McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-12-25
A CHRISTMAS COMEDY.


regarding with scornful expression
little bronze figure which she held il
her hand-the figure of a pretty peas
ant girl, in cloak and hood, carving {
covered basket on her arm. And 6
scornful expression, though rather il
rare instances very becoming to some
gIrllsh faces, was not in the least be.
coming to Miss Slingslander. II
wrinkled and shortened her nose, wild
ened her nostrlis. and pouted her full,
red lips. All of which, as her nose was
already trifle too short, the nostrels a
trlffe too wide and lips a trife too
prominent, tened seriously to detract
from the beauty of her face.
''The idea," said Miss Slingslander,
the scornful expression giving place to
frown, which brought her much too
near eyebrows so close together that
they seemed like one straight. heavy
line, ''of Spencer Royal sending me
this thing for Christmas present.
Why, expected something splendid
from him with an offer of marriage.
Heaven knows he's been dangling after
me long enough-half year nearly
oiu LII ouIC LID IlOIlcI dutt SISTERS
have set their hearts on the match.
Of course they have, and with good
reason, too, for with the help of nv
money Spense could carry on the bus
mess in a much more princely manner
than it was carried on during his fathers
lifetime, and the returns would be much
more princely in proportion. And I've
been agreeable, for they're decidedly
aristocratic family, and Spense is by
all odds the handsomest fellow /
know and has a very talking way with
him, though Jack Raynor is a hundred
times jollier and three times as rich.
But I'm not going to stand this shilly-
shallyiDg any longer. I've been wait
ing for him to speak for the last three
months, and not a word on the subject
has he said. Something he dropped
last night led me to believe the propos-
al was coming this morning. But in
stead comes this thing pretty enough
in its way and artistic l suppose, but
l don't want it. The house is full of
peasant boys and girls, and shepards
and shepardesses, and cuplds, and all
the rest of them now. What shall 1 do
with it? Well l declare, it looks like
Ella Mellis. I'll send it to her. She's
been sewing for us for the last six
months and no doubt she'll expect
Christmas gift-that kind of people al
ways do-and don t feel like spending
any money on her, so off this goes.
She'll be delighted with it, and | can
keep her an hour or two beyond her
work hours, sometime when I'm need
ing dress in hurry. on the strength
Of it. And, Mr.. Spencer Royal, if |
Jsck Raynor comes ACQUIRING me
again to-day, my money will never |
help you and your family to greater |
A bronze peasant girl,
indeed, when expected at least an ele-
gant solitaire"
An hour later Ella Mellis sat in the
plainly furnished room which served
Ter and her widowed mother for sew
NC room, dining room and parlor, hold
no the bronze figure in her little right
land-on the second finger of which
vas well worn silver thimble-and
'iewing it with look of delighted adj
that added wonderfully to the
of her delicately-featured
ace, lending as it did charming light
o her her soft, tired brown eyes and a
lush to her pale cheeks. 81 never
reamed he would think of me at ALL"
he said in a sweet voice tremulous
nth JOY, land he has not only thought
f me, but has sent me this beautiful
Christmas present. Why, we have
ever met but half a dozen times
nce [ became sewing girl, and then :
ways in the presence of Miss Sling
lander, with the exception of that
light when l slipped on the ice in front
her door-she had kept me very late
elping her dress for a ball-and he,
to be near, helped me to my $
let and assisted accompanying me
ONE, saying so kindly, cit is too late
IT any young lady to be out alone" t
nd came in and talked to mamma for 7
n hour a4terward. Poor mamma! f
Ow glad she was to meet some one
hose father had known and loved
apa!
''Dear me! how happy Miss Sling C
ander will be-for of course he is 90
g to marry her-though, for my part, j
d like lover little more lover-Iike. /
We actually caught him yawning when r
lie was talking to him and l don't y
onder, for she does run on so about y
tyle' and .fashion'-and I've never Il
en- him look at her in an aGoring way =
fact, l really think he-looks-kin- y
But among wealthy -
'ople everywhere, 1 suppose, matches h h
e made much as they are among loyal -
rsonages. Love isn't consulted at !,
"Oh! dear, if papa hadn't lost all his . :,
oney I might-for 1 think Spencer a
ed to like me little in those days. ~ u,
''But how perfectly lovely of him to a q
nd me this, though no doubt he q,
ut it as much for mammals sake as IL
me, remembering what she said to a. d,
N that night about her love for artis- ri ri
things. IL IL
Miss Mellis. How much he writes nj
e Miss Slingslander, and how simple r.
d pretty this Christmas card is, with OF
wealth of flowers surrounding the fe
d.