Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-12

heightened color, seemed to assure him Of his
late-won victory.
wonder if any of their fellow- fravelers mar.
ceived the romance working itself out under
| ther very eyest As We pass on unheeding en-
crossed each one with his own affairs how
many nIe-hisfoFles are unfolding around Us,
now often do We blunder into the middle of
/ third volume-or tread the brink of q crisis in
some one else's story--or stand unknowinglv
pyl while F1nis is written to some long romance!
| As the weary hours OF that Christmas Eve
passed INTO Christmas morning, Alison, amid
al the discomforts of the situation. tired.
cramped crowded, cold and stifed by turns.
was conscious always of the invisible shield of
love and tenderness outspread between her
ana the annoyances Of the outer world. Life
was no longer the dreary thing it had SO lately
looked 70 her, for she seemed to stand upon
the threshold OF a future which should COM
pensate the ainful past and her heart glowed
within her as the dull, mean room became
transformed into an ante-chamber Of unknown
| felicities.
Midday had come and gone. when rough
tedse, drawn BY steady old cob, was seen APP
proachng the little station-house. and hailed
by the imprisoned travellers with as much
rapture as the sail deserted by a castaway
rom his desert island. 1t proved to be a
venice dispatched from Ladykirk in search OF
/ some missing provision hampers, and its driver
nad special orders to inquire for tidings of the
delayed train. Pomeroy, who had Just re-
| turned from one of his relief expeditions, saw
his opportunity, and rushed out to parley with
the driver. In minute or two he came back
| triumphant. The sleigh was a rude one, in
tended for luggage. but it would be possible to
make Mrs. Lloyd fairly comfortable upon it,;
ana, as it was now temporarily fine overhead.
the colonel arranged that the hampers and
destination.
On! and 1t was a warm welcome that the
| CHILLED and weary wayfarers received upon the
threshold OF Ladykirk from its hospitable
master and mistress. And it was Mrs Drum
mond-Orr herself who led Alison upstairs to
the luxurious guest-chamber, to be refreshed
and warmed and petted, while her husband
| hurried oil to make provision for the less for
| tunate travellers left behind
| A half-hour later Col Pomeroy Joined his
friend IN the library. looking at least ten years
younger for his late experience. His host
looked up with ready sympathy.
heaiiy, Pomeroy, who would have thought
OF your having to spend the best part of your
Christmas shut up in that poky little hole. It's
an awful sell for your
mot at all, Jack Indeed-to tell the truth,
Old feilow-I never enjoyed one more!''
| JACK stared at his cousin. Was downright
Hubert Pomeroy taking to sarcasm!
wei! tastes differ. of course" the master
| OF the house said, CURLY.
Colonel PomerOy had been pacing the room
| with his hands in his pockets-or rather in
| Jacks pockets, for, Of course no luggage was
yet forthcoming, and his gray lounging suit
was loan from his host. Now he suddenly
| turned and faced his cousin.
THE fact is. Jack. perhaps I ought to ex-
plain that it's all up with Emmie's matrimonial
plans. I'm an engaged man-at last.n
You don't say so! Well. Better late than
never. congratulate you with all my heart
Irerhaps she will be little disappointed, poor
little woman! But that can't be helped
Emmie9' as his wife appeared at this moment,
come and tell Pomeroy how pleased we are
that he is going to follow our example at last "
That will, dearr' holding out both hands
10 hubert with the sunniest smile of triumph.
FOR am sure it can be no one but Allie.
noticed something was up directly you two
came In together. Tell me. am right?'
"Yes-you always are" Colonel Pomeroy
confessed gayly. Forgive me if I've disap-
pointed you. but have been completing a
| courtshlp begun fifteen years ago."
'And you couldn't have pleased me better.
No one could ever resist Alison, and directly l
found she would be with us for Christmas. I
made up my mind you should fall in love with
each other all over again."
Then the kind hostess fastened back to her
other guest, whom she found toasting herself
before coy fire. looking very sweet. and shy,
| and pretty IN a crimson tea-gown of soft silk,
which her own wardrobe had furnished
Mrs. Drummond-Orr shut the door DELHI
erately and joined her cousin at the fireside.
well, Ailie?" she began significantly.
wen. Emmie, dear" Then as Mrs.
Drummond-O Orr still looked expectant, .'Your
teagown is most comfortable, and = 80
And very becoming, 1 see, but'-impa-
tiently-"I did not come up here to talk about
tea-gowns Ailien'-holding out her hands
wistfully-"Have you nothing to tell me? You
may as well make your confession, as Hubert
has done already"
Alison turned suddenly and threw herself
into her cousins o>>stretched arms.
"Then-theR-you know that what you once
wished has come to pass at last! And oh, En-
ME! he actually loved me all the time-only
Aunt Clara broke faith with him and never told
me-"
"Perhdious creature! So you have her to
thank for your long heartache.''
And you. dear Emmie"-wth a warm
caress-'for bringing US together again. Oh.
drift"