Telegram-herald., 1889-10-25

a short spell OF cOnnubial bliss, for his
wife died within two years ofthelr wed
ding day, leaving him baby boy. Inc
baby hOurished was sent 10 school, 10
college, finally entered the army. and
az the age OF a was ordered abroad for
two years and probably forever Ills
father was now a merry old fellow OF 10
or thereabouts. and although he had
passed the allotted age OF man he stroye
10 carry on the pleasures and e1cesses
in which he had delighted thirty years
before.
Ii was now near Christmas time, and
as Captain Jack Helstead had been
warned for foreign service on the 18th Of
January next, the squire was determined
TO have the iolliest Christmas magma
bic.
He issued 100 invitations TO friends,
old and young, a good percentage OF
which were accepted, ana huge prepara-
tions for the celebration of the grand
festival were begun.
Captain Jack Helstead, with half a
dozen brother officers, who were all, like
himself, ordered for foreign service. ar
rived on Christmas eve but as the bulk
OF the guests were not expected until
Christmas morning and the day follow
ingg
"Gentlemen," the squire cried, ''we
have the Joys OF feast and wine, and can
freely indulge in our loudest and mer-
riest jokes. The banqueting hall shall
ring with our hilarity, and tomorrow
the blessed day of our Lords nativity,
shall be dedicated to gentler pleasures,
when the rooms and passages rustic with
the skirts of woman and echo to the
music OF her feet
y, ,.r -sv,r. fotl 1ad
to by the guests, the squire prepared
them for the great banquet ne had, In a
measure, so far as the magnificence
went, retained until the last moment as
a surprise The splendid dining hall
wac ablaze with light, which fell upon
the glittering glass of the decanters and
other vessels In a shower OF pearly
CLEANS.
And so the banquet began, and the
wine flowed, and the ceiling tTembled
before the continuous battery OF shouts
and laughter.
Gentlemen" shouted the squire,
struggling to his feet, ~ am an old man,
but In my veins flows the fire OF youth.
Ny .seventy-sixth Christmas eve l have
enjoyed moro than any preceding, with
the brave form and face Of my son, Cap
tain Jack Helstead, before me. Here's
to his health, long life and happiness.
May he be as good and jolly q man as
his father. and live 10 as ripe and honor
able an age"
This questionable toast was drunk with
boisterous mirth, and Jacks bosom
friend, Lieutenant Wymark, ,roso to reply.
AT 76 our genial host loo.s twenty
years younger, and his wit is as spark
ling as the best wine his cellars contain.
both Of which we have this night par
taken OF freely. Here's to another
Christmas Gathering-ey, and twenty Of
them at which Squire Helstead may pre-
side T.
'My friends" Jack exclaimed sud
denly, "are you aware that our company
Ia composed Of the unlucky number of
thirteenl II the witches oracle is 10 he
believed, the same persons can never sit
down together at a similar gathering,
and the one who leaves the table first or
last will be in the spirit land ere we can
meet again"
And God forbid it may be you, my
boy" the squire said with emotion,
the thought just crossing him that his
son was shortly bound for active service.
al have no wish 10 disparage the choice
OF your superiors, but think they might
have chosen another, who was not the
only son OF his father
"And he was a widower, chimed In
Lieutenant Wymnrk, merrily. Away
with gloomy forebodings, and let us
make a compact, one and all OF us, 70
meet Captain Jack nt banquet in this
same room upon the very fret Christmas
eve he again spends In England"
"It shall be so, declared tho squire.
Gay. BE- Il twenty years hence, Ia tho
body or the spirit. Every Christmas the
banquet shall be spread in anticipation
OF my sons return. Gentlemen. do ye
all agree p
I'VE dow
Then all stand up. and with clasped
hands repeat after me what | shall say.
The entire company az once rose up,
and having formed a circle by ciasplng
one snother's hands, tho old squire con
unucd
We hereby solemnly swear 10 meoi
again, either IN the spirit or in the flesh,
on Tho first recurring Christmas eve upon
which Captain Jack Helstead returns
horne from fore IN service let u be one
or fifty ycars hence. in tho same hail
ard 20 feast according 10 the custom ol
the piaCe
Wlth the advent 81 Chrlsmas day the
foil coE4 plemenf oi guests arrived. With
plenty ~ pretty gifls. and then followed
f.r8fious and kisses. and dancing and
skatlng. and the 10Th ~ Jan. wher
Jack Belstead had fo Join his regiment
The gay party broke up, and soon afteI
tie young soldier and Lieut.. NJmaTs
we're 0n their way 60 India
A severe engagement 81 reported b.
tween the Briush and the rebel tribes
whom they had been commissioned E,
sat i8gate and the terrible news came -
ths old squire that hls gallant son had
been kl4ed That vas tie lsst thst Ia