Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26

baby to bed After which smammy," who was
one OF the Sunny Slope negroes and had been
Alice's own nurse in childhood, set the room in
order. mended the fire and laid down on her
pallet to sleep.
The chamber presented . quiet, peaceful,
holy scene in contrast to that which was going
on in the dining room.
There host and guest gave themselves up to
enjoyment. At first while eating, they were
quiet enough, but when fhe table was cleared
and great bowl of punch. with tobacco and
cigars placed upon it, they began to be
hilarious-sang songs with noisy choruses.
told stories that set the table in q roar and
growing more and more convivial kept up
until the late dawn Of the December day, when
the lamps went out and the light crept in.
Then the party broke up with many mutual
congratulations Of their host and themselves
on the glorious time they had had.
Shortly after, leaving the tired men servants
to clear away the debris of the supper, ''the
master Of the house" crept softly upstairs, en-
tered his wife's room and went up to her bed
side.
Awake. my little pet! hope we did no,
ht-it-little talk-with ht-little potp' he
suffered.
She looked at him in sorrowful silence
Won't stay long! Only little tall" he re-
':Maj Headlight, you are not in condition
Ell? Eli? What? Well, I'll be-" but be
checked the oath that almost escaped him in
his amazement at the tone taken by his 'little
blue-eyed angel" and then in an awkward en-
barrassment suddenly demanded:
How is the little shaver? Let menlook al
him !" and be put out his hand to uncover tie
baby, but she prevented him.
mo, Maj. Head!eigh, not now! should be
grieycd and mortified that your sou should SOC
you in your present condition"
II don't think the yoang-young gentle
man would notice anything wrong" he ex-
claimed. bursting out in fl. of loud laughter.
When be had flashed she said very quietly:
"Maj. Headleigb. l am very weak and weary.
need rost and sleep. Will you pardon me ii /
ask you 70 leave the ROOM"
well, now I'll BIO" but again be checked
the oath upon his lips. He could not swear at
Well then. kiss me good night ard In-rll-
I'll go" he stammercd as he bent over her.
She turned away with an Involuntary express
sion of disgust. which, however, he noticed,
and which panied him.
,"Wo-won't you kiss me goo-good night
Alice?"
Il beg you to excuse me. cannot" she
said. please so now. Tomorrow / shall
have something to say to you when you will be
In a condition to hear it," she added in q firm
yet quiet tone.
And it was irresistible. He left tho room.
East But he had scarcely finished it before he
was summoned to appear before HIS wife.
And the stalwart sinner creptunwilliuGly up
stairs to meet his fragile Judge.
He felt in a rebellious and defiant mood. But
when he met his wife--wel if she had been
one OF the tall, black-eyed daughters of tho
would-be mothcr-in-law he had SO successfully
escaped, it would have been another matter,
but who could defy and rebel against such u
frail little being? Where would be the glory of
victory over Il baby mother with baby boy on
her knee? Before she had said word no began
to apologize.
You know, my dear, when gentlemen come
to the house l cannot refuse to receive them,
and Il they stay late cannot possibly send
them away
She made no comment.
so what Is to be done?" he inquired
II cannot tell just now. 1t is a new point of
Wow and requires mature deliberation." she
answered In a tone that made him uneasy.
He kissed her and the baby and went out to
meet his overseer, he said
Left alone Mistress Alice fell into deep
thought. She must break up these revels or
they would ruin her husband and break up her
home. To begin with she must rouse herself
and leave her invalid room. where she had
been luxuriating in idlencss, petting her baby
and petted by nanny too long. She must be
less absorbed in her boy and give more of her
company to her husband.
1t was full time also that she should be stir
ring about her house. Christmas was near at
hand and Christmas company was expected at
the hall. These were some relations of Maj.
Headlight. Mistress Alice had no near relations
of her own.
Mistress Alice put on her most becoming gown
and most bewltching cap (all married women.
however young. wore caps in those days. and
went down stairs and presided at the dinner
table. ', a
Maj. Headlight in his surprise and delight at
her unexpected appearance gave her an up
roarious welcome and declared that she was the
most beautiful woman on the face of tie earth
when he married her and that she was more
beautiful now than ever before. even il he did
say it.
Two days later the Christmas visitors arrived
all poor relations, alas. but more heartily
welcome on that account. for both the mai
and his wife had deep sense of their Christian
duties at the sacred season. There was Mr..
Noah Bradshaw, ii schoolmaster from the CITY.
come to spend the Christmas vacation, and
there was Miss Molly Green. who lived in
poor little farm house of her own. but relieved
Its poverty by long visits to her richer rela-
tions: and there were two Misses Eaton. Young
cousins from the Georgetown Academy of the
Visitation, whose parents lived in Mississippi.
OF these two girls no more need be said than
that both were pretty blondes and that Eliza
was prude and Malyina was a madcap
This little company arrived two DAYS before
Christmas in time for tea. They had tea in the
coy little wainscotted sitting room. where the
two gentlemen and four ladies sat down to-
gether. But tempting as that table was Mai
Headleigh and SchooImaster Noah Bradshaw