The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-12-10
A CHRISTMAS LOVE TALE.
Fitz Henry Uardchcel and His rs.
ucrnldp.

mcrnldn.
II was drawing near to the Christmas holt
dnys. Esmcralda Mint Nicklo sat penslvcly be-
| fore II rosewood plano, n birthday present pur
chnscd at
sidney r. Nimmo's.
by her fond papa, toying with the ivory keys
and counting the minutes as they fed. Esmcr
aida was the only daughter Of Thomas Mint
Nlcklc, the banker, and heircss to his immense
estate. she was one Of natures purcst queens
gifted with perfect beauty, keen intellect and
all the arts and accomplishments that fashion
able bonrdlngschool could supply. She was
waiting for Fltz Henry llnrdchcck, her lover
Iltz Henry was poor, and did something In the
city for living; but that does not matter,
Tho ormolu clock on the mantcl kept up an
industrious ticking, and the scene was cosy,
comfortable and quiet. Pnpa had displayed
rare taste IN furnishing this drawlng.room
over which his darling presided. II was II gem
In lts way. Richly carved furniture, ouch NJ
princes would covct, ana n Persian carpet that
seemed Intended only for The tread of royal
feet, selected with the greatest care from the
famous store Of
wash. Is. Williams.
Were prominent Rdornmcnts Of the apartment
Dazzling chandeliers, such as ARE provided by
James X. Narrower
olllN, Sltu luslfc over inc brackets nnu SlindH,
statucttcs and articles OF vlrtu from
IL. HoIIaudcr's
princcly store With Esmcrnlda and her
charming surroundings, the picture was strlll.
lngly beautiful. The clock chimcd the hour
OF S, and Esmcralda arose from the piano
and shaking out the folds Of her rich satin,
the choicest that could be selected ut
Brown "a Claggetts.
| on Market Space, walked gracefully Ia the
pier glass and pasted her bangs down pastier,
and wondered why Fitz Henry was late. Sud.
denly there was II pull ut the door.bcll. II was
a sharp, rash pull, and liable TO have dis
located the wire: but the bell had been hung
| by SHOCKS, and Esmornlda roJoiccd over her
| papas forcthought In that respect There was
| n shunling OF feet In the vestibulc; murmur
of voices was heard, and then the drawing.roon
| door was thrown open ana gentleman ushcred
| Into Esmcralda's presence. A tall, handsome.
| wcllbuilt young man. whose oiled and per.
| ruined locks bespoke recent visit 10
Robert Wilson'S
post-onice hnlr.dressng saloon, wearing n suit
OF fashionable material that fitted to perfection
entered. From the curious expression on
Esmcraldas face IT seem that her visitor was
| n stranger. Then the caller spoke.
why, my darling" he exclaimed, edo YOU
not know me-"
"Oh, Fltz Hcnryl" the maiden gurrlcd
gushingly, and fell Into his open arms nesting
| her head on the immaculate front Of his shirt
Just purchased that day ut
y. Ii. EIIcry a Co.'s,
on i street. For n moment no sound wa,
heard save the clocks tick and the beating o
| their hearts. Then Esmoralda raised hcl
| head Their lips met. A sound, IA the draw.
| ing of the cork from n catsup bottle followed
| II was too utterly yum, yum, for anything.
''But tell me dearest Fitz Honry,whispcrcd
drawing off his ncatly-ntting gloves, pur
| chased mt
HIurty a TayIor's.
| tcred?"
'Bccausc, darling" she slmpered, glancinl
at his ncatly-polishcd shoes from
A. L.. HnzlctOn,s
splendid stock, ''you are so changed and hand
some tonight I'm your new suit. / am sure
dear, You purchased 1t of
George +. Tin,ms IL Co..
whose new store papa pointed out to me whci
we drove down Seventh street shopping yester
day"
''Yes,I selected II at Timms 4 Co.'s thi!
morning. Their stock was so varied that
| found 1t difficult to make a selection, but an
pleased that 1t meets your approval"
Then there was another sound rs of cork
| drawing, and after the usual manner Of lovers
| they billed and cooed for an hour. EsmeraldG
then escorted her lover around the apartment
| exhibiting presents received on her birthday:
| his own, brilliant solitaire ring, having al
| ready been placed on her finger evenings be
fore. There were n set of lovely antique vases
and several knc'knacks In Japanese and Ma
lara, from
IL. j. Bchrcnd'S
famous store, presented by her cousin Jack
also n lovely autograph album from the sam,
place, sent by Molle Balmoral Her aun
Mary, she informed Fitz Henry, had sent he
| u perfect love OF n moss rose ten-set from III
Hollander's, "and that you know" she ad
dcd with an arch smile, sis something towar,
our housekeeping"
blush, and thcy paused to draw another corl
Esmeralda, when able to catch her breath, 70
Fitz Henry was n most impetuous lover, cor
tinucd to narrate many other presents she ha
In tnfy hNv I.uf
flcent fur.lincd circular her brother Jack
wife had sent up from
IL. II. Stinemetz's.
"Thcy are so delightful, so warm and bccom
Ing, and Stlnemetz Inns such an assortmpnt
sho explained, at would do your heart goot
to see them"
Fitz Henry replied that circulars were no
much In his line, and proceeded TO enclrc
her around the waist again and renewed tn
cork-drawing performance They were happy
these two, and the wedding day had been sci
Already pretty building lot for their mansion
had been purchased from
SwOrmstcdt.
the real estate agent In Tallmndgc Hall build
Ing. Hammer Nails were to construct II,
MahOney,
the Capitol Iilll artisan, was Ia paper II pre-
tily, and the contract fOr q superb wcddin
supper had been awarded to Fred Freund, tn
famous caterer. But man proposes and GO
disposes. Fitz Henry had n wrotchcdly lca
Gus rival In Aldebert Franklin Bowie, who Ia
killed his man in O duel In Virginia for tread
Ing on his favorite corn at n german. Aide
bert was n desperate fellow. He vlsitc
slaughter-houses Mt dawn and drank the war;
blood OF slaughtered becycs He was stoch
holder In n suburban cemetery, ATTENDED
horsc.raccs and chewed tobacco lie ha
sworn that Flt2 Henry should die. The u
vino inspiration 10 remove FltZ Henry cam
10 him ono night IN n dream. The Deity sal
TO him; "Wlllst thou remove Fltz Henry?" an
Aldcbcrt replied; ~ Whilst" So he purchase
n reliable gun, certain to Kill at 800 yards, n
PcabOdy's.
al Seventh street northwest, and for tw
weeks, I'm the morning, he visited the rive
side, and I'm the shadow Of the WashingtO
Monument practiccd shooting at small syci
more trees, that found ready growth on tn
flats. II 40 happened that on the night q
which we have written above, while Fltz Henr
and Esmeralda We're swapping spit In tn
lattor's parlor, Aldcbcrt Franklin Bowie lurke
on the opposite side Of the street, kicking hi
heels against telegraph polo ana squirtin
tobacco juice between his teeth, waiting for hi
rival TO appear. Aldebert was armed, and h
was mad because II was getting late and II
was cold. His gun contained one dozen slugt
seven pen knives, an ounce of iish-hoOks an
three razor blades. He was prepared to tea
his rival literally 10 pieces. Suddenly tn
door OF tho Mint Nckle Mansion opened an
Fitz Henry and Esmeralda appeared. The