The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-17
At The Glad Christmas TimG.
BY MARY D BRINE.

A small. plainly-furnished parlor. where
few Winter sunbeams were shifting
about from chair to chair and fickering
across the c.rpet 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, rand at length
rested caressingly on two small white
hands clasped in their owners lap. But
not even the merry sunbeams conld dry
the tears fast gathering in Mabel Anth.
ony's dark eyes, nor quiet the rapid beat
ing of her heart. as she leaned her grace.
full head WEAKLY back upon her chair
and continued 20 think painful, weari.
some thoughts which had occupied hel
during the last ten minutes.
But presently, ,turring toward gentle.
man who was standing beside the window
all this while, sullenly drumming upor
tho pane, the girl spoke.
"Come, shall we not be friends, Louis
DO you know it is ten long minutes sine,
you spoke to me, dear ?"
There was infinite love and Tenderness,
in her tones, and Louis turred to see hel
arms stretched imploringly toward him
Slowly he crossed the room and stood
beside his betrotbed; but the moody lool
was yet on his face, aud the lines of hi,
mouth were sternly sot.
Mabel smiled mp at the frowning coun,
tenance-neverthele the tears were still
in her beautiful gray eyes-apd, winding
her arms cares singly about her lover
drew him gently down to her, saying
coaxingly:
"Oh, Louis, DO be friends with MI
again ain so tired of this long silence
Are not your"
The young mans heart softened at tn
gentle touch and sweet, low voice of tn
woman he loved, and, rropping upon on
knee beside her. he rested his proud hea,
against her shoulder.
Her cheek touched his, and again 81
leuce reigned for few moments, Will
Mabel slipped her hand into his an,
clasped it close. Then Louis spoke.
"If did not love you beyoud d ell words
Mabel, I could more willingly yield {
your wish and do without you litil
while longer. But, as it is, the bar
thought of waiting year longer for m
sweet wife almost makes me crazy.
cant and-well, 1 won't do it, and tbs
is all can say TO your Argument,
The girls face blanched again, but 81
replied;
"If you love me as you say, Louisfye
will not trouble me So. God knows al
worried and anxious about many thinI
lately, and you well know that sin,
uucle's death poor auntie has failed mi
erably in health and spirits. That
enough in itself to trouble me, besid
the cares which fall upon me every da
Dear Louis, have only you and yor
love to comfort and cheer me. Wol
you be kind and trre to your own mob
heart, dear. and consider the circuI
stances as l have SO many times explain,
them TO You 2"
Louis Grant knitted his brow aga
impatiently.
"a fig for circumstances, he sal
THE ouly circumstances l care for a
these; You are my promised wife. L
already waited six months for you, al
now, as / want to go to Europe ne
month, very naturally desire to take Y,
with me. Oh, my Mabel, think of Wis
ing together all those cities which Y,
have longed to see Why. darling,
would make y'u the happi,st little bri
in the world. if only you will be true
your promise and to me"
Louis bad risen as be spoke, and sto
beside Mabel with an eager light in |
blue eyes and flash on his hne fac
which Mabel smiled to see.
81 do think of il all dear" she ar
wered "And even if we were to live
home in the humblest way ] should
happy beyond words with YOU, But /
ten ! My love for you must not blind l
to other duties, nor come between L
duty to Runtie and poor little II rry.
should be more than ungrateful it, fC
getting all owe to her, aad all my
debtedness to Uncle John, who loved l
till the day Of his death with the affecli,
of father. should think only Of n
own comfort and pleasure and go wi
you. while she would be lonely and u
happy at home. You know little Harr!
delicate health and crippled limbs rend
him care which auntie alone could n
well undertake. And it is plain al
positive duty, which. surely, Louis, y
can't fail to see, that | remain at hou