The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-02
lovingly. they went into the house to-
gether.

lovingly, tney went into the mousse %
gether.
At Reuben Harrild's there was as.
sembled on this evening as merry and
light-hearted a company as ever met
| within four walls. Genial faces every
where: smiles and cheerful looks on
| all sides, from old and young; every
| person on his best behavior, ready to
shake every other persons hand, with
az much amiability as can be expressed
BY the pressure of palms and fingers.
And if such thing as truth exists,
hearts accompanied the pressure. As
for duplicity, double-dealing. suspicion
of motives, artful maneuvering for
selfish purposes, such qualities were
purely mythical. good enough to put
color into dreams, but utterly imagin-
ative-almost comical to think of-as
to any part they might play in the bust
ness of life! The business of life! What
am l thinking of? Business, to the
right about! 1t is Christmas-eye, and
the world is pleasant to heart and eve,
sweet and loving and charitable,
Astounding in thought.
Butt am bound to confess it-there
was heart-burning in the kitchen. For
in that region of shining stew and sauce
pans. in whose polished surfaces the
genial reflection of jolly time was
clearly visible. Samuel Medium (the
man-servant of the establishment had,
by the merest accident. come plump up
on Kitty Simons (the maid-servant of the
establishment and had discovered her
in the act of being kissed, beneath the
miserable pretense of piece of mis-
tletoe, by retainer of low degree. who.
being especially recommended by
Samuel Medium, had been tempora-
rily engaged to assist in the general
JOY, and had thus basely BETRAYED the
trust reposed in him. Now, Samuel
Meidrum regarded the kisses of pretty
Kitty Simons, both from and for, as his
especial prerogative. and most particu-
larry and solely within his department
at Christmas-time. This ACT of the tenn
porary retainer was clearly. therefore,
an act of treachery, and as such was
regarded by his patron. who. after
treating the treacherous dependent to
''piece of his mind" glared at Kitty
with eyes in which love and jealousy
were plainly depicted. Pretty Kitty.
busy at the dresser, whittier she had
demurely walked after the kiss under
the mistletoe, was of course entirely
unconscious of the state of Samuel Mel
drums feelings-which was the reason
why she furtively watched him from
beneath her dark eyelashes, and won
dered when he was going to speak.
But Samuefs moral dignity was hurt.
and he preserved silence-more from
not knowing what to say than from
any other cause
They're playing games upstairs"
said Kitty. taking the bull by the horns;
''such games!'
Samuel only grunted.
They re playing, said Kitty, slyly,
81 love my love with a A. because he's
amiable. and amusing. and an angel;
and | hate my love with A, because
he's aggravating, and absurd and an
and his name amt Alexander,
and he comes from Aberdeen. and l
took him to the sign of the Axe and
Anchor. and treated him to apples and
And l don't love my love with a
We" retorted Samuel. goaded into
full sense of his wrongs by the pretty |
maids attempt at conciliatiOn, '.be- |
cause she's vicious. and vile. and a
vixen, and hate her with We. be-
cause she's vulgar, and vain. and
wiper: and her name amt Venus. and |
she comes from Wandieman's Land,
and took her to the sign of the Wen
omous Vampire. and treated her to
vinegar and water"
The retort caused Kitty to smile to
herself more slyly than ever; for the
lext best thing to declaration of love
rom man you have liking for is
of jealousy, and there was
10 doubt that Samuel was in desper-
tie condition. The temporary retainer,
iriven by Kitty s distracting airs into 4
tate of overbubbling love. listened to
his quarrel with secret pleasure. and,
Kitty under the mistletoe. at
empted to snatch from her tempting
Ups repetition of the temporary bliss
which had fired his soul. But this time
e reckoned without his host. Kittv-
ly puSs as she was,-knowing that
amuel was near. pretended to struggle
nth the poacher. crying out with af-
ected indignation: How dare YOU,
lr! What do You mean by it, DC.
amuel, Samuel! Save met Where
pom Samuel, his jealousy melting in
ne warmth of this appeal, flew to the
escue. and caught Kitty in his arms
here she lay painting. her pouting lips
l direct line with the mistletoe. and
l. |
itching that Well, he did what
on would have done-kissed her once.
nd again. and again. and would have
one on for there is no saying how
ing. had not Kitty ran away to hide S
er bushes and delight.
Every room in the house had such a
right look about it that there was no
listaking the time. Had Father Time
mself suddenly appeared with his
oera hat under his arm. and (being an
ry old gentleman) with nothing else
orth mentioning on his old bones in
re shape Of garments, for the purpose :
telling You that he had made mis-
Ike with his glass. and that ne was six
seven weeks too fast or too slow.
III would have snapped your fin
RS at him. Not Christmas, A
ce thing. indeed! As if YOU
d not know better. As if every
ucepan in the kitchen did not know q
tier! As if the very sparks fiying up II
e chimnevs did not know better. Not
,ristmas! Ask Mrs. Ramage Who s.
As Mrs Ramages Mrs. Ramage was d
Large woman. with a Large mouth.
I'd Large nose. and Large eyes. and =
urge limbs. and Large way of assert :!
g herself which there was no resisting.
Id in Mrs. Ramage was merged MI. G