The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-02-19

OF fact he was then not more than fort1
He had been, as / atterward learned,
great traveller in his youth, but some 81
or seven years before this date had maj
ried lady who was half Spaniard--
Papist, my father called her. can re
member her we'll. She was small an
very pretty, with rounded figure, larg
black eyes and glittering teeth. Sh
spoke English with curious accent.
suppose that must have been funn
child to look at, and | know that m
hair stood up on my head then as
does now, for still have sketch Of my
self that my mother made OF me, Il
which thispeculiarity isstrongly marked
On this occasion Of the Christmas tree
remember that Mrs. Carson turned to
tall, foreign-looking gentleman VIII,
stood beside her, and, tapping him af
fectionately on the shoulder with he
gold eyeglasses, said:
"Look, cousin-look at that droll lit
tie boy with the big brown eyes; hi
hair is like a-what you call him?-
scrubbing bush. Oh, what droll little
boy!"
The tall gentleman pulled at his mus
tache, and, taking Mrs. Carson's hand II
his, began to smooth my hair down with
1t till heard her whisper:
"Leave my hand go, cousin. Thomas
is looking like-like the thunder.
storm"
Thomas was the name Of Mr.. Carson,
her husband.
After that I hid myself as well as l
could behind chair, for was shy, and
watched little Stella Carson, who was
the squire's only child, giving the chill
dren presents of the tree. She was
dressed as Father Christmas, with some
soft white stuff round her lovely little
face, and had large dark eyes, which
thought more beautiful than any thing
l had ever seen. At last II came my
turn to have present-oddly enough,
considered in the light Of future events,
1t was large monkey. She reached 1t
down from one Of the lower boughs Of
the tree and handed 1t to me, saying:
"Dat is my Christmas present to you,
little Allan Quatermain."
As she did so her sleeve, which was
covered with cotton wool, spangled over
with something that shone, touched one
Of the tapers-how do not know-and
caught fire, and the fame ran up her
arm towards her throat. She stood
quite still. l suppose that she was
paralyzed with fear; and the ladies who
were near screamed very loud, but did
nothing. Then some impulse seized
me-perhaps instinct would be better
word to use, considering my age-I
threw myself upon the child, and, beat
ing at the fire with my hands, mercifully
succeeded in extinguishing 1t before II
really got hold. My wrists were so badly
burned that they had to be wrapped up
in wool for long time afterwards, but
with the exception of u single burn upon
her throat, little Stella Carson was not
much hurt
This Is all that remember about tho
Christmas tree at the Hall. What hap
pened afterwards is lost to me, but to
this day in my sleep often see little
5tella's sweet face and the start OF ter
or in her dark eyes as the fire ran up
Ter arm. This, however, is not wonder.
ul, for / had, humanity speaking, saved |
he life OF her who was destined TO be |
ny wife.
The next event which can recall
'learly is that my mother and three
,rothers all fell i'll Of fever, owing, a.
afterwards learned, to the poisoning Of
'ur we'll by some evil-minded person,
Who threw dead sheep into It,
II must have been while they we're i'll
hat Squire Carson came one day 10 the
icarage. Tho weather was still cold,
or there was q fire in the study, and ]
at before the fire writing letters on a
'iece Of paper with q pencil, while my
ather walked up and down the room
alking TO himself. Afterwards knew
hat he was praying for the lives OF his
Gife and children. Presently servant
anne TO the door and said that some one
'anted TO see him.
'Itis the Squire, sir" said the maid,
and he says he particularly wishes to
go you"
Every WE'LL" answered my father,
EARLY, and presently Squire Carson
anne in. His face was white and hag-
ard, and his eyes shone 30 fiercely that
was afraid OF him.
"Forgiye me for intruding on you at
ich ? time, Quatermain," he said in
hoarse voice, ''but tomorrow l leave
lis place forever, and wish TO speak to
'u before / go-indeed, / must speak to
,u."
"Shall send Allan awayp" said my
ther, pointing TO me.
''No, let him bide. He will not under
and" Nor, indeed, did i at the time,
1t remembered every word, and in
ter years their meaning grew on me.
"F!rst tell me-" he went on, ''how are
ey2" and he pointed upwards with his
umb.
my wife and two of the boys are be-
md hope" my father answered, with
oan. 81 do not know how II will 90
th the third. The Lords will be
mel"
''The Lords will be done," the Squire
hoed, solemnly. Sand now, Quater-
lin, Isten-my wife's gone"
Gomez my father answered. "Who
thp"
with that foreign cousin Of hers. It
'ms from letter she left that she al
ys cared for him, not for me. She !
lrried me because she thought me o
h English MILFORD Now she has run :
rough my property, or most OF 1t, and