Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-20
PART

mere ana JHeIe WIN BedgcS Ol ever
green along paths else hidden; out
from the little town, on road which
led southwark to other towns as silent
and uneyentful.
1t was a rare old homestead, even
thus remote from other dwellings
roomy, luxurious, with wealth's con
ceptions and royal with welcome for
friends. A rare old place for visit Z,
at Christmas no less than at other
seasons for therein was never known
q cold corner, never a chill spare room,
an icy sheet, frosted window-pane
4 huge furnace in the cellar sent up
streams of delicious warmth, which
here and there found supplement in
glowing CRATE fires ruddy as the setting
sun.
Great solace was eyid Mt in the rosy
depths Of flame great solace
and delight, to the mistress of the
house, the quiet, elderly woman who,
for thirty years, had ruled here, alone
for the most part. especially until
Clarice had come. Yet her life had
not been one of unhappiness; she,
Lucretia Claiming at go, could look
back upon the past and say it had been
vol worth living. And Clarice would
brighten all the later days larice mo
relatiye) whom she had adopted as
niece half-score years before, and
striven to do for as she would for an
own child.
Sometimes Miss Channing's only
brother, older, not over-liEe herself
found time to run hither from the great
city and spend day or two, filled with
his politics, his speculations, his linger-
ing greed for gain. Little and bent he
was, with many cynical chuckle and
nasty sarcasm, and seemed to delight
in arriving when least expected. Yet
he ever received his due of respect and
deference-even they humored him by
strict observance of his request that
no carriage be sent to wait for any late
train.
There were others who always came
Mt the Christmas season; the Fieldings,
Glenn and Charley, children of a cousin,
Victor Keene, a physician, and his wife
Myra, also distant connections, besides
n schoolgirl friend or two of Clarice
In Che past there had also been Elmer
Keene, now abroad, and Robert Nc
Clure, his chum and protege.
Even though Miss Claiming had not
herself enjoyed this flood of youth and
music and laughter, she would still
have made them welcome for Clarice's
sake. No mother could have been
truer or wiser to Clarice than was She
She felt it no sacrifice when she took
The girl to the city to spend a January
or to the seaside for a midsummer
month. The remainder of the time
in the two years since Clarice had left
school-they had spent happily enough
by themselves iii the great house out
among its own far-reaching meadows.
Here they could bring the latest
wonders OF art, and enjoy them in rest
lul leisure; here was home and its ex-
ceeding tenderness and peace.
1t was lacking two days of Christmas,
and the house was filled with a quiet
ude that pregaged coming joys. Every
where was the delicious evenness of
temperature, from the great velvet
carpeted drawing-room to the smallest
upper chamber, through whose dormer
window came the faint light of the win
ter sunset.
And in her own apartment, facing the
glow of freight, Miss Claiming rocked
slowly to and fro i'll an ample chair,
while Clarice stood leaning upon the
low mantel, a sweet and gracious pres
ence. Tall, with perfect outline
though slenderly built fair, with face
both classic and tender, and wondrous
shadowy eyes, gray springs in the fuller
light. She leaned gracefully; her gray,
eloseelinging dress, was perfect in tail
Drift, perfect in its one hue relieved
only by the cluster of Jacqueminot
rosee glowing on her bosom.
Miss Claiming rocked slowly to and
fro in her favorite chair, still holding
her favorite magazine though she
had not read for an hour. There was
something in her countenance indicative
of slow Judgment. answering purpose,
nothing unkindly, however, or cruel.
Clarice recounted the preparations OF
the day in CHEEKY voicea voice that
seemed to have never thrilled with pain
on passion.
The same as usual, Aunt; the front
cahmber for Uncle Rowland, the pink
room to Nettie and Nell. the Fieldings
in the blue room, Victor and Myra in
the gold room and Mr.. Mcclure in the
red"
Miss Claiming rocked more slowly.
Mr. Mcclure will not be here this
year.
Claricc repeated the words in q
wondering tone viii not be here
why, aunt, did you forget to ask him ?"
No, did not forget.
There was silence-the sheerest
siience--then Clarice spoke in a low
voice; And you are not going to ask
him?"
i am not.
s But why, aunt? ?" There was only
calm and respect in the query.
Because, my dear, it is not adyisa
BILE. 1t would have been hard to omit
him had not Elmer been absent In
deed, | think it happened most fort
unately so.
what has he done to forfeit oul
friendship, aunt?"
Nothing especial, my dear. But
candidly, it is as well for the young
man that he be not thrown in YOU
society-don't interrupt, Clarice
Close observation, when we last me
Mr.. Mcclure, convinced me that h