The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-20

I
| Christmas was coming. You knew it by
| a Thousand different totfens 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
| 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.
Ithad occurred to Herford Wayne, who
| was one of the clerks in Crossman's large
| factory and who for some reason had a
| 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 fan
| cied and surprise her with it ON Christ
mas morning; and having donned new
| crayat and bestowed much attention on
| his back hair, he proceeded to carry out his
intention.
Marjorie was reading The Ladies' Maga-
zine when be 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 60" 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. "No, 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 a
prospect of fifty in the future. Marjorie
would rather l should do that than leave
her to make fortune. My Marjorie il
not like Robins Eliza. Then there is
mother'-
He took letter from his pocket and
read it over two or three times before Mar
iorie came down in 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 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 a 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 i'll 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.
"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 | am better
looking than Helen, whom 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
saw him she noticed that he had not quite
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 its
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 staring
at 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 livery.
and whose daughters, in brilliant cos
TUNES, served as excellent offsets to her
own black velvet and diamonds "Splen-
did horses aud 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 rs he spoke. She removed it instantly.
''rhat is a vulgar way of walking, Her
ford, - she said. '''Fhe 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 magazine says that" Just
then a workman from the factory appeared
in sight He wore red shirt and was
smoking pips, and his arm was about a
rosy young woman in white apron, TO
whom he pointed out the finest horses with
the stem of his long clay pipe.
THAT is certainly more comfortable
way" the young man said. at is what
should like best. What is the opinion Of
vnnr snanazine ON fhst style of prQrna.