New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-12-21

II cannot kiss you, Mabel Anthony,
because you do not love me, and YOU
are giving me up SO coldly All, it is
hard, indeed!''
mo, Louis: it is you who give me up,"
was the low reply; and, with no other
word, she passed up the stairs.
A moment Louis stood irresolute, then
the door was opened and closed, and he
was gone.
"What time Louis has staidr' MUIR
INJURED Mrs. Grey, as Mabel entered her
room later. ''And here's Harry fretting
because can't hold him in my lap. Ny
head is very bad this afternoon. Can't
you keep the little fellow quiet?''
The six-year old boy climbed into the
| arms which were never too tired to hold
him, and presently forgot the pain in his
| crippled limbs as his cousin sang to him
sang while she thought her very heart
was breaking.
''Such comfort as you are, dear
niece" resumed auntie, few minutes
later. ''What should l do without you?
Louis doesn't want to hasten your
marriage, l hope; it would kill me to
part with you.''
Mabel stitled back sigh.
''Do not be troubled, auntie NINE"
she said, cheerily. 'pm not going to
leave you just YETI
"You look doleful about the face,
dear child, in spite of your words and
the smile. Oh, Mabel, has anything
gone wrong with you?''
II found my manuscript returned,
auntie, when 1 came home to-day, Just
before Louis called. Isn't it enough to
make one doleful to receive her re jected
brain-labors as frequently as l do?''
'How strange, that editors cannot see
the merit of your writings?" complained
auntie, who thought her niece the
personification of all things great and
clever. Mabel smiled.
because there is no merit to be seen,
I presume, auntie, DEAR" she replied.
II must try, try again; but, meanwhile,
| would have been glad if my manuscript
had been acceptable just now when 1
need money so much. There's the doc
tors bill, you know. I don't like to
owe a cent, but Harry must have atten-
ton so frequently. Oh dear! it is hard
times for us, auntie, but we will hope
for the best.''
''Christmas is coming, too, and what
slim purse / have for my boy this
year!'
Auntie sighed heavily as she ceased
speaking, and Harry, gone fast asleep,
was laid down from the loving arms
which had held him; and then at last,
little by little, as the shadows gathered
closely about the two who sat before the
fire, Mabel told the sad story Of herself
and lover.
There were tears, of course, and
words OF sympathy and love from aunt
lie. Mabel withheld as much as she
could of her lovers fault, and smoothed
over for him all she was obliged to re-
late; but auntie guessed all the selfish
ness, and loved her niece the more.
Time passed. November gave place
to December, and the days fast rolling
themselves into weeks brought the
| Christmas time near at hand.
All this long time no word had come
to Louis from Mabel Anthony, as he
had confidently believed would be the
case ere even one week had passed.
He had passed her house many an
evening, even going up the stoop for a
glimpse of the familiar parlor wherein
he had passed his twill ght hours with
Mabel so very often on his way from
his Office.
| He had seen her, all unconscious of
his watching, sitting before the low
CRATE, the child Harry in her arms, and
the freight lighting into distinctness
the fair sweet face he loved.
How often had his impulsive hand
touched the bell with the thought: 81
will 60 in! I will confess myself in the
wrong!"
But before the bell was pulled would
come the foolish pride and it's thought:
''No: if I yield she will never respect me
again. Patience! Mabel will send for
me soon.'
So the time had gone by, until at last
Louis had left the city on some business
matter not to be interfered with by love
or love affairs, and some weeks passed
ere he returned.
Then it wanted but a week before
Christmas time, and the longing for a
sight of Mabel had increased tenfold.
II am stronger this morning, auntie
and will sit quietly before the parlor-fire
while you are at church,
The glad Christmas morning had
dawned at last, and Mabel, recovering
from severe illness, which for two weeks
past had Frustrated her, was assisted
downstairs by her aunt, who was I'M
willing to leave her dear invalid.
"You're quite sure you will be COM
Portable, dear child?'' asked Mrs. Grey.
':Do smile dear, and let me know that
you are happy"
Mabel readily smiled at her anxious
aunt's request, as she replied:
Il am happy, auntie. Oughn't I to
be, after this good change in my for
tunc?" holding up an envelope which
contained check for some manuscript,
at last accepted, with also the request
that Miss Anthnoy would kindly favor
the editor again.
She and Harry laughingly called it
''Christmas gift,'' and Mabel added
with a laugh, Eat any rate, it is the only
present l expect, and more, l dare say,
than deserve, so We'll make the most
OF it, won't we, Harry, and maybe
better times will come by-and-by.'
So, finally, Mrs. Grey departed for
the Christmas service at Church,
leaving Harry to amusc his cousin, and
take care of her. .
Poor Mabel! She was thin and pale
from her illness, and the troubled heart
she carried all the time because of the
silence between her and her lover,
seemed likely to wear her away at last.
In all the long weeks since her sad
parting with Louis her thoughts had not
ceased to 60 in search ofhim. She had
not thought he could hold unkindness to-
Warbler so lone time. and what wonder
mingled with her affection for herlover,
there were also much Of surprise and
indignation in herheart!
And now during her convalescene she