Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29
A CITY CHRISTMAS.


scolding;" and Mrs. Danforth tried to
frown upon her handsome, royal son of %,
caught the merry twinkle in his bright
eyes, and kissed him instead.
They were a rare couple, and members
of a rare family. Outsiders had called the
stately home of the Danforths, located on
one of the most fashionable bouleyards of
the great city, the house of good cheer, and,
if the royal preparations for Christmas 60
ing on in kitchen and parlor alike were
any indication, the coming holidays were
not likely to be far behind cherished.
happy celebrations Of the past
Mrs. Danforth had reason to chide her
son on the present occasion. He had
called her aside with a shade of charming
secresy and intrigue in his manner as he
glanced at his pretty sister Blanche, and
had shown her the present he designed
for her.
No wonder his mother stared and
admired, and then looked dismayed. In
satin-lined case nestled a set of diamond
jewelry such as even she-social leader as
she had been, where gems were sometimes
worn that represented a fortune-had
never seen equaled.
Brooch, necklace, pendants, solitaire,
cluster and bracelets-the set was COM
plete, marvel of flashing beauty, all the
more beautiful because of the severely
simple gold setting.
Sidney, Sidney !" she gasped, "they
must have cost"
"Never mind, mother. No gift can
make can be too good for Blanche You
know the fortune l inherited from your
sister should have been equally divided
between Blanche and myself, instead of
coming entirely to me. 1t has always
given me a sense of unfairness. Well, |
have simply invested her share in these
gems. They have value she some day
may need to use, and in her own right; so
don't lisp a hint of it. She will be
delightedly surprised. All, Graoe-Miss
Vernon, | did not know you were here"
\ rustling curtain had betrayed an aud
itor to the domestic colloquy. A dark
eyed, rather handsome woman, few years
older than Sidney, came into view, with
flush of apology upon her face.
Il was half asleep in the window" she
murmured, "and could not escape You
will pardon me?''
"Oh, we can have no secrets from you p
said Sidney, brightly. And then another
pair of feminine eyes glowed over the be-
witching array of gems, only their depths
betrayed a slight tinge of envy.
"Of course it's a secret from Blanche"
remarked Sidney. "Good-by, mother !;
good-by, Grace. Father isn't home, is he,
mother?' he asked abruptly.
"No, Sidney"
"And he has the key to the library safe
l don't care to lug a fortune around rail-
road depot. Miss Vernon, will you be re-
sponsible for this little bundle of radiance
until this EVENING""
A bright, eager look flashed into the
dark face, as if It's possessor felt happy at
the confidence reposed in her by hand
some, impetuous Sidney. Mrs. Danforth
looked a little anxious, as if some sugges-
ton of love might actuate the sentiments
of her son and her guest. 1t was not in
her bright nature to allow trifes to annoy
her, however, and she smiled an adieu to
Sidney, with the words:
Don't miss the train. You know Cap
tain Tarble is a stranger in the city, and
he Will be expecting you;" and then she
went TO attend to some domestic duty,
with pleasant jest to Grace Vernon to
look out for burglars and her precious
charge.
The eyes of the latter dilated, and her
bosom heaved, once alone. In every feature
of her dusky face the siren showed envy as
she opened the jewel case and gloated over
the jems it held, and seemed to ponder
modify, fercely, intently. Then she
started, A sudden impulse seemed to
seize her. and she went to her room,
dressed herself for the street, and half an
hour later, heavily yelled, reached the store
of an obscure jeweler on a retired business
street.
Mamma" Blanche Danforth asked that
afternoon, "is Miss Vernon going to re-
main with us for the holidays?"
have invited her, dear. Why? You
look displeased."
am little, | must confess" replied
Blanche, slight frown on her pretty face.
" Do you know, mamma, l am beginning
TO dIstrust her"
Blanehe?"
" 1 can't help it. When she first came
here your kind interest in her made me
feel a pity for her, but l do not like the
dark look in her eyes sometimes, and
Sidney
"Ah what about Sidney, dear? ?"
" / believe she is in love with him, and
is trying Toto entrap him."
Mrs. Danforth laughed merrily, but her
heart was not in her mirth. Somehow.
Blanche's words opened her eyes, and
that evening she sat down to think it all
over, like the prudent, far-seeing mother
Il. ii Ii Al II
holidays she would find a new hcme for
Miss Vernon.
She knew very little of Grace Vernon
personally. One day, month back, the
latter had come stranger to the Danforth
mansion. She asked its mistress if she
remembered Alice Lane. Oh, yesl she
was her dearest schoolday friend. She
had married and gone with her husband
to India. There she had died, leaving a
child, but for fifteen years Mrs. Denforth
had not heard anything of the family.
Grace then told her that she was the
daughter of Alice Lane Vernon. Her
father, too, was dead. She was an orphan,
and, returning TO America, she had re-
membered how lovingly her dead mother
had spoken of Mrs. Danforth. She had
letters to prove her claim, and the great
loyal heart of Mrs. Danforth had opened
to the orphan waif from far-off shores, and
she babe her make the mansion her home
until some permanet arrangement could
be decided upon for her welfare.
A great woman for old-time attachments
was this same Mrs. Danforth At every
festive occasion she invited net the fitting
butterflies of fashion to drone through a
formal dinner, but some old-time friend,
often one who had not her share Of worldly
wealth, and she always tried to make their
visit "a real good time"
This Christmas, in addition to Mss Yer
non, she had invited Captain Tarble and
his daughter. She had never seen either,
but Mrs Tarble, nowdead, had been her
boarding-school chum, and she longed to
see the child of her dead friend, who,
with her father, an old sea captain, had
been abroad for some years.
Good-natured Mr.. Danlorth had smiled
quizzically.
HSea Captain. Ell wife p, he cbuckIed