Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-12-26
&C CHRISTMAS COMEDY.

Miss Eleanor Singlander sat IT, her
crimson boudoir on Christmas morning,
regarding with a scOrnfnl expression
little bronze figure which she held in her
hand-the figure of pretty peasant girl,
in cloak and hood. carrying a covered
basket on her arm. And a scornful eX-
preston, though rather and in rare in
stances very becoming TO some girlish
faces, was not in the least becoming to
Miss Slinglauder. 1t wrinkled and short
ened her nose, widcned her nostrils and
pouted her full, red lips. All of which,
as her nose was already triile too wide
and her lips trine too prominent, tended
to seriously detract from the beauty of
her face.
"1'he idea :" said Miss Slinglander, the
scOrnful expression giving place to
frown, which brought her much too near
eyebrows so close together that they SEEM
ed like one straight, heavy line, ''of Spen
Ger Royal sending me this thing for
Christmas present. Why, l expected
something splendid from him with an Of
fer OF marriage. Heaven knows he's been
dangling after me long enough-half
sisters have set their hearts on the match.
OF course they have, and with good rca-
son, too, for with the help of my money
Spencer could carry on the business in a
much more princely manner than it was.
carried on during his fathers lifetime,
and the returns would be much more
prncely in proportion. And I've been
agreeable, for they're Il decidedly aristo-
cratic family, and Spencer is by all odds
the handsomest fellow | know, and has a
very taking way with him, though Jack
RAYMOND is a hundred times Ollier and
three times as rich. But Pm not going To
stand this shilly-shallyiug any longer.
I've been waiting for him TO speak for the
last three months. and not word on the
subject has he said. Something he drop
ped last night led me to believe the pro-
prosal was coming this morning. But in
stead comes this thing-pretty enough in
its way ard artistic, suppose, but |
don't want it. Tie house is full of peas
ant boys and girls, aud shepherds and
shcpherdcsscs, and cnpids, and all the rest
of them now. What shall ] do with it?
Why, | declare, it looks like Ella Mcllis.
III send it to her. She's been sewing for
us for the last six months and no doubt
she'll expect a Christmas gif.-that kind
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 sometimes when I'm needing
Il dress i'm a hurry, on the strength of il.
And, Mr.. Spencer Royal, if Jack Ray
mond comes accounting me again to-day,
my money will never help you and your
family TO greater magnitcence. A bronze
peasant girl, indeed, when | expected at
least an elegant solitaire
An hour later Ella Mcllis sat in the
planly-furnished room which served her
and her widowed mother for sewing-room,
dining room, and parlor, holding the
bronze figure in her right hand-on the
second finger of which was a well-worn
silver thimble-and viewing it with II look
of delighted admiration that added Won
derfully to the attractiveness of her deli
cately featured face, lending as it did
charming light to her soft, tired brown
eyes and a flush to her pale cheeks. 81
never dreamed he would think Of me at
ALL she said in sweet voice tremulOus
with joy, "and he has not only thought
of me, but sent me this beautiful Christ
mas present. Why, we have never met
but half dozen times since | became a
sewing girl, and then always in the pres
ence of Miss Slinglander, with the eXcep-
ton Of that night when | slipped out on
the ice in front Of her doOr-she had kept
me very late helping her for a ball-and
he, happening to be near, helped me to
my feet and insisted on accompanying me
home, saying so kindly, at is too late for
any lady to be ont alone" and came in
and talked to mamma for an hour after
ward. Poor mamma! how glad she was
to meet some one whose father had known
and loved papal
Dear me how happy Miss Slinglander
will be--fOr. Of course, he is going to
marry hcr-though for my part, I'd like
lover little more lover-like. I've actu-
ally caught him yawning when she vas
talking to him-and 1 don't wonder, for
she does run on so about style aud fash
on'-and I've never seen him look at her
in an adoring way In fact, really think
-kinder-at-me. But, among
wealthy people everywhere, | suppose
matches are made much as they are among
royal persOnages. Love isn't consulted
at all.
''Oh, dear, if papa hadn't lost all his
money might-for | think Spencer used
l. IL.