Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-24

] HIIii lltll A0uiN NHN
tween a Young lady ana very
sweet princess-out of some sweet
fairy.tale that ripples like music
through our remembrance of child
hood.
"Did you want me, dear? was
only-only looking to see how fast
the snow fell.'
This seeing chow fast the snow
fellv was dolelul, for the young
lady.princess made this statement
in a voice that quivered oddly, and
the long.lashed eyelids were wet
not with casual tears.
Yet, for all this pretense, a very
sorrowful little princess looked
Alice kneeling there, the tender
month in a culver Of mute distress.
Mrs. Lee forgot the note with Its
curious invitation, and, leaning for
ward, took Alice's hand, saying;
"Oh! my child, YOU have been
worrying about Cuthtert"
1t was mothers voice that
spoke, yearning, longing to shield
her darling from the rough winds OF
the worlds highway. Until then
YOU had fancied them sisters. The
mouth gave way then-the eyes
rained tears.
"Oh! had fancied that Cuth-
bert would have done with this mis-
cradle business Of travelling for 9TH
er people by this Christmas eye.
Mrs. lee drew Alice into her
arms, and, nestled there, she sob
bed out her grief. Happy, happy
ewes. however, ye weep that have a
mothers heart to weep on. Not
long did Alice yield tothls distress
Lifting her head, she smiled say.
ing:
"Selfsh giIl,-l know that Cuth'
bert loves me wherever he is. And
| have you, sweet darling, ard lit
tie May"
Then the princess, very much
cheered up, fell to kissing the sleep
er on the rug beside her, and she
woke up with scarlet cheeks laugh
ing, prepared for game Of romp
with "sister Alice"
"But YOU wanted to show me
something, dear said the latter
"Oh, my. we're all dreaming
here! And the young man waiting
for an answer, toow And Mrs. Lee
handed the note to her daughter.
"And who is Rogers, pray y
| "Let's ring the bell for Jenny
; Who brought this, Jenny ! And
= who is Rogers? Is it meant for us
| wonder y
! Jenny, thus questioned, acQuit'
. herself thus:
9 "Bachelor Rogers man brought
, it. MISS. Bachelor Rogers is a gen
tleman what liyes on block below
D Miss. in a beautiful house, and hi'
e man says there never was such
y master. He said the note was io'
D .our folks Miss, when let him in
= Shall / bring him up, MissF
; "Decidedly."
- John being brought up and queS
.. TONED. declared in the most decis
t i've manner that there was no pos
1 sibility of "mistake." But tina
a "master had an odd way of doing
D things somelimes;" and that "some
e how or another people always dl'
T., ret confused-like and do out.o'-the
T. way things at Christmas"
!. "Alice," said Mrs, Lee, thought
a fully, 81 think we had better acc p
It the invitation. Suppose You writ
|, and say we should be happy t
V come. Perhaps Mr.. Rogers is &c
G ing to have Christmas tree, an
wants May to come. You kno'
we are strangers here, and mayb
Il it's the custom to invite ones ncigl
l. bors."
Alice, nothing loath, did as sh
was told. And little May, catchln
,r the magic words, "Christmas tree
is danced about meanwhile in childis
rs delight.
j, Now John-arch. .-traitor-wha
- ever doubts he had on the suhlec
a kept them to himself. If this wei
rs the wrong house, he had no oble
ly ton TO calling back and rectliyln
ct the mistake. Indeed, John, remer
I'd beriDg who would be likely TO op(
the door, contemplated the same
ep a very desirable contingency.
al John found his master still plum
at ed in reyerie before the fire, who
ut. attendant genii, the shadows
home fitting to and fro around IN
So in a mystical dance, seemed
it Notwithstanding strange al
an sweet for Bachelor Rogers Chris
mas gift.
IN, "You've been gone long time
haven't you, John ("
"Waited for an answer, sir"
me A little watt of perfume, stealth
m, out from the same, took our frlel
by surprise. A strange, pleasa
,rd sensation seemed to fly out frC
ed the missive as he touched it.
ith "Light the gas, John"
1t. A rose.cOlored seal, a spice
perfume, fairy sheet of satin
per delicately charactered.
ala, ha, hal Why, John, up
my word, it's a woman's note"
IT'S Oh the mellow ring of Bac
nth