Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-05
MAJOR PENDALLAS.
A Christmas Love Story.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.
CHAPTER III.


I was downstairs before breakfast
the next morning, and l met the Major
just coming in from visit to his sta
bles.
Merry Chrlstmas" he cried, "and
ism this glorious day-sun bright and
sky clear2 But the snow Is about u
foot deep on the level and nobody
knows how deep In the drifts. have a
Canadian In my employment who walks
on snow shoes, and | have sent him
across the country to the Delivers to
tell them where you are and let
them know you will be there In the
course of the afternoon. I'll send out
some men with double team OF oxen
and q snow pillow to break the road, and
after luncheon I'll drive over myself.
In the meantime how are you going to
spend the morning, slr2"
1 laughed as gazed into his earnest
countenance.
II am going to try to break road
into the region Of matrlmony," / re-
piled.
The Maio face shone like the morn
ing sun.
you're sound as a dollarl" he OK
claimed. After breakfast you two shall
have the house TO yourselves, I'll carry
off Mrs. Bardsley and the rest Of them
to the Christmas present business in the
big barn. suppose you can get through
in an hour?"
"Oh, yes" 1 answered; probably in
less time,
The Major was now called off, and
strolled into the reading room to look
again at my picture. The room was
full Of the morning light, and as
turned to the wall on which my land
scape hung, I stood with eyes and mouth
wide open-the paper on the wall was
one designed by Clara Weldon. re-
membered when she was working on it in
her studio. There was tendril running
through 1t which had suggested. /
clapped my hands, and felt like bursting
out with shout Of pure enjoyment, but
1 restrained myself. The breakfast bell
rang, and, as l went out, 1 closed the
door behind me.
Miss Weldon came down refreshed
and lovely, and as she exchanged the
Christmas salutations almost felt
guilty, in thinking Of the conspiracy
which we two had Matched up against
her, but l did not In the least swerve
from my purpose.
1t was about an hour afterward, when
Miss Weldon and we're sitting before a
blazing fire in the parlor, that | de-
clared my love for her, that l asked her
to be my wife, and in the ardor, which
increased as 1 spoke, told her every
thing. l laid before her the whole glow
ing picture which Major Pendallas had
painted for me
When began to speak she looked at
me In a quizzical way, as il she were
amused at tho sudden out-cropping of
my passion, but afterward she began to
listen with interest, as If it were due to
me to give serious consideration to q
matter which 1 urged SO warmly, odd as
it might be that l happened to be urg-
ing it Just then. But when l told her
what the Major had been talking about
her face flushed with indignation.
at is a shame, she exclaimed, that
that that man should discuss me in such
way. What right has he to NEEDLE
with my affairs or give advice concern
me? If l can do it, will leave this
house this instant"
you cannot do it," I said, land beg
you will restrain your anger until l ex-
plain the case. Maj. Pendallas takes a
great interest in me on account of my
! work. You remember what he said at
breakfast about my pictures. He has
taken"
Al don't care anything about his in
terest in you" she interrupted. Il am
thinking about myself. He has no right
to take any sort of interest in me-to
discuss me. 1t Is the most unwarrant-
able thing, the most"
"Please do not say ANYTHING more