Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-12-20

nothing about buying Christmas presents
having had small experience; but it had
struck him that it would DO a very pleasant
thing to buy "a present for Polly. 1t would
be-what he surely owed her-a token of his
esteem and of his appreciation of her services
1t was 5 o'clock when he got back. He had
walked down Broadway looking into win
dows, in helpless indecision, at velvet bon
nets, and satin candy boxes, and photographs
of actresses and royal personages, and long
gloves, and japanese bric-a-brac and sheet
music. He had been drawn into the crowd
sarging westward along Fourteenth street,
and been borne up Sixth avenue like n straw
in the rapids, yelled at by the proprietors of
booths on either hand, and gazing confusedly
over the sea of surrounding heads at five cent
Christmas cards, five cent cornucopias, five
cent jumping jacks, five cent green tin alliga-
five cent plush monkeys on strings He had
been carried round the corner and into
Twenty-third street, and been squeezed
mussed and fatigued through shadowy sue
cession Of stores in which hundreds of pretty
girls had shown him millions Of articles; and
in which cashboys had rushed and floorwalk-
ers had perspired, and sealskinned shoppers
had chaMared deafeningly; and In which he
had grown more and moro hopelessly lost
He had even drifted, dazedly, into toyshop
and looked at rubber dolls and wooden sold
iers and tn horses and flannel dogs on wheels.
And he had come home wearied, rumpled and
empty handed
he sat down with his chin in his hands,
thouGhtfully. He reflected that his impulse
had been foolish one and that the abortive-
ness of his effort was not to be regretted.
Undoubtedly he should be abe-possibly soon
to indulge the fatherly warmth of his de-
sire in the presentation Of handsome we'd
ding gift Mr.. Prouty informed himself that
he was exceedingly happy in the contempia-
ton Of this prospect; he smiled broadly and
rubbed his hands. He was obliged to keep
has mind faithfully upon the smile and the
attrition of his hands in order to continue
them, but he performed them with mechan-
ical regularity for some time.
At IL o'clock on Christmas day Mr.. Prouty,
his fine form clothed in holiday attire and
his handsome face flushed with eager antici-
patton, awaited his three expected guests in
his study.
Below, the parlors were thrown open, a
long vista OF comfortable elegance, with
flowers Ill fancy baskets and leaplng CRATE
fires; and the darkened dining room shone
with the bright array of silver and the
sprmkllng of tinted fairy lights and the scin-
tiiations of the laden sideboard; and the
odor OF the little pig patiently roasting in the
range mingled with the aroma of the plum
| pudding steamlng above 1t, and gently float
ed in.
The bell rang, and Mr.. Prouty, pacing bis
study floor with an irregularity of pleasure
BILE emotion, hurried downward.
Selkirk Prouty was removing his outer gar
ments before the hall mirror. He wore a
rundown collar of some width, covered in
the rear by his falling locks, and Joined in
| front by blue silk scarf; and he carried
package He greeted Mr.. Prouty, standing
in speeches. establishment, with gracious
smile
Il altered my arrangements" he explained,
with benigmty, land resolved to join you at
your Christmas dinner. All rather cozy,"
he admitted, rubbing his hands before the
CRATE, with an unbending of complacent be-
nevolence. Miss Rogers has not arrived |
have slight token to present to herr He
unwrapped volume of his poems and placed
it at a conspicuous point on the mantel.
Mr.. Prouty opened his lips forcibly, with a
gasp and strove to speak He assured him
| self, strenuously, that nothing more crafty
! ing could possibly have occurred. 1t would
be an excellent opportunity for the further
auce Of his hopes regarding Polly; possibly
the occasion would bring about a happy cul-
mination. He reproached himself for having
omitted Selkirk from his primal arrange
ment
Il wish to see Miss Rogers privately, by
the way" Selkirk continued, Il have mat
/ ter to discuss with her which has been for
/ some time upon my mud, and it occurred to
/ me TO embrace this opportunity"
Certainly-certainly, Mr.. Prouty mur-
! INJURED. he looked at his nephew hopefully.
| His well poised dignity, his self centered man
| illness, had never appeared to greater advan-
tage, surely If there We're a choice between
/ bis nephews as regarded their fitness for Polly,
! Mr.. Prouty believed that Selkirk was that
choice
"If some little management proves neces-
sary for my seeing Miss Rogers privately"
Sellirk added, spreading his blue scarf, Il
may depend ON your assstance"
"Assuredly, assuredly,' Mr.. Prouty re-
sponded with hurried warmth.
"Ah, thauks!n Selkirk sank into a chair in
a languor Of self recollection.
! The bell poaled; Mr. Prouty FASTENED into
the hall with beating heart-and stopped in