Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-12-30
A CHRISTMAS KISS.
BY ETA w. PIERCE.
FGnk LEs'i'G

The ruin was very still.
Hoffman aud Miss Thorpe stood in its
weed-grown garden, looking towards the
duRky Corniche Road, and waiting fer the
Others to come up.
The girl, in her tailor-msde gown, with
her stylish jacket battoned close to her
throat, and the sunset-light on her copper
gold hsir, LEANED against the faded-pink
etucco of the tumblipg gateway. Hoffman
watched her with his heart in his eyes.
The two seemed shut into small, de-
lirious world of gray shadow and gray
olive trees, with pale stars already twink.
ling overhead in the gray sky Of Christmas
Eve.
IONS can hardly believe that this is
Christmas" began Miss Thorpe, IS che
toyed with a bunch Of Riviera violets.
"BSstonians, of course, always associate
the SEASON with frost and snow. Fancy
how
'Darkly, desply, beautifully blue
are the noJss on Washington street TO-
night"
Eyes. - he asserted, "aad I dare say the
sleigns are spinning alorg the Mill-dam
road, ard the snow hangs In the arch OF
old elms on Beacon street Mall. Great
Heaven! listen to Sir Charles talking t.
that wretchsd olive.gatSerer in the debr s
of the chapel! Such French was never
heard on land nor sea.
She smiled family.
Sir Cbarlss is foud of culiivs'irg the
NATIVES. His superior Bri ism mind nu:t
s,onp to # v0llty sometimes
Ths sun had sunk behind the olive
hills, bat the peaks of the Alpes Maritimes
still blushSd softly. On height above
the ruin the red houestop5 and cImpaniles
of little iowa caught the bath of rosy
fire. An ourrier in clumsy, gathering
shoes, with a back cookiug-pOt in MS
hand, stumbled up a broken path in the
olive wood. Hoffman moved step near
er his companion.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day." he
said. 81 must leave Msntone for Paris.
And you," with o smothered groa2-
what will you do tomorrow, Sibyl?"
go to St. Johns, with Sir Charles and
Auut Farlsigh, to hear the choir sing
'Hark, the herald angels"
she answered, lightly. Then we will
climb up the hill to the Annoncist', past
the forty shrines OF the Princess of Moa-
AGO. 10 see the creole. Then we will listen
10 tha band, and watch the crowd who do
honor to le bon 81. Nicolas, as the French
children call him. Aud last of all, we
NAV eat, perhaps, a real English plum
pudding, set on fire in the sale manager
of the hotel, for the pleasure of the Anglo
Saxon guests"
and the next day?" he urgei, fever
isbly-"what will you do the next day,
Siby,?-ths next week, the rext monthly
THE next day." she replied with
forced smile, 81 will coma again to this
ruin, and pick the msrgurites and narcissi
/ that we leave tonight. The next week.
oh, really cmno. tell" STE lnttd her
e. es reluctantly to his pile face. der
voice now changed. "rne next month, an
YOU know quite Wsll, Mr.. Hoffman, shall
marry Sir Charles Dartwel.
A sudden mad riot fred his blood.
Certainly l know be answeIedh1arse-
ly. 81 was told of your engagement when
| came to Mentonc, q month ago. Every
body here seemed talking Of the English
haro1et and la belle Amer,cd|ae, his fdncee
blame no one for tie thiug that has be-
fallen me-. With wide-open eyes Iplunged
in the fame, and I fad myself well
scorched for my folly"
Miss Thorpe moved fIon tho g"te.
I'VE have been good friends in this
alien land. Mr.. Hoffman," she said
good friends. as ftllow countrymen
should b.. Let Us have no tragedy AZ
Darlington Christmas Eve, too. l. is
time to 90 in search CT Sir Charles ard
Aunt Farleigh."
She hurried down tie path-he follow
ed. The wind tore loose knot o. her
copper gold hair, and dasaed it, like raw
elei silk, across her eyes. She stumbled
suddenly in the tangled waeds. HOffnan
thrust ont an arm to help her. Her
warm, fragrant tres7es swept bis tsce. AT
the touch, al tie blood in his toiy
seemed turning to furious fire. He crush.
ed her against his heart. His lips found
hers. and sc0rched them with one lorg,
maddening kiss. =,
Never on this size of the grave would
either fJrges that mcmeat. he saw her
stunned, white look, and he staggered beck
a step, his arms tell irv0luntary-te had
Just time 10 pant:
"Fofgive me. Sityl. Could have
known you earlier l should have won you,
in spite Of dOzsn Sir Charlss Dartwells!
Then down the terrace au elderly man
lesn aud small, like dried rsisin, Cams
scrambling, followed by matron, fat end
! fo.tE.
Have we found yCu at last?" cried
Aunt Fsrleigh, staring hard at tue young
frlks. "Sir Char'e3 declares it is not SAFE
to remain ont Of doors in this climate attrl
the suu goes down. We must hasten back
to tfe ko'el."
SIR Charles gave his arm to his .fancse.
''My dear" he said, dryly, you lock a.
though you had been struck by light
ninQw
They went out under the crumbling
gateway. 70 the h;gh-road, where car
risge hsd waitei. When the party reached
il, Hoffman sid:
az will bid You 60 od-bye here. l. isno'
likely that l ehsll eeyou again, fl l leave
Mentore tonight"
Sir Charles shook hands with the Amer
lean, but coldly. Inspite o. his engage
ment to Miss Thorpe, he did not like
Amer,c cans.
Next month";" said Aunt Fsrleigh,
cheerfully, 1--WE 90 to Paris for the we'd
ding, Mr.. Hoffm ,n-pOssibly We may mse'
you there"
"No doubt. Everybody meets in Pasis, "
remarked the baronet.
Sioyl did not speak. Hoffman bowed to
her silently, and the next moment was
gone; and through the gray Christmas
twilight, the others rode back to their
hotel,