The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-12-20

+ x -
for her carriage to come for her.
The Orphanage stood upon the out
skirts of the town, and it was long
walk from there to her beautiful home;
and yet she had fingered after the
Christmas tree and the distribution of
the gifts while the other patroncsses
had hurried away to their home
preparations for their own children,
until now the wintry daylight was be-
ginning to grow dim.
Mrs. Catherwood shivered and
wrapped her frrs more closely around
her, as she thought OF the warmth and
light She had left behind her, with the
music of happy childish voices
Mrs. Cathcrwood was young and
beautiful and a widow. She had been
an old mans darling, and in return for
her faithful affection and cOmpan-
ionship, he dying husband had en-
richcd her with all his wealth.
In the second year Of her widowhood
she had been persuaded to recnter So
cicty, and now for two seasons she had
reigned queen. She was considered
q woman to be envied and yet to-
day the hollowness of her life had
come home to her with overwhelming
force, and she felt herself more desc
late than even those little waits whose
happiness in their Christmas festival
she had just been witnessing.
There was great void in her life,
and she felt the need of some emo
bling purpose, and of a strong sus-
tanning arm TO lead her on to better
things than the frivolities which
seemed to hem her in on every side.
If anyone had been at hand to tell
her that her life was not at all friv-
OlOus, as her numerous charities could
testify, her perfect lips would have
curied in scorn and She you'd have
made the honest answer: My chart
ties are fashionable fads; perhaps they
may be the means of helping others,
but they do not help me"
Mrs. Cathcrwood had left the high
road now for the quiet footpath across
the level stretch of open meadow
which lay between the orphanage and
the town. 1t was favOrite walk of
hers, beautiful in spring or early au-
tumn, and place where her heart
seemed to thrcb in unison with ma
cure; but it was cold and dreary
enough to-day The western Sky
CLEANED coldly upon her, and the
shadows had already begun to gather
over the town The biting wind came
.swccping across The meadow in vio-
lent gusts, and now and again she was
Obliged to stop and wait until its mo-
lnentary fury had been spent.
But in spite of the cold and the
drearincss, Mrs. Catherwood seemed
in no hurry to reach her home. In
truth there was a question upon her
mind which she must decide clearly
for herself before she could give her
answer to another, and for that rca-
son she had chosen to take this soil
tary walk.
In all probability that other" was
even now awaiting her in her own
drawing room with all lovers i'm
patience.
Harold Whitney had been as Mrs
Catherwood's shadow for many
months, and his attention had pleased
ana IalLtIeN llct uuLll she lOuNU JndJ
she could no longer keep him at arms
3cngth.
The decisive question had beer upon
'hcr lips the night before when the en-
trance Of another visitor had given
her this short and welcome respite
Tut as he tcnderly pressed her hard
at parting, he had murmurcd: TO
morrow at dusk will come for my an
sWc@, or my priceless Christmas gift"