Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-25
lCopyright, 1891, BY American Press Assooia
t.on.1
CHAPTER L

OuTlSJulth WAS COInluR. lou knew IL Dy
thousand different tokens there in Gro
ton; by the wagons piled with Christmas
trees and Christmas wreaths that passed
through the town, the hawkers at the
horses heads leading them and finding
customers everywhere. You knew it by
the tableaux visible through the open
shurch doors-young men on ladders fcs-
looming the ropes of evergreens fashioned
by the young girls, who sat in pretty
groups below, the preacher in their midst,
and his wife, in large white apron, super
Intending the work of decoration.
1t had occurred to Herford Wayne, who
was one of the clerks in Crossman's large
factory and who for some reason had
holiday that afternoon, to take his be-
trothed wife, Marjorie Chadwick, for
walk on Broad street, and by looking in at
the windows get an idea of what she fan
cied and surprise her with it on Christ
mas morning; and having donned u new
cravat and bestowed much attention on
his back hair, he proceeded to carry out his
intention
Marjorie was reading The Ladies' Maya
zine when he arrived, and her reply to his
invitation was given in rather disconso-
late tone and with sigh. 1t was:
"Oh, yes, if you care to CO." But Mar
Iorie was so pretty that she could even be
disconsolate without setting people against
her, and Herford sat by the little parlor
window while she was gone to dress and
thought of her very lovingly. mo. in
deed" he said to himself referring to some
thing he was thinking Ola conversation
with his friend Robins. NO. indeed Rob-
ins is wrong; money is not everything. 1t
will not be absurd to marry and stay at
home on twenty-five dollars week, with
prospect of fifty in the future. Marjorie
would rather l should do that than leave
her to make a fortune. My Marjorie is
not like Robins Eliza. Then there is
mother"--
He took letter from his pocket and
read it over two or three times before Mar
jorie came down in the pretty suit of hunt
ers green, which she had made herself
and which was very becoming. The in
jured look was still upon her face, how
ever, and Herford began to wonder at it.
Still he was used to these little spells of
poutng and was generally able to Danish
them.
1t was lovely winter day-crisp, clear,
sparkling Christmas weather. Marjorie's
bright hair glistened in the sun, the sweet,
apple blossom pink deepened in her cheeks
and there were little emerald glints in her
blue eyes, but her mouth remained per-
sistently pulled down at the corners. To
tell the truth, though usually a very
pleasant girl, Marjorie was in an evil mood
today. She had not naturally bad tenn
per, but she was prone to discomfort Her
tastes were rather extravagant, and since
her father was comparatively poor she
had never had quite what she wanted of
those things that money can buy.
AS usual with sufferers from discon-
tent, Marjorie did not suspect that the
cause of her ill feeling lay within her own
bosom. 1t had come upon her while read
ing in the society notices an account of the
wedding of an old schoolmate-of the
wealth of the bridegroom the brides trous-
sean, the wedding presents, the beautiful
new residence, the list of distinguished
guests
"As for me, shall have spoons and nap
kin rings. Miss Pardee will give an af-
CHAN, Aunt Belvy some pillow shams, and
after that. what? And yet l am better
looking than Helen, whom a millionaire
has chosen"
At this point Marjorie paused and told
herself that Herford was the best and
handsomest of men and that she ought to
be ashamed of herself. Still, when she
b&iW uliu Suo uOOlCCu tutbO uO Ad0 HOU Qulso
the air of the young men on the Heights,
and as she put on her homemade costume
she said to herself that any one would
know that it was not made by modiste.
Her kid gloves were rubbed at the finger
tips.
AS they entered Broad street with it's
shops the display Of wealth and fashion
lrritated her. She almost refused to stop
hafora tho iaxyalar,c xuiudnU xphieparipO
"as though we were country people staring
ut the shops" and though she did stand
still moment she declined to admire any
thing but set of diamonds in velvet
case, which were quite as far beyond Her
ford's power to give her as any of the stars.
The young man began to feel his pa
thence somewhat tried, and leaving Broad
street turned into the road where the peo-
pie from the Heights drove every afternoon.
Today there was a good deal Of driving in
very fine turnouts, some of them very
snowy, for instance that of Mrs. Caleb
Clipper, whose coachman wore a livery.
and whose daughters, in brilliant cos
tumes, served as excellent offsets to her
own black velvet and diamonds "Splen-
did horses and handsome girls" said Her
ford gayly, as they dashed past Marjorie
did not answer. She did not even glance
at the gay equipage. Her hands were fixed
upon the little muff, which she turned
round and round upon her slender hands,
and she distinctly pouted.
Naturally, Herford liked smiles better
than pouts, but Marjorie in any mood was
pretty. He fancied that what he had said
about the Misses Clipper had vexed her,
and FASTENED to add "But nothing like so
pretty as you are, Marjorie. There's not a
girl in Groton to compare with you in my
eyes" He passed his hand through her
arm as he spoke. Sheremoved it instantly.
''That Is vulgar way of walking, Her.
ford" she said. "The Ladies' Magazine
mentions it as something unpardonable.' ;"
Really" said Herford. pray take my
arm then" She shook her head.
"That Is only admissible after dark, /"
said She 'our nagaxine says that" Just