Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-12-27
Two Christmas Ewes.

It is Christmas eve, and Jessie Ford
stands before the mirror in her dressing
room with pillows of e-tinged silk
clouds of lace about her, and eyes more
brilliant than the gems that CLEAN in her
dusky tresses.
1t is the night Of Mrs. Harrison's re-
ceptiOn, and ali the world viii be there,
but to pretty Jessie, whose world just
now consists of but one face and form,
it matters little who is absent, so only
that Louis Atherton seeks her side. She
takes her bouquet Of starry lilies, and
running down the stairs, puts her bright
head inside the door of the library.
care you busy? May I come in, papa?"
and at the words, hegentleman addressed
thrusts something hastily into a drawer,
and looks up with a smile that fails to
hide the tense line about his mouth and
the marks of care upon his brow.
81 am never too busy to attend to you,
Jessie. What is it?"
How do look, if you please" with a
little courtesy.
You know what you always seem to
me, my darling" he said fondly, but
there is a ring of pain in his tone that
his daughter is quick to catch.
Papa, what is troubling yOu" she
asks, Wistfully. won't you come with
me tonight? 1t will do you good"
mo, my dear; not tonight. 1 have
some work to do"
Work? on Christmas eve, saucily and
imperative. Put it by and come with
me-"
'NO, Jessie, it must be done"
Then let me stay with YOU"
"And miss the reception? Certainly
not; 90 and enjoy yourself What would
Hugh ChallOner say if L allowed such a
thing?"
at does not matter what he would
say" with an impatient tap Of her slip
peTed foot.
Il hope it viii matter some day." he
returns more gTavely.
There, good night, Jessie" taking the
mOtheIless girl IN his arms for a brief in
slant, as the servant announces the ar
rival Of herChapeT0n, and she trips away,
little dreaming Of the cloud that is soon
to burst over her, for Horace Ford, the
New York merchant, stands tonight
facing death and dishOnor.
For weeks he has been staVing off the
crisis. keeping up appearances and
breathing no hint to Jessie of any
trouble, but now the facts can be no
longer hidden from the world and his
proud name must be dragged in the dust.
Unlucky speCulatiOns; then to retrieve
them the use Of q trust fund " hich cannot
be replaced, tells the story, and feeling
that he cannot bear the shame and dis
grace, the drawer is re-Opened. and its
contents, q silver-mOunted pistol Is laid
upon the table.
In the meantime Jessie Is the gayest
of the gay, for Louis Atherton's dark
locks almost touch her own in the Whirl
of the dance, while his musical voice
whispers soft nOthiDgs in her ear, as he
debates mentally whether to put the
question now that viii bind him fast to
the heiress, for whose thousands he has
such admiration, or hold himself free a
little longer, and Hugh Challoner leans
his taWny head against a pier, casting
now and then a TepTOachfuI glance to- \
ward the girl, who has been his idol
from childhOOd's days, and who, before /
the advent of this stranger, he had not
seemed TO love In vain
And so the night wears on, and Jessie I
goes home at last with the memory of
Louis tender tones as he begged her for
a private interview on the morrow, hint
ing that he had a boon TO crave, and her
brilliant eyes grow soft as her heart tells |
her what he is coming to ask.
But alas the Christmas morn brings
only woe and sorrow inIO her hitherto
fair and happy life, for the city rings
with the news of the suicide of the
wealthy merchant. aud ere that horror
dies away there comes the rumor of the
cause, and poor Jessie lies crushed be-
Meath the unexpected load.
And now Louls AIherton proves his |