Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1888-12-22

the tebher beneath the strings that bound
the package and sent his boy to summon
Job to the house.
Mayor" Flint was at heart timid man,
and after sending his boy on the errand
no repente not having had him carry the
volume and letter as well He foresaw
trouble IN the village, for "Gogn was we'll
liked and the Villagers had voice them.
selves regarding who should be school
naster. He could not tell, either to
dob or the villagers. the true reason for
the dismissal; neither could he make a
truthful explanation to Dot, for he feared
she might demand the pedagogue's rein
statement as she was always singing
praises OF his kindness toward his little
pupils
''Old Cog" was true gentleman. with
all OF true gentleman's nobility of soul
Mayor" Flint was not; but he was
CRAFTY and possessed keen intuitive per-
ception, AMI it was seldom his Judgment
was FAR out OF the way. After due consid-
Grafton he rightly coniectured that Job
would read the note and believe Dot had
commissioned her father to return the
volume.
1t irritated the naturally turbdl ent des-
pot to think that the poor schoolmaster
But he knew little of the teachers strength
OF character. The mute Christmas token
was the only evidence he would have
given 10 indicate that the poor and humble
mentor of the district school entertained
toward tho rich mans daughter any other
feeling than that of the most profound rev.
erence and loyal respect
Mayor Flint decided to be absent
when job should arrive, and he left orders
that the parcel on the comfortable should
be handed the schoolmasten
Job pulled and blowed and kicked so
hard on the scraper outside the magnute's
front door, that he was heard long before
he attempted to ring the bell. As he was
about to ring, the door opened softly and
Dot held out a hand of welcome that sent
an electric thrill through the schoolmas-
ter's system when her little fnger.tips
touched his calloused hand. Job was an
lehabod Crane in appearance, but his man
ners were those of a polished member of
the intellectual and refined grade in soci-
ETY., over which money is without influ-
ence; so, externally, he appeared entirely
at ease in Dots company, yet, if the truth
was known, his heart was futtering be-
meath his vest like a Gagged bird.
" Here is a Christmas present, job.
made for you myself" said Dot, handing
him parcel as he stood ready to depart
"You must not open it until you hear the
CHRISTMAS chimes at midnight @, l al.
most forgot that Father left it for YOU
she added by the way of explanation. II
presume it may contain another Christ
mas remembrance.
As she took the volume from the table
Job watched her beautiful face, and when
their eyes next met his own told of his
smothered passion as plainly as if he had
spoken. She trembled, blushed and hung
her head as she lnnocently preferred the
package addressed to him by her father.
job glanced at the package and started |
rs he recognized the volume through its |
torn wrapper.
Mechanically he received the book, but |
1t fell from his nerveless grasp He es-
sayed to speak, and his tongue refused its
function. With one parting glance he |
tottered through the doorway and along |
the path leading to the road, where he |
caught glimpse of the mayors scowling |
face as the moon shone on a window in |
the second story of the house.
he walked with head cast down, neither |
looking to the right nor the left. He was |
dazed. lie was like one whose reason was
oiouded If her eyes spoke the truth-but
no, his Christmas token Why did she
return it II such was the case' And yet
no, he had even no right TO think that. 1t
might have been natural embarrassment
Through fear of wounding his feelings by
the return of tho book
"Hellow, Gogr exclaimed a familiar
voice, as the path was blocked by a form
that was irrecogh cable beneath its great
coat and heavy muffisr. "Hyer's letter
FUR yer got outer the pust-ufis. / got one
FUR tn ma'am, tew. Eef yeou wanter
wat I'll take We hum; but l gottcr git
seme Christmas tixins fust'
The speaker was the farmer with whom
Job lodged. The offer of the ride home
by Job, who thrust the letter
n h pocket and continued his walk.
Queer cuss thet, Old Cog. Ruther
walk than ri 10 on SIGH er night ez this I'M
Wouldn't ketch me walk n Of didn't hey
err b'goshl Geel Ho.bahl Git-er-lang.
here yew' and he whipped up his horses
20 a faster gait and soon widened the dis
.anee between himself and job.
When Job reached the turn that led
INTO the dark gap between the hills. he
paused and leaned on the rail ng of a
snort bridge that spanned the frozen
brink
CHRISTMAS Eve! Beautiful Christmas
Eve He looked up to the sky 1t seemed as
though the stars were soothing at him and
he snow-fringed trees nodding in derision.
me moon shone with a whittier, brighter
ight aud wore mocl1ing smile. The ]
water lying under the trees fringing the
led OF the brook was completely frozen
md occasionally snapped like the pop of
chestnut; the evergreens stood out dis
met and clear, and the weird music of the
Wind. as IT stirred the great trees, sounded
s though the very spirit of Christmas was
lready abroad. He thought of the happy
ZONES on which that moon was shining of ,
evoted hus0an Is and wives, fond fathers
nd mothers, merry children, ''his fam
~, home from school, of happy lovers,
nd kind friends. |
And he--he stool alone in tho world, an /
solated being on that silent country road j
\ this Christina Eve. {
we ri sensation erept over him as he
TODD there. He glanced at the deserted
ouse. Part of lis roof had dropped in /
ard, and the snow had drifted through (
he inlet and piled itself in tho center of \
be hooring How like his own hearth He s
elt that the ruin of that home was an in /
inmate picture Of himself; for the roof of I
is heart had been uplifted, and the chilly G
now Of unrequited love had drifted in '
pom its floor d
A strange fascination that house held for q
i'm 1t had never been occupied during 0
10 nine years he had been in Ciderburr @
e had never been inside Of it. It bore the t
,putation of being haunted; but Job was t
Of superstitious, and he feared neither 4
)blins, spirits nor spooks. SO when some
range feeling impelled him to jump the S
nee, wade knee-deep through the snow t
I'D enter the ruin, he was not frightened S
the noise made by some animal that t
AIDE its escape rather than resent the in c
lision.
He walked through the severnI rnnms ON Z