Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-05
ink you cannot any longer be angry

with our host, and having set him aside
you will not consider me-"
And consent to be background to
your work." she asked. There was
bright sparkle in her eye, which made
me feel justified In gently closing the
door.
When Major Pendallas returned from
the big barn, where according to his
custom he had been making Christmas
presents to all his people, he Sound
Clara and me In the parlor. He APP
preached us In somewhat hesitating
way, and as l looked around at him
could see an expression on his counte-
nance which looked like fear that he
had come back before l had gotten
through with the business of the morn
ing, or perhaps before 1 had begun 1t.
But as we both rose to meet him /, still
holding Clara's haad, all doubt van
lshed from his handsome, honest,
weather Drowned face.
Il know 1t, he cried, as no looked
from one to the other Of us, Il know 1t.
You needn't tell me anything" and he
stretched out hand to each of us.
This Is glorious Christmas" he said,
"a glorious Christmas. 1t was plain
he wanted to say good deal, but could
not find words, but Clara allowed no
embarrassing silence
IL have been very angry with you,
Major, she said, with the kindest Of
smiles upon her still slightly flushed
face. He looked at her lnquirlngly
ut was because you were making
all sorts Of arrangements for me with
out my knowing a word about them"
"Oh, that was because he didn't
understand about the wall paper" l
said. IF he had known about that"
About WHAT" exclaimed Major Pen
dallas.
We two laughed, and then we took
him into the reading room. When all
was explained to him, he exclaimed:
Upon my word" and then with his
hands thrust deep into the pockets Of
his short coat he turned about and de-
llberately gazed upon the four walls Of
the room.
"Truly, he cried, Il can't take 1t in,
To think that the two years have been
sitting in this room, surrounded by
these warm, bright, delicate colors,
these flowers of spring; these soft leaves,
and these graceful spirals; this general
impression Of blossomy air. and then
to think that you did it, can't conlpre-
bend it. Why, I'll tell you, madame,
when went with my niece to a great
city store where they had thousands Of
patterns Of wall paper, picked out this
one in ten minutes; although there were
u half-dozen others she fancied, would
have none but this for my reading-roOm.
1T Is the flowers and the air Of spring
/ r b. hn,, nI.rr
with me- l thought [ liked you, mad
anne, on account Of what l had heard Of
you, and listening to you, but that
WASH all-no, that wasn't all.
There was a moisture in Clara's eye
as she held out her hand to him.
at Is most marvellous and most
charming" she said, land can see only
one objection to the state of affairs-the
picture should have. been Claras and
the background mine"
Not bit of it," exclaimed the Ma
jor, "the picture can be taken down, it
can be stolen--lots Of things can happen
to it, and it occupies only little space
after ALL but that beautiful wall Is
there, and 1t is here, and all around US,
and here it will stay. 1t will last out my
lifetime, and If any accident happens to
it, I've got lot more Of it upstairs.
A servant now entered with a letter
which had been brought over from the
| Delivers by the man on snow-shoes 1t
was written to Clara, and she read 1t TOT
us. Our friends were evidently over
| loved that we had not remained in the
city, as they had supposed, and that Y$
would soon be with them. They insisted
that Major Pendallas should come over
with us and spend the night. They had
large party of friends at the house and
were having Jolly time.
"Oh I'll go, said the Major; Il il
tended to go anyway, but, as to jolly
times, the times they are having there
are no more to compare with what we
are having here than an ashman's
donkey is fit to run a three-mile heat
with my colt Sapling. But We'll help
to make them jolly. I'll take over the
big silver punch bowl that l won four
years ago, and have not used yet, for 1
have never had people enough here to
make it worth while. Well christen
the bowl on this happy day, and you,
madam, shall have the first glass out
of it. And now," continued the host,
looking from the one to the other. "be-
| lOE6 We w ttlJ LAOlO Va soy oAlJ hOAOI
or think Of anything else, want to tell
you this Are you two going to accept
my proposition, and coming to live Y tth
mep l don't say anything al out w ter
time, because that may be askirA Zoo
much, but in the time Of tn, year you
would want to live N the country any
way"
"My dear Major, said Clara, we
have been talking about your PROPOSE
ton, and don't see how we can help
it,"
"Good, cried the Major, good, bet
ter, best. remarked before that this
is q glorious Christmas, and Irepeat the
statement Look you, the sun is beam
ing out of doors almost as brightly as
we are beaming in here. There is
broad path out to the stables, and I
want to show you a sorrel mare with
the most beautiful tail and name you
ever saw. am going to have her put
into training to carry lady, and she is
to be at your service, madam, whenever
you want her; and as for YOU sir, there
are my stables And if beautiful
country and fine horses help to make
people happy think you will have no
fault to find"
Early in the afternoon the Major drove
us over to the Delivers behind pair Of
magnificent Cleveland bays. The grand
action and spirit Of the powerful ami
mails, fired by the delight Of being out
. oP doore on this Snarklino winter dav