News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-12-30

tlon. The facts are these: Charlie
joins his ship to morrow night, Christ
mas though it be; for the next day h
Is to sail, or to be exact-to steam for
couple of years in the celestial seas
Il think you are verging on the flow
ery''-interrupted Eveleen.
THAT is because Charley is going t.
China. he pays me the compliment
God bless him, of thinking my word i
as good as my note, which is gibberisf
to me; and he pretends to be afraiC
that may be persuaded to forget hin
during his absence, so of course ht
can't go away without decided pledge
on my part"
And you have promised to marry
him, oh, Mary!" said Eveleen, breath.
lessly.
''No such good luck. Indeed, I am
such coward, have not even engaged
myself to marry him when he returns,
and am of age-of course l will; but
have not pledged myself"
"Poor Charley! am sorry for
"You need not be-" interrupted
Mary. 81 have not an idea of keeping
him on the rack for over two years
though have heard five fathoms of salt
water cures love-sickness."
Another meeting? Mary, it is not
prudent. You are the town talk al
ready"
81 know it, and l do not intend to
crafty the village gossip with my
affairs. Charley's plan is quite fanciful
| He is to send me some roses-where he
is to get them at this season I can't
think, but that is his affair. If decide
TO hold myself engaged to him during
his absence, / am to wear the roses. A
pretty conceit, is it not? l am only
afraid if Charley is given to forming
graceful devices he is not trustworthy. !"
Just then some one called me to con-
suit about the window trimmings, and
Mary followed me to give her opinion.
| knew very we'll that she knew of my
| proximity during her confidence with
Eveleen, and as Charley's kinswoman
counted on my sympathy.
At twilight l was resting in my own
special chair at my own fireside. We
had worked up all the greens, and it
being Christmas eve, the wreaths were
to be hung, and the old church decor
ated-a bit of work that would take us
at least until midnight. So | had come
home for cup of coffee and little rest
| think l must have been doing in
my chair, for l did not hear Charley
come in. Poor boy! 1 disliked this
Chinese cruise almost as much as he
did, for 1 was very fond of him, and
two years is a great slice to be taken
out of any ones life. Besides, we
always associate Christmastide with re-
unions, which make separations at that
time doubly doleful. OF course, the
young sailor was not hilarious. A man
in love easily slips into condolences; and
as proved good listener, Charley was
contented with me, stirred the fire into
a flame, and drank more coffee than was
good for him.
Two years did not seem so intermin- |
able after we had talked an hour;
as during them he hoped to |
receive his promotion, and Mary would |
would be of age, and her own mistress.
Certainly the young ensign was more
cheerful when he got mp to leave, than
be was when he reused me out of my
loze.
--ssRE the -XaE,-C Charley - :, I said, .-.haxa
you sent your roses? Are they not
-ather imprudent love-tokens to prom
Sc in December?"
''Mary has told you of our device?
She was opposed to another clandestine
Meeting; though we might have met
here, might we not?"
t.Perhaps. The roses are more un-
certain mediums, l must confess than
maiden ladies.
''Not in these days of improved hor
iculture. have only to telegraph an
order, and Twill get them by this even
ng's mail"
II hope you may; but if they fail you
come to me. See what lovely roses the
Tracys have sent me for a Christmas
gift
at isn't quite the sort Of gift Iwould
suppose Tracy capable of giving" " said
Charley, his nose well buried IN my
bowl of roses.
- ''No! something very costly and de-
,idedly snowy would be more 10 style.
But his wife is different, and is too well
bred to take advantage of holiday gifts
to put one under heavy obligation"
Charley laughed.
81 shall never burden any one by my
gifts"
mo, you barter your roses for lady
love. 1t reads something ike fairy
and the Eeast-Only you
are not ugly enough for the beast, and
YOU are not an enchanted prince. Now
20 and find your roses, for the mail
must be in and l ought to be at the
church."
l had barely time to get on my wraps
before Charley came back again, and
had the pleasure of saying, Il told you
so." The mail had brought him no
roses; so he came to beg as many of
mine as | would give him. Red was
Mary's color, but Mrs. Tracy's white
ones were the handsomest, and there
were more of them, so made them into
a bunch, leaving my bowl sadly de-
pleted.
"Now," I said, "be off. Mary must
be wondering where her roses are. She
will serve you right if she does not wear
them, after all
''They are tCo lovely for any girl to
reject, even if a lover were not i'm
plicated. How shall ever thank you
for this wholesale robbery? Shall |
bring you tea pot or a ctest of tea |
from the Celestial country as token of |
my lasting gratitude2"
Gan invitation to your wedding will |
suffice. Now go, before the roses fade"
An hour later Charley came over to |
the church. He whispered to me that |
the roses had been duly received, and |
then went among the young people IN |
search of Mary and his nOsegay, not |
waiting to hear me say she had not come |
vet She had been late at all our work |
ing gathers that year, SO no one re-
marked upon her absence. And when
at last she came every one was busy, so
she did not once throw off her wraps,
but went from one little group to an
other, chatting gayly, though with a
subdued ring of excitement in her voice. |
Some one had carried poor Charley
off to the Organ-gallery to wreath it,
Just before Mary came, so that he stood
looking down on her, ten or twelve feet
of empty space effectually separating
them. Mary never looked up, though
the caTmine in her Oh eks deepened
under Charley-s gaze She wore her
favorite color in her bushes, so it was
just as well that Charley's roses were
pale.
'Mary, how idle you are! Do take
off your wraps and go to work. Well
not get through before midnight" :"
called out Eveleen, who was working as
if her life depended on her efforts.
Mary moved slowly, taking off her
jacket a little shamed -facedly. Eveleen
was watching her; Charley leaning over
the gallery in imminent danger to his
neck. He held hammer and nail in
his hand preparatory to fastening up a