The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-22
ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

All day long the steel-colored clouds
had hung heavily over the -mantled
hills; all day long the o.d farmers had
nodded ther heads sagely at each other,
and said:
There's more snow in the air." or,
"We're goln' to hev spell O. weather."
But it seemed that the old farmers
were wrong, after all; for just at sunset
the clouds parted away, the sun, all gar
landed with golden beams, laughed over
the frozen landscape, and the beautiful
evening star came to keep his sacred
vigil above the Christmas Eve.
Gan ideal view," said Mr.. Mackenzie,
stopping on the cres. of the hill to OBJ
serve the sweet serenity of the. old church,
garrisoned with leadess poplar trees, and
the frozen river which reflects the red
sunset in front; the solemn majesty of
the White Mountain range beyond.
"Upon my word, we sojourners in the
semi-tropical valleys of Santa Barbara
haven't any conception what the word
Christmas really meansl l should like
to be artist enough to paint this scene.
Let me see. The first Eouse after you
pass the toll-gate: painted red, with
white trimmings; gable toward the road
old well-swecp to the rear Yes" with
q nod of the head, this is it,"
MIR. Rolf Mackenzie was coming East
after ten years residence on the fair Pa
cifc Goa t. He had gone thither to make
his fortune. He had made it, and now
he was on the way to fulfill an old love-
engagement with Mary Brown.
They had become affiauccd ten years
ago. Unlike the generality of men, Rolf
Mackenzie was steadfast and true, even
though all these converging years. he
had gradually become aware of an ever
growing uncongeniality between himself
and Mary Brown.
'It would have been better for both of
us ii had left myself unfettered," he
thought. sin those days did not know
what wanted, and I suppose she didn't,
either. But promise Is promise, and
dare say Mary will make good wife to
me. Isuppose I shall find her changed.
In changed myself When man has
tided over his thirtieth year, he can't
expect Time to deal gently with him
And with these rather unlover-likc
meditations, Mr.. Mackenzie raped on
the door of the red house with the Lom-
hardy poplars in front of it and the well.
sweep behind.
It was all new to him. He had been
only in the second year of his so;ourn in
California, when Mary's father, Bella
Brown. had sold out the old Vermont
homestead and moved up into the Maine
forests. But what were few score oi
miles, more or less, to man who has
crossed the Sierra Nevadas and eater
sandwiches on the precipices of Cape
Horne
He RAJ ped again. There was no an
swer, and he did what he would have
done at Los Angeles ranch-openedt the
door and walked in.
The room was bright with blazing
logs and candle shine. The mantle wa:
decorated with clusters of holly; wreatht
of laurel leaves glistcned overhead, and
festoons Of the beautiful princess pine
were fastened over the che Up engravings
and the Map of the United States or
the wallis.
The kettle sang; the cushioned rock.
ing-cha'r was drawn up in front of the
hearth, and volume of Jean Ingelow's
poems lay open on the round work
table.
"As pretty ON interior as ever saw ir
my life," said Mr.. Mack Kenzie, looking
compacently round. "Geraniums in thu
window; holly and laurel leaves; Jear
Ins se.ow! begin to have new hopes o
Mary, after all. She has kept pace with
the times little"
At this moment there was little
shrek. The door leading into the back
kitchen had opened; a lovely youns
woman, in deep-blue merino dress
with loops of paler b'ue ribbon in he
hair, stood in the portal, with glas
dish of aEplc-sauce in her hand.
Rolf Macken lie held out both hands.
He meant to have ad, anced boldl.
and kissed her, as man should salut
his fiancee, but a certain sense of pro
pr:ety prevented any such demonstra
ton.
"You arc not frightened, are youa IT.
only l."
"Gnly YOU"
The blue cycs-Mary Browns eyes hat
deepened and grown larger and NOR
LIQUID, it scemed-were fixed wistfull.
upon his face, as if she did not quit
understand.
"Didn't you getmy letter."
mo. What letter."
"l pom my word" said Mr.. Mackenzie
:'anything like the stupidity OF ou
postal arrangements, I never knew.
mailed that letter just one week before
started. So I've taken you by surprise
ch2"
Yves. murmured Mary, blushins
celiOhtfully.