Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-19

In about two hours dinner was ready.
And then the recollection came over Odin
like gust of impure air suddenly taking
the place of The perfume of vioets and
lilies, that he was engaged to lunch that
afternoon with party at an uptown
hotel. They were to have g private room,
and were to be very choice company.
Blanche Downey was to be there, and
Kitty st. Clair and Mrs. Merton Scuba
more and e.AnastasieIMig of the
French Opera Company. OF the other
sex, besides Odin, there would be Jack
PhilpOt, Vandermeer Ten Stryke, whose
father had left him $7,000,000, and the
Marquis de Thridace, who was said to
have fought seventeen duels and to have
eloped with a dozen women. After the
lunch they were to take a grand sleigh
ride in the park, and finish the evening
with the theatre and champagne supper.
All this on one side and Maurice and
Juliets turkey and mince pies ON the
other.
'I'm afraid must co." he said, the
light fading from mis- face and the resOn-
ance from his voice. 81 have an appoint
ment at 3o'clock."
''Odin, don't say sop exclaimed
Maurice, with an accent Of consterna-
ton.
sob, Mr.. Moore. you are 10 kingp' cried
Juliet, setting the soup tureen down with
a thump and gazing at him with a startled
look.
81 would much rather stay here" said
OdIn, but"
s'This is the first Christmas dinner
Juliet and l have had together" inter-
rupted Maurice. ''IJ will not be Christ
mas if you CO."
"You take all my appetite awayv
added Juliet, the corners of her mouth
dropping.
'God bless you both! Then will stayv'
exclaimed Odin, the blood rushing into
his face. You are the first people who
ever cared what | did,"
IL was long since be had felt such
genuine and pure emotion. To be liked
to be we'll thought of-and by such per-
sons as Maurice and Juliet. seemed too
good news to be true. "You do not
deserve it," said a voice within him.
But / will try to deserve it," he an
swered himself, ''and their belief will
help me.'
Happiness was now restored, and was
ali the brighter TOR the brief interruption.
Such Christmas cheer as those three
friends derived from their turkey and
mince pies was not to be paralleled in
New York. They ate and talked and
laughed, and the Croton water tasted
better than champagne, and after dinner
Odin made some exquisite black coffee,
which filled the room with a delicious
aroma, and was Just the right thing after
the pie. Finally they cleared the table
and washed the dishes, and then Maurice
proposed that they should have some
singing. Odin had fine bass voice, but
he ref ected what song he would probably
be singing at that moment had be been
IN the private room OF the uptown hotel
with Mile. Anastasle ana the rest OF them.
and the thought turned him cold. But
JulieCs pure soprano, supported by her
husbands baritone, launched out with
Christmas hymn, and after
verse or two had been sung Odin's deep
tones Joined them. 1t seemed as though
his innocent youth had come again s
the sublime words made music in the
li6tle room. BY the time the hymn was
finished the short day was over and
twilight had come. Odin again arose TO
go.
1--WE can't give YOU leave OF absence
for some time yetp' said Maurice, prompt
ly pushing MIN back into his chair.
Now comes a matter OF business. You
those poems that mem
toned in my letter. Well, you must hear
me read some OF them, and give me your
opinion"
"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed juliet.
''No one has heard them yet, but and
Maurice Is afraid TO believe what | say
Of them. But we shall both believe
yOun
SO saying she lighted the lamp, and
Maurice, with the simplicity OF a boy and
the eloquence Of lover. began to read
from his manuscript. Odin sat on the
sofa, ana Juliet on chair behind Der
husband. When a noble or beautiful
Dassage was read her ewes would seek
Odn's, and his smile and nod brought
the joyful glow TO her cheeks and eyes.
they we're indeed such poems as
man might wish his dearest friend to
write.
This was the beginning Of new life for
)dln Moore. He had been lonely and uB-