Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-24
For the INDEPENDENT.
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
BY B. S. G.

bAV yOOnk vi lOO VI OA1bA6lt v AOA
mother, on the day before Christ
mas. 1--WE are just home from our
trip and 1 find everything so lovely
here. Hugh's father is a dear old
man and so kind, though not diStin-
que looking as my own dear papa,
tell him) and his one sister is a
splendid lady, handsome and some
what naughty. l believe l am a lit
tie bit afraid of her; Hugh declares
l am. He says l must tell you that
l am a success among my new rela-
tives, and that makes me very hap
py. I should have nothing to dis
turb me if only | could forget how
lonely you will be without me !"
Just here a great tear dropped on
the page but it was quickly brushed
away. "They give me a grand re-
ception tomorrow night, to which
all the county is invited. Hugh says
l must wear my pale ros satin with
the pearls he gave me for a we'd
ding gift"
Splash, splash, went one, two big
tears to the detriment of pale rose
satin and pearls, and simultaneously
entered Hugh himself, a stalwart
six %footer, who stopped in front of
the young lady's chair and eyed her
su~spiciously.
81 am writing to mamma" vol
unteered the small woman, family.
"And spelling your eyes for to-
morrow, and wishing me in Jericho,
or that you had never left her ~ in
a terrible voice.
"No, no L was wondering how
she could possibly do without me
this Christmas-tide.'
"Small doubt, but time will solve
that question" he laughed.
"Come, l have the horses up for a
canter. You will need some roses
to match your gown, and l would
rather see them in your cheeks"
Then tenderly, as he put his arm
around the shrinking little figure:
seriously, sweetheart, are you
homesick already ?"
Homesick with those handsome
eyes looking down into hers 2 All,
mothers it is a poor recompense
for your years of care, when the
children of your love turn to strang-
ers' hearts for happiness.
81 can never be unhappy so long
as you love me Hugh"
Then she closed his lips with her
hand, for on his face had dwe2t an
odd CLEAN that in a womaa we
would name coquetry. .
81 will not stand your teasing
speeches. OF course / did not trust
| you once; what wonder ? great reck-
less tlirt that you were. But you
stood nay different tests bravely and
nothing could shake my faith in you
now !"
1t was a joke with him now, that
he had ever run the gauntlet of her
caprices-he called them-so sue
cessfully. But she had heard he
was a flirt and the probationary
time before their marriage was ded-
icatad to the work of testing him.
She was a tiny little creature, with
wide limpid brown eyes, that had a
trick of gazing at you ap%pealingly,
like a timid child's imploring pro-
lection; a very reed she looked to
be. shaken by every breeze, but the
sweet body imprisoned a very in
domitabIe spirit. l think you would
have found adamant itself yield as
oon as she.
All my solids ant Benedicts don't
fool yourselves with the dainty soft
eyed creatures. If you want a Girl
selda look farther.
They rode off into the keen, clear
| air, and the little bride brought
home such roses in her cheeks as
made Madame PasSie, one of the in
mineral guests in her new fathers
house, regard her with a well-mixed
compound of envy and admiration.
"Did you meet vi Duncan :? She
and her father called in your alb
s%ence," said Hugh's sister to him as
they were leaving the dinner table,"
But Hugh was in an absent mood and
his wife answered for him:
eyes. we rode a mile with them.