St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-25
UNDER THE MlSILnT0E.
A Christmas story.
BY CHRISTIAN REID.


sister. watching her make her toilet for the
evening.
'IPm very sure that you are mistaken, my
dear" said Carrie Mildmay. composedly.
''My beauty doesn't keep me from wanting
many things. 1 often think if were as
rich as Janet should be happy"
= 'sRiehes don't make one happy" said
Janet, with sigh.
Neither does beauty responded Carrie,
dark masses of her hair. at won't do, >"
fshe went on laying down the flower. 81
can't stand pure white-I must have rich
color. Give me that crimson rose at your
elbow. please, Janet. l only thought of
) wearing this canelia because Arthur Kirby
begged ME to do SO. and brought it over
fr3n his greenhouse. 1t would suit you;
LEI me put it in your hair.
Mo- thanks" said Janet, drawing back.
''If Mr.. Kirby brought the camelia for you
lido not care to wear it,
z 'sWhy not. you absurd child?"asked Car
RE. ''Of course shall explain to him why
could not wear it. Roger Dulany says
that crimson is the most becoming color to
me- and he is right. Heigho! if only Roger
Dulany had Arthur Kirby's fortune, how
perfect he would be-"
Il suppose you would marry him then, -
said Janet, coldly.
Il might if | saw no one more agree
able," answered the beauty careessly. IF
| were as rich as you should please my
self, and should not be easily pleased
either"
Janet answered nothing. but as she went
down stairs she thought with something of
pang: ''You might be as rich as 1, and
yet not able to please yourself"
Maplewood. the pleasant country-house
of Mr.. Mildmay. was at this time thronged
with guests. Christmas was drawing near.
and the hospftable doors were always set
more widely open at that season than at any
other. When Janet slipped into the draw
-room-the young heiress was simple in
her manners as CHI ld-she found it filled
with gay company. and although she
knew every one present she fingered for a
few minutes in the background. feeling lit
tie disposition to join in the hubbnb of
voices and laughter. One pair of eyes
espied her, however, and Arthur Kirby
came to her side.
You are the only member of the family
that has not welcomed me, Miss Janet" he
said. extending his hand. Il have been
away for three weeks. Did you know it?"
Il did not think it had been so long"
answered Janet, giving him her hand, and
then drawing it out of his grasp again.
1T seemed to me a good deal longer"
said Arthur. half laughing. half piqued
Janet lifted her blue eyes and looked at
him with glance which he did not under
stand. She was thinking: mo doubt that
was because you were anxious to return to
Carrie" but she did not utter the thought
partly because badinage of the kind was
not in her line. and partly because she was
never at ease with Arthur Kirby. There
had been time when this was not the case
when she had spoken to him freely and
gayly whatever came most readily to her
lips, but that seemed long ago. before Car
rie's beauty had come between them and
stolen away his-to herself she did not say
his heart, but his liking.
Arthur, meanwhile. felt puzzled and a
little snubbed as he had felt often before
but nevertheless he went Oh with what he
.had come to say.
81 have ventured to bring you few
flowers from my greenhouse. | know that
you have plenty of flowers here. but
thought of you when | saw these. and
well. they seemed to suit you so well that l
brought them. Will you accept them?"
Janet glanced at the flowers in his hand
"a lovely half-blown tea rose. a sprig of
heliotrope. two or three geranium leaves
and an orange blossom.
They are all fragrant" said Arthur. II
would bring you nothing which was not.
think the most beautiful blossom has little
worth without perfume"
MD ha ho IL, l.
rose to her face as she thought of the Odor-
less canellia upstairs. But men are arrant
tfatterers. often with double tongues-she
told Carrie that the pure. perfect camellia.
with its waxen petals, typi6ed her flawless
beauty.
You are very kind" she said. a little
coldly-despite every effort she could not
be other than constrained with him
they are very fragrant and l am much
Obliged
She took the little bouquet as she spoke.
.and as she was fastening it on her breast
where lace scarf was knotted together. a
tall. handsome man with a statue-like head
and closely-cut crop of fair, curling hair
came up.
"Whatr he said, laughing. "Is Kirby
still distributing his floral favors? l call
this very unfair advantage to take of a
nan who has no greenhouse-nor, indeed
a house of any kind" And. with a quick
glance at the little bouquet which Janet
was wearing-''he is even Offering orange
flowers! How very significant"
The impertinence of his tone made both
Janet and Kirby color-the former with
confusion. the latter with anger
IL
should not put a spray of orange in the
flowers have had the pleasure of Offering
Miss Holiness he said. haughtily.
Not the least" replied Dulany. tran
gully. IF Miss Holmes cares to accept it. -
Il did not observe it," said Janet trying
to speak carelessly But do not think
care for orange blossoms at ALL
do you not?" said Dulany with another
laugh. Then you are different from most
ladies. But since do care for them ex-
tremely. why not give the spray to me?"
| Janet's slender fingers plucked at it nerv-
ously, but as she drew it out she cast a
doubtful glance at Kirby His brow was
overcast and he made stiff little bow.
pray do what you please with it, " he said
Then he walked away.
Dulany extended his hand with smile of
dawning triumph. You please to give it
to me. hope?" he said in soft tome
No." answered Janet. decidedly. She
turned and the next instant the Towering
spray was tossed in the great red logs of
the rearing Christmas fire. Then she, too,
walked away.
Dulany looked after her, still smiling.
s'That ought to settle Kirby" he thought.
''As for Newell. heiresses are not won in
day. They know their own value too
well. All. here comes the beauty!-she
knows her value, too. and if Kirby chooses,
he may fare better there"
Carrie Mildmay certainly looked beauti-
full as she came into the drawing-room
and was soon explaining to Arthur Kirby
why she had not been able to wear his
ea trlaIia y. Il tried to nersuade Ianet To Lot