The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-26

''Yes that lamentable fact was printed
in this mornings paper. He was old
enough. Phew think of being eighty
But, aunt, we're trenching on your dinner, y
as he looked toward the table in the next
room "We must be off
Miss Lisbeth couldn't explain; some
thing of pride held her back, something of
grief choked her; but Sylvia was bound
that coffee should be tasted, and she said
firmly:
"Jess walk dis yere way, sir, and have
some 'freshments."
"No, thanks answered Evart; Couldn't
possibly take anything before my regular
dinner. Come, Maud" And, gayly talk
ing, the young couple hustled away again.
Miss Lisbeth stood quite still in the
middle of the parlor. There were gray
shadows on her face, and her eyes were
CLASSY; yet, saying, "Mamma always waited
up until midnight-there might be hate
callers, she sat in state upon the sofa again.
Now and then she whispered, hoarsely,
''Dead, all dead and gone" Then her
lips moved, as if to form the words, but no
sound came. Sylvia, after long consulta-
ton, remarked:
II knowed de major would come eff he
could, but, yer see, he couldn't-couldn't
nohow." Then she mumbled, peevishly ::
II wish we'd had jess one caller anyway,
Pears like it didn't pay ter set dat ere
| beautiful table"
At the word there was ghostly little
tap at the parlor door.
''The majorl p cried Lisbeth, starting up; Z;
but, controlling herself, fell back again, one
hand on her heart and, with little hys-
teric laugh, she said elbow foolish Of
course not"
Sylvia opened the door, and stood aghast
before a sight as shocking to her eyes as
would have been the major in his cere-
ments. There was Mr.. Tokugawa, the
japanese, evidently come to pay his re-
spects He was in full evening dress, and
entering with great gravity, and bowing
low, he said to Miss Lisbeth:
MADAM, 1 desire to pay my duty on this
ancient feast day. wish you a happy
New Year. | will partake of your ban
quet. Thank you" He gently and re
verently advanced to the table, raised a
glass of punch to his lips, and carefully, as
if repeating a lesson, CALCULATED "Long
live the good old Knickerbockers Wish
you happy New Year"
Miss Lisbeth by an instinct of civility
drank with him; then barely found breath
to ask, "How did you know? where did
you learn ?"
''From Washington Irving's sacred
writings, madam After much research
have | procured the right volume, and l
have read the history of the Knickerbocker
religion. But" he added, curiously, OBJ
serving the sugar bowl, ''you no longer
hang the lump of sugar over the table and
socially pass it from mouth to mouth, as
the great Irving has described. No; [ see
the rites have somewhat changed, but they
are still very solemn and very beautiful. He
ate few mouthfuls with closed eyes and
in sacramental silence and again said,
"Wish you happy New Year, and turning
at the door, asked, ''Have l done all with
propriety ?-I hope so-wish you happy
New Year. bowed low once more, and
noiselessly passed upstairs.
After he left, not a word was spoken.
Miss Lisbeth stood as one in a dream, and
Sylvia's emotions so overwhelmed her vo-
cabulary that she could only calculate,
softly, 'sLor' bress us Lor' bress us!
She helped her mistress to undress, and
when Miss Lisbeth was in bed, arranged
the screen and the night taper; then,
turning for last look, she was seized with
some nervous fancy, went back, leaned over
the pillows, and said: "Good-night; Miss
Lis" does yer hear? Goodnight"
''Dead and gone" moaned Miss Lisbeth,
in hollow voice-"all dead and gone; the
old ways, the old people-dead, all dead "
"Neber yon mind I'll stand by yer,
Miss Lis and Sylvia choked back sob.
''There, now, is yer confer p" Hear
ing no reply, she repeated, in louder
voice, as yer comfer'ble Miss Lis" ,?
She hastily moved the taper so that light
might fall on the face before her. 1t was
ashy pale. Sylvia searched it with wild,
fervid affection, laid hand upon the for
head, called, "NIiss Lis Miss Lis ~ then
rent the night with one piercing cry.
Some of the dodgers came downstairs;
a doctor was brought; there were haste and
confusion in the orderly house; then all
was hushed again.
On Miss Lisbeth's bed lay no longer
quaint and shabby old person, but only
marble image of Peace and Dignity, and
over it poor, faithful, toothless woman
walled
"Dead an gone; de ole ways, de ole
people dead r'-all dead.