The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-20
A Christmas Rose.

RS. POLLOCK'S student board
N/u ers gathered for the evening
Nv meal In gay humor. The day
had been cold the streets and
an crowded with Christmas shoppers. The
reedom Of the dining-room with its lights
nd savors thawed out host of tongues.
However. when Austen May entered and
ooh bis place at the center of the long table,
,pposite his landlady, he missed the usual
'lging of medical opinion. He looked across
ae table and saw, tucked under Dame
ollock's ample wing, young girl of nine
cen or twenty. He watched her with some
uriosity, knowing Mrs. Pollocks seclusion
her own young relatives. Pretty the girl
srtainly was not. Austen May thought 1t a
tile sad that that deficiency should shield
81 from gallant attention. She held her
II not ungracefully, with a grave COM
osure which changed but once. when an
3dvertent movement sent a napkin-ring
}nning to her opposite neighbor. She
ef Austen Mays eyes with quiet smile,
sr dark eyes lighting for the briefest mo-
lent, and white, even teeth showing against
cr swarthy skin. "A scar crossed the lobe
her left ear.
IA real lady" said Mrs. Pollock to young
!ay - she left the room, but reduced
Try, very much reduced. Her father sailed
18th Captain Pollock many time to Peru,
hen they could not count their money, and
ow It's all gone, and he's gone, and the
q lptain. 1t Is against my rule to have her,
. ID It's not Just the thing. but what can the
pbor child do In a strange city, And she's
% brave"
Austen May left town for day or two.
He returned late one evening, and the new
nrder entered the house ahead of him.
be mail had just arrived, and as she passed
,e group that struggled for it young fell
held up letter and called Nunez."
"Miss Nunez," she emphasized, the color
bunting to her cheeks at the imagined in
entity.
She turned from apology. When she
came back to the dining-room she started
= ind Austen May belated like herself
n hesitated moment at the door, then
ok her place, sliding her chair as far down
Y side of the table as arrangements would
dow. While they waited to be served,
asten May took up the evening paper, |
ID she had an opportunity to study his
ieasant, fair-bearded face.
My beef rare again |" he exclaimed, as
'e dishes reached the table. "What mortal
hn can endure this ?"
"Take NINE" said his vis-a-vis, demurely
tering her plate. "A change would suit |
La
Wits strange" he said Ito be indebted
4lady tor such favor"
~ How can I like meat, cooked or un-
coo1ed." she answered, when a stove |
We seen only lighted as plaything7"
Yah !" he sighed "Ttmust be charming
live on figs and mocking- birds eggs-and
lthquakes."
She laughed little.
IAN earthquake and long crack In the
of my house is dearer to me than your
inner with thunder-storms and your
ihstmas with snow" She shivered as
espoke.
would you like to go Back to your south
nntry1 Z" he asked.
ri could not go back to its idleness." she
I'D, quietly, and spoke again only in mono
1Iables
May guessed her education from her
TENT English with its clear enunciation
er full soft voice was in keeping with her
lgering accent.
II was not many days after that Austen
Nv looked down upon her from the ele.
tc6 railroad. She came out of the first of
row of apartment houses, and he noticed |
~ she differed in walk and carriage from
e girls who passed-her light, elastic step
ID their quick. assertive tread her grace
I inclination and their rigid masculine