small white hands clasped in
their owners lap. But not even the
merry sunbeams could dry the tears fast
gathering in Mabel Anthony's dark
ewes, nor quiet the rapid beating of her
heart, as she leaned her graceful head
YEARLY back upon her chair, and con-
tinued to think painful, wearisOme
thoughts which had occupied her dur
ing the last ten minutes.
But presently, turning toward gen.
tleman who was standing beside the
window all this while, sullenly drum
ming upon the pane, the girl spoke.
Come, shall we not be friends, Louis?
Do you know it is ten long minutes
since you spoke to me, dear?'
There was infinite love and tender
ness i'm her tones, and Louis turned to
see her arms stretched imploringly to-
ward him. Slowly he crossed the room
and stood beside his betrothed but the
moody look was yet on his face, and
the lines of his mouth were sternly
set
Mabel smiled at the frowning cOunte-
nance the tears were still
in her beautiful gray eyes-and, wind
ing her arms caressingly about her lover.
drew him gently down to her, saying,
coaxingly:
..Oh, Louis, do be friends with me
again! am so tired of this long silence!
Are not you?"
The young mans heart softened at the
gentle touch and sweet, low voice OF
the woman he loved, and, dropping up
on one knee beside her, he rested his
proud head against her shoulder.
Her cheek touched his, and again
silence reigned for few moments,
while Mabel slipped her hand into his
and clasped it close. Then Louis
spoke. >,
IF did not love you beyond all
words. Mabel, could more willingly
Weld TO your wish and do without you a
little while longer. But, as it is, the
bare thought of waiting a year for my
sweet wife almost makes me crazy.
can't and-well, won't do it, and that
is all can say to your argument.
The girls face blanched again, but
she replied:
"If you love me as you say, Louis,
you will not trouble me so. God knows
am worried and anxious about many
things lately, and you well know thai
since uncle's death poor auntie has fail
ed miserably in health and spirits. Tha:
is enough in itself to trouble me, besides
the cares which fab upon me every day.
Dear Louis, have only you and yom
love TO comfort and cheer me. Won't
you be kind and true to your own noble
heart, dear, and consider the circum-
stances as l have so many times ex-
planned them to youP"
Louis Grant knitted his brow again
impatiently.
"A fig for circumstances" he said.
1.-THE only circumstances / care for are
these: You are my promised wife. I've
already waited six months for you, and
now, as | want to 90 to Europe next
month, very naturally desire TO take
you with me. Oh, my Mabel, think OF
visiting together all those cities which
you have so longed to see! Why, darl-
ing, would not fail to make you the
happiest little bride in the world, if only
you will be true to your promise and to
me-"
Louis had risen as he spoke, and stood
beside Mabel with an eager light in his
blue eyes and flush ON his fine face,
which Mabel smiled to see.
II do think of it all, dear she ans
wered. "And even if we were to live
at home in the humblest way | should
be happy beyond words with you. But
listen! My love for you must not blind
me to other duties, nor come between
my duty to auntie and poor little Harry.
] should be more than ungrateful If, for
getting all ! owe to her, and all my in.
debtedness to Uncle John, who loved
me till the day of his death with the at.
lection of father, should think only
of my own comfort and pleasure and &c
with you, while she would be lonely and
unhappy at home. You know little
Harry's delicate health and crippled
limbs render him care which auntie
alone could not well undertake. And