The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-27


admit it, l suppose But Molly's saying it
was the last night of the year set me off
on absurd fancies, and-well, we might
have tea together r
Up he jumped again with astounding
alacrity, pulled the bell, and cried to the
handmade, when she appeared "Molly,
fresh tea in the boiling kettle with
a lamp under-plenty of bread cut thin and
butter-Mrs. Judson is going to make tea
here, for herself and me, and you can go to
the-to your sister's-and don't forget the
toasting fork !"
Mollys head was so full of her own af-
fairs to reflect that there was anything odd
in the matter. Patrick Stafford was to be
at his sisters, as likely lad as ever left
the Emerald Isle, six feet two, in his stock.
ings, and master mason, and
But we will leave Molly and her little
chaotic attempts at dreams and poetry, and
60 back to the pair by the study fire.
The handmaid speedily brought all that
was necessary, and then FASTENED away.
Mr.. Christern had arranged beautiful
bed of GOALS, while his landlady performed
an incantation over the teapot.
"Now, Mrs Judson,' said he, "we will
have an even division of labor. | will
toast and you shall butter"
They ate and drank. They talked.
They jested The oldest thing of all was
the fact that neither stopped to wonder at
this strange finging off of their ordinary
selves.
"This is an exceptional evening, Mrs.
Judson, rather an event; and it all comes
of Molly's telling me it was New Years
Eve! told you it set me, well, believe
| must say dreaming, though it sounds a
foolish word for man of my age was
thinking about my past life thinking how
strange had no romance-yes, | may say
none but you have been married-you
have story, of course"
"Not much" she answered 81 have
been an orphan, ever since | can remem-
beg"
$50 have l." Mr.. Christern parenthe-
sized.
81 was brought up to be governess. l
was one. When l was eighteen, my friends
urged me to marry a man, who-who
thought he loved me. Well l did-poor
fellow, he has been dead long, long while.
I may forget his faults ] am thirty
eight now-I have gone on by myself for
ten years-you see there's no story"
"Why, no, not much" he. replied,
thoughtfully, though in truth he was think
ing that the bold, brief account held very
pitiful one, for he could imagine it in all
its details.
He began, rather abruptly, speaking of
his own past, much more freely than she
had done of hers he had brought his ae-
count up to the present time then sud
denly, he said:
"But, after all, have left out what came
nearest the approach to romance-but
don't bore you?"
"No, like to hear you. Go on"
He filled his pipe and sat gazing into the
fire. Mrs. Judson, busy with her work,
watched him furtively; and there was a
faint look of expectation in her face, that
might have struck him as odd, had he
glanced at her.
"Did l say romance? Well that's
hardly the word Twas travelling in Mary
land; l was twenty-five then. | was max
ing a journey in stage-coach, across a
mountain. 1 was outside. Inside there
was only one passenger, lady; but | had
not seen her. We met with an accident
the coach upset; the horses broke loose and
ran away The driver was injured, and
my arm was hurt, but between us we man
aged to get the lady out. She was pretty,
delicate little creature of eighteen, bruised
somewhat, though not seriously shall
never forget how brave she was Well,
there was only cabin for us two to stop
in, and we had to stay there several hours
before a vehicle could be provided. She
was going to join some friends, at a place
twenty miles off. We got very well ac-
quainted, as two people would under such
circumstances. When we were separating,
she said to me:
"'You have saved my life. The coach
man has told me that | should have been
killed, but for your" He hesitated.
'Your courage" answered Mrs. Judson,
softly.
HWell, that was what she said! eve
may never meet again, she went on, $50 |
want you to take this little ring, as re-
membrance" Here it is now" said Mr..
Christern, and held up his watch-guard, as
he spoke, and showed the gold circlet fas-
tened to it. 'aThen," she added, II want
you to give me that tiny locket you wear
on your chain" So we exchanged pres
ents, and then-why, then we said good
bye"
There was silence. Mrs. Judson
broke it by asking:
"Was that all p
"Not quite. Sounds foolish, eh, to ad-
nit how these triAes have stayed in my
head so long? Well, could not forget
her. A few weeks later, / made an errand
to the place. She had gone l used to
think good deal about her; to wonder if
1 ought not try to follow up our acquaint-
ance, SO oddly begunl In short, as well
as 1 can judge, knowing so little about such
matters, / believe was somewhere near
the state of mind people call falling in love
at first sight.
He paused again, still gazing into the
fire; Mrs. Judson sat with her head partially
turned away.
@Well," said Mr.. Christern, at last,
without looking around, ''some months after
| was in Pittsburg, and suddenly met her,
face to face, in the street. l never was
good at expressing myself, and | was shy,
and afraid of offending her; but what !
wanted was to make her understand the
impression she had made on me-to ask
her permission to become acquainted with