Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-25
A CHRISTMAS EVE DREAM.

plantation. dancing merrily to the music
Of the fiddle.
In the parlors of the "big house" all
is life and light and JOY. While the
elders have formed whist parties or sit
quietly conversing, the young people
dance
Unto slow waltz melody. whose fall
And rise of cadence, rythmical and sweet,
Holds in its spell their graceful, moving feet.
The lamps glow beneath the soften
ing tint of their crimson shddes. The
freight dances and CLEANS over the
warmhued carpets, lighting up the deli.
cate tint of the walls, rejecting itself
in silver and glass, and making more
ruddy the berries of holly and yapon
above the windows and arching doors.
No one hears the swift beat of horses
feet upon the hard bed of the broad
avenue. No one sees the pair of jaded
animals with their weary riders, as they
canter on the soft grass of the lawn up
to the gardens gate, and, hitchtng
their brides to the fence, wah slowly
up the path 70 the great front door,
closed it is true, but with its glowing
welcome showing out boldly in the
moonlight, and with rudy CLEANS
shining through the wide transom above
it. They take each others hands, and
the girl smiles wanly as the man knocks
boldly, commandingly, at the door.
The gray-haired butler answers the
summons.
"Who shall say, sah?" he asks, ush.
ering them into small ante-room.
The man hesitates, but the girl re-
plies
"Say belated travellers who would
like TO see Mr.. Cheverill."
The host, half unwillingly, lays down
his hand at whist, and, excusing him
self, answers the summons.
AS he enters the room he recognizes
the girl as the daughter of an old friend
"a fellow planter who lives thirty
miles away.
"Why, my dear Miss Duncan, what
is the meaning of this-almost mid
night, and you here?'
The girl lays her hand in his proffcred
one, and says simply:
81 am Mrs. Robinson now, and this
gentleman is my husband"
In "this gentleman Mr. Cheverill
recognizes the overseer of his friend,
and hardens Immediately. Dropping
the girls hand, he says, shortly, Inn
possible!' and awaits their explanation.
His tone stings the young man.
at is a fact, Mr.. Cheverill," he be-
gins impetuously. 81 courted Miss Dun.
can openly and honorably, but her
father laughed me to scorn and bid me
pay my court to one in my own sphere.
We kept apart then, / attending to my
duties, and hoping time would soften
him. At last l went to him again and
asked his consent to the renewal OF my
attentions. He hooted at the very idea
of such a thing, and bid me remember
that planters daughters did not marry
their fathers overseers. Stung TO fury,
told him should win Miss Duncan in
spite of him, and he, believing it but
an idle boast, allowed Inc to stay on,
and So"
"You abused his confidence. VIII
you tell me, sir, why you come with all
this TO me?'
pleaded the girl. II loved him so, and
could not bear 20 give him up lie
wanted TO go away, saying he knew il
was not right TO drag me below my sta.
ton, but my sorrow, my tears, over.
came his resolutions, and we"
Ran away and got married, like
two foolsv' put in the planter, angrily.
What do you suppose can do about
It? i don't approve Of it at all, can
tell you. You have lost the station you
have held as Miss Duncan-you can
only rank as Mrs. Robinson, now and
henceforth."
81 know IT," she said. quietly, and |
looked up smiling in her husbands face !