St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23
THE NEMESIS OF LOVE.
Christmas Eve, 1888.
~

it into the form OF taper, and holdlng
it over the glowing Goals of the CRATE,
watched it burn and vanish. From the
table by his side he took the photograph
of young and pretty woman. and the
Goals cracked as it fell upon them. In
all inner pocket of his coat he found
lock of hair and lady's glove, and the
Goals cracked again.
He whistled softly as the last spark
of these "reminiscences died out, re-
Elected that the morrow was Christmas
day. and went TO bed,
Nine the next morning and he turned
laZily over to hear the bells in the clock
towers strike His servant had laid
fresh fire and prepared his morning
toilet. Newport reflected with an in
ward groan that the day, lacking the
sunshine of certain pretty face, would
be intolerably dull.
"May heaven lack jealous husbands,
or any husbands at al" he muttered.
On his dressing case lay package which
had come while he slept
He looked curiouSly at its pink and
white wrappingS and red wax seals be-
fore he broke them.
1t was happy conceit of the unknown
sender TO select such combination of
colors.
lie broke the seals, undid the paper,
and exposed a velvet caSket, which
opened with spring. a press of his
finger on the fastening and the lid flew
back.
Upon white satin cushion, and as
white as its resting place, lay Woman's
finger.
ON that finger was ring and on the
inner circle of that ring an inscription,
Jack to NJ"
Mir. Newport left for Europe the next
day.
A YEAR LATER.
Close TO the heart of London there
stands an inn made famous because of
its New England cooking. Naturally
it is a common resort for members Of
the American colony and others tempo
rarily abroad.
Jack Newport had been there month
when Christmas morning, 1884, dawned,
the sun went climbing up over ,anks of
fog. and the rubcund waiter at his
table kept wondering why the 'gentle-
man" was so unusually late.
Hts ris'musS,' suggested an en-
vious rival, land 'e's broke perhaps.
'E cawn't remember the poor this
blessed day"
The rubicund gentleman, claiming to
be above such sordid considerations of
the day, haughtily ignored the insinua-
ton. and for the tenth time busted the
empty chair.
A messenger boy entered and left
with the fat clerk at the desk package
which, as it bore his name, was placed
at Mr. Newport'S plate.
Hit is Jewels from his sweet'art,"
commented waiter, and eyed the pink
and white Wrappings and red wax seals
as if he saw diamonds underneath them.
"'E as warm frieneS in town." vent
ured another more cunning, for there
were neither stamps nor poStmark to be
seen.
The rubicund genius for his post pri-
vately conveyed the information to the
cook that the package contained cigars,
for he had "Smelled their flavor"
just then Newport came, and dozen
ewes turned away in disappointment
when he left the package untouched,
and departed with it and its scent under
his arm.
But in his own room he tore the COW
eringS off with savage haste, the silver
spring bent back, satin cushion lay
| exposed, and upon it something white.
soft, marked with delicate lines, over
which was written in mans hand
"Merry Christmas"
Half-doubting his senses, Newport
lifted what seemed like paper, then
| dropped it and shut his eyes.
The skin from the back of woman'S
| hand lay at his feet.
DEATH AND DISHONoR.
Christmas morning, 1885, detail of
! cavalrymen rode out from Western
| fort to oyertake and punish a maraud-
| ing band of Indians. At high noon
they found their prey in cooley, and
! taking the party by surprise, for a few
moments made the blue sky and yellow
| sun look down upon miniature hell.
There was a wild rush of horses.
| shouts and curses, the "cIack" of piS-
| tolls and Intermittent flash of SaberS,
! The loose snow was beaten into
the earth and the dead grasses, dipping
| down before the WhirlWind that swept
over them, drank deep of human blood
and changed their winter hue of brow Il
to red.
Their duty done, the troopers rode
! slowly back to the fort. 1t was night
when the horses and men were within
| the sentry line and housed, Cavalry
man Jack Newport turned up the light
| in his quarters. and with an oath
| Sprang back from the table on which it
! stood.
a package in pink and white paper
lay there bearing his name. He
| staggered toward it and, with trembling
| hands, broke the seals. saw the velvet,
opened TO the satin cushion, and bowed
his head.
There lay woman's hand, between
the fOrefnger and thumb, slip of
| paper on which was written, as he had
/ written it years before:
Hove you, Jack.
| TO HIM WHO WAITS.
James Cryngle, physician retired
! from practice. and blessed with many
/ material comforts, was somewhat sur
prised early Christmas morning, 1886,
| TO be called from his bed to his parlor
by the announcement that gentleman
was awaiting him who would not leave
| until he had seen him.
Mr.. Cryngle dressed and went down.
! As he entered the room his caller rose
and turned haggard, terror-stucken
! face toward him.
MIR. Newport, believe" said Mr..
Cryngle.
The gentleman bowed. and taking
| from a stand, on which he had laid
them, three packages wrapped in pink
and white paper, handed them to him.
MIR. Cryngle opened each, looked atten-