The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-01-01
THE NEW YEARS MASQUERADE

The old year had rung out all its days
and months with the midnight stroke OF
lhe clock, clearly and solemnlv; and now
the new year was ushered In with a light.
iieecy fall Of snow, floating down like
my feathers, and covering the hard
IrOzen earth as with wedding garment.
All the preparations for the evening
we're finished III Squire Brent'5 house.
md Alice sat by the window after many
lights, up stairs and down, and watching
Nth delight the wonderful picture out
Il doors-bare branches and tail, straight
trees, changed az by fairy wand: low
hedges bending the inImitable grace I'M
der their light burden; evergreens and
climbing iyg hidden III ODD, exquisite
shapes OF white, cloud-ike carving and
more than all, thinking OF the last New
Year.
Some one else was sitting Ill the empty
seat beside her then, and she remem.
Oered his every look and tone as they
talked over things present and past and
all the coming days might bring to them.
There was "a subtle meaning III john
IhOrn's words she did not catch at first
ill III the midst Of SOME lively badinage,
he broke off suddenly, and told her IL
his eloquent, passionate, pleading way,
the Old, old story. sweettr 0lan any other
u maiden, and begged her to crown bis
life with her love, and make It's com
pleteness. She felt the same, quick,
bounding thrill again, and the thought
Of Joy was born III her heart at that mo.
ment, came back 10 her, just as when
she gathered up all her Out-reaching de
sIres and tender hopes, to give the cold
nard answer, out OF the fulluess of heI
bitter. Just condemnation.
81 am sorry that you spoke OF this
| cannot marry you.
Why not, ALICE
Because, if YOU Will know, howeve!
much | admire you now, | should grow
- despise you after awhile. [ believe
the money that has been lett you will bt
your bane and your curse. You are iv
ug for nothing but lts euioyment-fo
the delight it pours IN upon you alone
I4veu the uch Scion OF nobility is not II
so pitiable condition, for he has his pat
rImonIal estates 70 manage, and his vii.
lage dependents who draw him out o.
himself, and call for large exercise of hi.
thought and charity. But You, with
your culture and talent, think OF moth
ing but adding 10 them year by year
wrapping yourself more entirely In self
and giving ont of your mertal gains only
IN the sparkling chat OF al evening cal
Or the little more exalted effort of the
col,utrcuzjO1tc, instead Of doing your
work III the world.
What need is there Of me, Miss
Brent?"
Your own need most of ell; you are
sinking down into the elegant gentle
man OF leisure, whom | most heartily
despisc.
Answer me in one thing; DO YOU care
Tor me in the least, Ahce?"
A little pause, then the calm, quiet
''No, / do not, Mr. Thorne.
Thank you for the correct estimate
Of my character, ana FOR your good opIn
ion of me. | leavs tonight, and vii
preserve II as my remembrance Of YOU.
And he was gone.
SO much out OF the ember. OF tho by
gone year: and as Alice looked At then
more closely she knew tina, she had done
some wrong to her heart IL these las
words. She did care much for JOIN
Thorne, indolent and pleasure-lovlng a:
he was. She felt all the grand posslsl
tiles that were sleeping N MS large hear
and brain: that 1t was the force OF CIR
cumstanoes alone that had left him feehly
drifting on in life without purpose o.
ann since lis college days; and that i
the occasion for dong came, he woulc
surely rise 30 meet it. She repIOache1
herself that she had not been more kind
more true and patient, before sayine
those ftful words.
Since TINT day she had heard nothing
Of HIM. Several times she had half APP
preached the subject with Mrs Thorne
his aunt, but the good lady shrewdly
quietly passed 1t by, rs if suspectiue
something, and would give no informa
ton of the absent nephew that Alice die
not directly ask for. This she coull
not do, and so the months sped on ful
Of regret and longing.
Why, Alice, child, you are not ready
vet Do YOU know it's SIX o'clock. and
sent ont MI the invitations for them {,
come at seven, None OF your morning
parties for me. coming n ten, when hon
est country people are sound asleep Il
their beds, and keeping one awake witt
ioyial din far into the small hoars, whel
my stiff JOINTS are aching 10 get n rest
You like this time, don't YOU, puss >
Aud Squire Brent hustled across tat
room, rubbing his hands N hearty
gladstone, and withal such a hospital
Iatherly way. New Years welcome L
his face! Alice laughed a merry, zip