New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06

the brink OF crisis In some one else siory "
stand unknowingy Dy WHO rims - "ri'0'" W
As The weary hours of that Christmas Eve passed
into Christmas morning, Alison, amid all the dis-
cold and stincd by turns, conscious always o.
the invisible shield of love and tenderness OUT
spread between her and the annoyances OF tne
outer world Life was no longer the dreary thlng
it had so lately looked TO her, =, 1of
She seemed to stand upon the threshold %, OF
a future which should compensate the paih,tbu n
past, and her heart glowed within her as ,ne
dull, mean room became transformed into an ah'o-
chamber Of unknown felicties.
Midday had come and gone, when ro Snsn
sledge, drawn by steady old cob, was seen "a
approaching the little station house ana naileu
by the imprisoned travellers with as much rapCure
ms the sail deserted by n castaway from nls
patched from Ladykirk in search OF some missing
provision hampers, and its driver had special
orders to inquire for tidings OF TN. ueaycu Isain
Pomcroy, who had just returned from one OF ms
relief expeditions saw his opportunity, and rushed
out 10 parlcy with the driver H. minute or
two he came back, triumphant. ne sieisn was
rude one, intended for luggage. but ~ would
be possible to make Mrs. Lloyd fairly omiortable
upon it; and, il was now temporarily me
overhead, the Colonel arranged that the hampers
and themselves should travel in company to their
destination.
Oh and it was warm welcome that the
chilled and weary wayfare RS received upon the
threshold of Lady kirk from its hosptabe master
and mistress And ii was Mrs. Drummond-O Orr
herself who led Alison upstairs TO the luxurious
QupSt-ch ambcr. to be refreshed ana warmed and
pcttcd, while her hush. nd hurried off to make
provision for the less fortunate travellers left
behind.
friend in the library. looking at least ten years
younger for his late experiences Ills host looked
up with ready sympathy
Really, Pomeroy who would have thought
Of your having to spend the best part of your
Christmas shut up in tnat poky little hole! It's
an awful sell for you
Not at ALL Jack. Indeed-to tell the truth,
i
Jack stared at his cousin. Was downright
Hubert Pomeroy taking to sarcasm
Well! tastes differ, of course the master
OF the house said CURLY.
Colonel Pomeroy had been pacing the room
with his hands in his poclScts-or rather in Jacks
pockets, for. of course no luggage yet forth
coming, and his gray lounging suit was loan
from his host-Now he suddenly turned and
faced his cousin
that it's all mp with Emmie's matrimonial plans.
I'm an engaged man-at last"
=" You don't say so. Weill Better late, than
Perhaps she will be a little disappointed poor
little woman. But that can't be helped. Emmie -
as his wife appeared at this moment come and
going to follow our example at last"
" That | will, dear" holding out both hands
TO Hubert with the sunniest smile, of triumph,
" For | am suIe it can be no one but Allie.
roticcd something was up directly you two came
in together. Tel me- am ! right p
"Yes-you always are Colonel Pomcroy con,
you but / have been completing a courtship be-
gun fifteen years ago"
"And you couldn't have pleased me better:
No one could ever resist Alison, and directly |
found she would be with for Christmas |
made mp 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 toastlng herself be-
fore n coscy fire. looking very sweet, and shy ana
pretty in a crimson tca-cown OF soft silk, which
her own wardrobe had furnished
Mrs Drummond-Orr shut the door deliberately
and Joined her cousin at the frSidc.
Well Aic?" she began significantly.
"Wcll, Emmle dear" Then as Mrs Drum
mond-Orr still looked cXpectant. Your tea
gown is most comfortable. and
" And very becoming, see, but -impaticntly-
" did not come up here to talk about tea-gowns
Alie!"--holding ont her hands wistfully-" Have
YOU nothing to tell me? You may as well make
your confession, rs Hubert has done already
Alison turned suddenly and threw herself into
her cousins outstrctchcd arms.
Then-thcn-you know that what you once
wished has come to pass at last! And oh! En-
mic! he actually loved me all the tlme-oniy
Aunt Clara broke faith with him and never told
me-" -, =.
" Pcrfidious creaturci So you have her 10
thank for your long heartache!'
" And YOU dear Emmie'-with warm cares
for bringing together again. On shal
ever forget my Christmas in snowdrlftT