The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-01-03
TIE PlIANTOMS FEAST.

1t was claimed that Helstead Hal
was an open house to the neighbor
ing gentry; it had been for many
generations, and was likely to re
main so, for young Jack Helstead
had all his fathers love OF good
cheer and mad merry-makings
Squire Hclstead had plenty OF money
and spent it freely. At 5Ohc married
the daughter of one OF his neighbors
but was destined to have but short
spell of connubial bliss, for his vile
died within two years of their wed
ding day, leaving him q baby boy
The baby tlourisllcd; was sent to
school, to college, finally entered til,
army, and Mt the age of "a was or
dered abroad for two years ant
probably forever. His father wa,
now IL merry old fellow OF 20 OF
thereabouts; and although he hat
passed tile allotted age of man Ii,
strove to carry on the pleasures ant
excuses in which lie had delighted
thirty years before.
ltwasnow near Christmas time ,nnt
Bs Captain jack Helstead had beer
warned for foreign service on thu
10th of January next, the SOUR,
was determined to have the jollicst
Christmas imaginable.
He issued 100 invitations to friends
old and young, good percentage o
which were accepted. and huge prep
arations for the celebration of thu
grand festival were begun.
Captain Jack Helstead, with half &
dozen brother officers, who were all
like himself, ordered for foreign ser
vice, arrived on Christmas eve: but
the bulk of the guests were not eX
pected until Christmas morning ant
the day following.
Gentleman" the squire cried, "wt
have joys ofteast and wine, and car
freely indulge in our loudest and mer
riest jokes. The banqueting hal
shall ring with our hilarity, and to
morrow, the blessed day of oul
Lords nativity, shall he dedicatedt c
eentler pleasurers, when tho rooms
and passages rustic with the skirt.
ofwoman and echo to the music o
her feet"
This havingbcen cordially respond.
ed to by the guests, the squire pre-
pared them for the great banquet he
had, in II measure, SO far as the mag
niticencc went, retained until the last
moment as surprise. The splendid
dining-hall was ablaze with light
which fell upon the glittering glass o.
the decanters and other vessels in q
shower of pearly CLEANS.
And SO the banquet began, and the
wine flowed, and the ceiling trembleG
before the continuous battery o.
shouts and laughter.
Gentlemen shouted the squire,
struggling to his feet" clam an OLE
man, but in my veins flows the fire o
youth. My seventy-sixth Christmas
eve l have enjoyed more thar
any preceding. with the brave form
and face Of my son, Captain
Jack Helstead, before me. Here's
to his health, long lifeand happiness
May he be as good and Jolly a mar
us his father, and live to rs ripe and
honorable an age.
This questionable toast was drunk
with boisterous mirth, and jacks
bosom friend, Lieutenant Wymark
rose to reply.
cat 76 our genial hostlooks twenty
years younger, and his wit is u.
sparkling as the hest wine his cellars
contain, both Of which we have this
night partaken of freely. Here's tt
another Christmas gathering-ay
and twenty of them at which Squire
Helstead may presided"
"My friends" jack exclaimed sud
denly, "are you aware that our com
pany is composed of the up
lucky number OF thirteen? l
the witches oracle is to bt
believed, the same persons can never
sit down together ut u similar gath
ering, and the one who leaves tho
table first or last will be in the spirit
land ere we can meet again."
"And God forbid itmay he you, my
boy the squire said with emotion
the thought just crossing him that
his son was shortly bound for active
service. 81 haveno wish to disparag,
the choice of your superiors, but
think they might have chosen anoth
err, who was not the only son of his
father"
"And he was u widowcr, climcd ir
Lieutenant Wymark. merrily. "Awa,
with gloomy forebodings, and let us
make compact, one and all OF us
to meet Captain Jack Mt II banquet
in this same room upon the first
Christmas eve he again spends ir
England"
alt shall beso," declared the squire
GAY, be it twenty years hence, in the
body or the spirit. Every Christmas
the banquet shall he spread in antici
patton OF my sons return. Gentle
men, do we all agrec?"
Eve do!'
"Then all stand up, and Will
clasped hands repeat after me what
shall say"
The entire company at once rose
up, and having formed a circle by
clasping one nnothcr's hands, tho
old squire continued:
ave hereby solemnly swear to meet
again, either in the spirit or in the
flesh, on the first recurring Christ
mas eve upon which Captain Jack
Helstead returns home from foreign
service, let it be one or fifty years
hence. in the same hall, and to feast
according to the custom ofthe place. >
With the advent of Christmas day
the full complement of guests arrived
with plenty of pretty girls, and then
followed firtations. and dancingand
skating, and the 18th of Jan. when
Jack Helstead had to join his regi.
ment. The gay party broke up, and
soon after the young soldier and
Lieut.. Wymark were on their way to
India.
A severe engagement was reported
between the British and the rebel
tribes, whom they had been commits.
stoned to subiugate. and the terrible
news came to tho old squire that his
gallant son had been killed. That
was the Inst that his friends had ever
seen or heard of him, and they never
doubted tor q moment that he was
killed. But the squire INDUCED in q