Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
A NINE OF RUBIES;
, CHRISTMAS STORY.

CHRISTMAS STORY.
A thin mantle of snow covered the
o,r,h like tattered garment, making
jba landscape seem unfinished and un-
lc,ra6ly dreary.
Arnold Wait regarded the picture OF
issolation from his Car window, hall
regrettiug that Duty insisted upon his
going MP into the country to spend
Christmas with his Aunt Ennis, who
was as disagreeabIe as Duty herself,
while Pleasure beckoned him over to
his fa7orite Aunt Helen's house IN the
city.
His Aunt Ennis had sent invitations
70 her three nephews for Christmas
dav, and while two of the young men
had sent regrets, Arnold, who had
soft heart, could not say her nay, for
she was as lonely as il she had been tho
most unlovable woman in Chrlstendom
probably more so, for she was so
moor no one ever thought of tolerating
her crossness, or of calling it eccen-
tricity.
arnold was a puzzle to his friends
n those who knew him best most OF all.
Gentle and deferentlal to ladies always,
rassionately fond of children, and,
though scarcely over twenty-five, on the
high road to business success, no one
hpew of his ever appearing to be IN
love, or of offering his hand IN mar
riage.
4 devoted brother to his one married
sister he proved, and his Aunt Helen
was as fond of him as of her own sons.
Why don't you get married, Ar.
ncll? was question that met him at
almost every turn.
II am looking for wife" he would
answer, almost earnestly; "but l must
fqI her in my own way"
10 went out in society great deal,
in, he seemed as fond of the wall
aIwcrs az the bellies. He spent his
summer vacations in travelling; he sub
scribed to all the society papers; he
was ac luainted with the brightest and
most fashionable young ladies far and
near-,et he never appeared to fall IN
w..
"H,g Arnold ever had disappoint-
m.nt?" questioned an old ldoy OF his
4.n' Helen, one day.
'N-ver, you may be su- ,, or he
Noald be soured in some way. Besides'
Ihave known Arnold intimately every
yelr f his life, except, perhaps, his
las. in college, when was IN Europe.
Dut if he had fallen in love that year,
he world never have graduated as he
dir
So it was settled, and Arnold wei
his way, a wonder among men.
This afternoon, while his eyes looked
ou. upca the wintry scene, his heart
looked back over many years-or what
seemed many years to him. He saw in
Q corner OF u half warmed, half-lighted
church. young girl seated upon pile
o! cedar -boughs, weaving wreaths OF
cedar and hemlock and holly, her eyes
droopiog half over her WORK, and half
lecauso his own sought them 50 earn
eStly.
Her cheeks were flushed, too, no:
altogether from walking in the wind,
and her white hands, binding the
boughs together, moved unsteadily.
He fingered over this picture low
inglv; never since had he seen face
50 sweet.
Tj-morrow," she said (tor he went
on with the old memory, papa is COM
ing for me-after all, shall not see the
decorations here at Christmas time."s
He remembered it all so we'll, even to
the sorrowful lifting of the rsre brown
eyes.
Tomorrow, Ada !" he echoed, in re-
gretful surprise, eff You go tomorrow,
when shall we ever meet again /?
Il don't know" she said, bending
her head over her work still lower, until
he could see little but the crown of soft
brown hair which was brushed back
into a heavy braid that swept the boughs
beside her. And then, in explanation
OF the whole, she drew from her pocket
letter, d plsced it in his hands.
1t was from her rther, and he read
It, the angry blood mounting to his face,
and he was slow to anger, too. 1t was
harsh letter, saying her aunt, with whom
she was staying, had written word that
Ada had forgotten herself, and given her
promise 10 wed one OF the students,
although she knew he had other plans
for her.
II, was coming for her at once, and,
as there was no reason for delay, she
must prepare to wed her Cousin Carlthe
coming Easter tide.
'Is your cousin ugly or old" Arnold
asked, as quietly as possible.
"No; he il young, he is handsome, he
Is kind-but, all, do notlove him, and
never will! T.
"Blt you will be obliged to marry
him, Ada"
She looked up into his face-a fright
ened glance.
There is but one remedy" he an
swered, stopping low as he spoke, that
no one in the church might hear. "Mar-
~ me to night, and you ere free from
him snd safe with me,