The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-12-24

he MADE her SIT DOWN
Christmas was coming Iou knew it by
a thousand different tokens Their" in Gro
ton; BY the wagons piled with Christmas
trees and Christmas wrcaths that passed
through the town, the hrwkerS at the
horse heads leading them and finding
customers everywhere. You knew it by
the tableaux visible through the open
church dOOrs-yOung men on ladders fes-
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.
II had occurred to IIerford 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 a
walk on Broad street, and by looking in at
the windows get an idea of what she fam
cied and surprise her with it on Christ
mas morning; and having donned Il 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 a diSconsp
late tone and with sigh. 1t was:
''Oh, yes, if you care to CO." But Mar
jorie 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. mo, indeed. Rob-
ms is wrong; money is not everything. 1t
will not be absurd to marry and stay at
home on twenty -five dollars a week, with a
prospect of atty in the future. Marjorie
would rather | should do that than leave
her to make fortune. My Marjorie is
not like Robins Eliza. Then there is
mOthcr''-
lie took a letter from his pocket and
read it over two or three times before Mar
JOrie came down III the pretty suit of hunt
er's 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
pOuting and was generally able to Danish
them.
| 1t was a 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 glnts 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 extravaganza, 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
seau, the wedding presents, the beautiful
new residence, the list of distinguished
| guests.
LAS for me, | shall have spoons and nap
kin rings. Miss Pardec will give an af
CHAN, Aunt Belvy some pillow shams, and
after that, what?' And yet l am better
looking than Helen, whom millionaire
has chosen"
At this point Marjorie paused and told
herself that Herfcrti WAS the best and
handsomest of men and that she ought tc
| be ashamed of herself. Still, when She
saw him she noticed that lie hati not quite
the air of the roun9 men on tie Heights
and as she %; on her homemade costume
she said to herself that an! one would
| know that it was not made by modiste
| Her kid gloves were rubbed 1t the finger
| tips.
As they entered Broad street with it
shops the display of wealth and fashion
irritated her. She almost refused to STOP
before the jewelers. window, whispering
"aS though we were country people starin:
at the shops and though she did stant
still a moment she declined to admire any
thing but Il set of diamonds i'll yelve
case which We're 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 Broat
street turned into the road where the peo
pie from the Heights drove every afternoon
Today there was a good deal of driving il
very fine turnouts, some of them YER
SNOWY, for instance that OF Mrs. Calel
Clipper, whose coachmau wore livery
AMI whose daughters, in brilliant cos
TUNES, served as excellent offsets to he
own black velvet and diamonds. 'Splen
did horses and handsome girls said Her
ford gayly, as they dashed past. Mariori
did not answer. She did not even glanc
a. the gay equipage. Her hands We're fixe
upon the little muff, which she turne
, round and round upon her slender hands
and she distinctly pouted.
Naturally HEREFORD liked smiles bette
than pouts, but Marjorie in any mood wa
pretty. He fancied that what he had sal
about the Misses Clipper had vexed hel
and fastened to add: But nothing like .
pretty as you are, Marjorie There's not
girl in Groton to compare with you in m
eyes" He passed his hand through he
arm as he spoke. She removed it instantly
That is a vulgar way of walking, Hel
ford" she said, The l.rlies' Magazin
mentions il rs something uuparionable'
Realty" said HEREFORD. Pray take M
ar. rnvn." She shoot, her head
E...,i il only adu.,-ia., after dark
s... IN f'.lr magazine. ;l.If " Jus
e. ,-...., W. iuIan Cyonl::.ri ...;rry nppeare
!: ~.-.., lie Wore ., red >;irt and W.
smoking I pipe. ~ | his arm was about
ry~' Nuuu- woman IN = white apron. I
whom hr pointed or, ;ne finest horses wit
the stem + his long clay pipe.
That i certainly a more colnfortab
way" the Young man said 1t is wbas
your magazine on that style Of prom
made" and he laughed. Might |, do 70
think" His little hetrothed tossed b,
. head
II hope, Ucrfor3," She said. THAT al
lady, though not rich one,' and she a
stunned Il prudert air and walked apa
from him.
Now Marjorie knew perfectly we'll tn,
Herford had not the slightest intention
making a vulgar demonstration of affe
ton on the principal thoroughfare of Il
town at its busiest hour, but this vision
the equipage of Mrs. Clipper and b,
daughters in all their finery, bending 81
perc1lious giances SO she fancied
upon poor pedestrians, finished the wor
! Of the little demon within her She wake
on stiftiy, her fingers interlacing With
her muff, keeping distance between be
self and her escort
There was little triangle Of park ha,