Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-08-22

'Its hard on the girls, said sno. |
"For their salzes, could wish that the
Corams had retained somewhat of their |
old prosperity. But for an old woman
like me, it doesn't matter"
Meanwhile, at Ormistan Hall, Miss
Dorinda was experimenting the decora-
tions of the great saloon parlor, which |
was to be made dancing-room of, on
the occasion of the impending ball.
s'Spruce boughs and hemlocks are all
very well in their way" said she, "but
how do wish I'd thought, when was
in New York this morning, to get some
of that lovely, shadowy mistletoe the
vendors were selling on Fourteenth
streetl''
"It comes horribly dear!" said Mrs.
Ormistan, with the offending lorgnette
held up to her eyes.
"But the effect is so lovelyl"
"Mistletoel" repeated Colonel Hay.
who was halfway up stepladder,
draping a United States flag over the
doorway. "Why, l saw whole tree full
as we drove from the station. ! could
easily get it for you"
''Could youa" Miss Ormistan's pale
eyes glistened. "But we couldn't think
of troubling youl"
s'It wouldn't be the least trouble in
the world" said the gallant cavalier.
''I'm regular cat for climbing"
eyes, but" Mrs. Ormistan began,
when she was checked by glance from
her daughter, who afterward explained
her policy.
''Let him get it, mamma" said fair
Dorinda, sit will keep him from flirting
with the Fairlie girls, and give him
something to do. And he isn't supposed
to comprehend how disobliging the Co.
rams are. For all he knows, the tree is
in our woods; and the mlstletoe will
produce such an effect against the pink
gray wallis"
So Colonel Hay went foraging, with
blithe step and careless whistle, little
knowing what he did.
"I wonder" he unused to himself, as
he strobe along, whereabouts those
pretty Miss Coiams live2 1t was some
where in this direction that Miss Dorinda
took me that summer day. should like
to call on them while I'm down at the
Hall. That tallest Miss Coram had a
face like the Sistine Madonna. I've al
ways secretly wished to see it again.
1 do hope they'll be at Dorinda's party.
Halloa! here's my old mistletoe tree, and
the ladder lying under it, too. Well,
should do discredit. to my school-boy
training if couldn't climb any tree go,
ing under such conditions as this'".
Like squirrel he sprang up the lad
der and made his way into the upper
boughs of the tree, clipping bunch after
bunch of the lovely green parasite from
the hoary gray trunk and f1inging then
down on the frozen surface of the snow
below.
1t was most fascinating business, fol
even as he climbed, some still more
tempting cluster CLEANED higher up.
The sun, red and round as an orange
poised itself for second on the serratet
edge of the woods, and then dipped
down, leaving warm glow where, bu
now, the level light had streamed-and
almost in an instant, as it were, the who'll
landscape seemed stepped in sober pur
pie.
ats growing dark" said Colone
Hay, to himself. ~ believe Id bette
come down."
At the same moment clear, fresl
young voice--a soprano of til
most approved type-callcd scornfull
out:
"I've caught you, have II A thief
, wonder Miss Ormistan could countenane
such contemplate action as this VIII.
$ do you know could put you in Jail ff
. thisl Stealing my mistletoe in broa
: Daylight But won t have you arrestet
: I'll simply teach you q lesson. You m,
r stay up in that tree and consider it, /
your leisure, until get ready to let "
s como down."
e And, balancing the ladder lightly 4
her strong, young shoulder, Geore
Coram walked off with the ease and col
y posure of nineteenth century Amaze
s leaving the gallant colonel transfixed wi
v dismay.
"It's the Madonnal' he said to hii
d self. ''I'd know that face anywhere
and the sweet, full voice What do
l she mean2 I can't be trespassing,
d Miss Ormistan would have warned me.
@ it jokea or does she really mean
) leave me up here to freeze to deatha j
too far to jump, and don't dare to RI
e a slide down the trunk. Well, ther
Y no help for it, must just wait hi
J, until assistance arrives on the scene.
d pretty prcdicament! Whew! how Il
n west wind shrieks across the frozen lal
d Going to teach me lesson is shea WIS
I'm learning it'll"
'. sob, George, how could youP' di
,r the more pacific Kitty, when she hei
her sisters tale of triumph. "Whyt
" poor man will freeze"
It "He needed heroic treatment" k j
Georgia, her brown eyes shining mt
~ fully. "The idea of his daring to
IN our beloved mistletoe!" Nt
20 "But dare say he only obeyed
st Ormistan's ordersw pleaded Kitty.
I'd tsThen he must take the conseQ|I !