Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-12-26

NftiIyT -.,S2,SH days thlt wlntcr.
V,ySs eSsxy n Clivcden was not
S&22S$ u nn ancestral hall.
% II was merely the
country-seat of
Joshua Warren, capitalist, who had
built II Just three years previously. nnd
II owned neither ghost nor gallery
OF solemn .visaged ancestors. AS mat
ter of fact, Mr.. Warren, albeit quiet
man, and one not given TO boasting,
was ~athcr proud OF the fact that he
had neither n pedigree nor family
skeleton to keep him awake nights.
His principal desire, now that he had
made his forture, was TO enjoy life aud
IL make those about him happy without
worrying his head ahou; genealogical
trees or ways aud mrnns Of forcing him
self into the supper ten" On these
points his wife and their only daughter,
Aidgc, agreed Win him--nnd being
u ced, they succeeded in making the
most of life. They were jolly entertain
crs, md always had houseful, more
or less, Of company, usually lot Of
young people, whom they preferred rs
being more likely TO make things live
]y; and during these particular holidays
they were housing ~ least dozen
young folks, on account OF Madge, who
was to he n cried in the middle Of jan
Uary TO WI Drnden.
There were all .nds OF jolly times
during that closing fortnight Of the old
year. The sleighing vas faultless, there
were lots Of social festivities nj Clivcden
md neighboring houses, and there was
every opportunity in the world to drive
dull care away--yet VIII braden, de-
spite his approaching marriage with
quite the sweetest girl in the world, was
unhappy. Not oil the time; for &C.
casionalIy Mndge would devote to him
an entire five minutes. nll at once, there
by filling him with ccstacy-after
which. alas! she would neglect him for
hours together to attend TO her duties
as hostess, whcreupon he was plunged
into despair. and became gloomy and
sullen, much 10 the amusement OF all
the rest. who called him Hamlet" be-
hind his back, and cracked jokes about
'green.eyed Monsters" and so on, to
the mystiiication Of Mrs. Warren. who
earnestly insisted that poor, dear VIII
lies" eyes were not green, but hazel.
But there was no doubt that Will was
Jealous, just us most young men are
likely to be when the attentions of the
udored one are demanded in ether qInr-
tiers, even though by the laws OF hos
pitulity. He told himself he didn't mind
IL, but he did. What CALLED him partic-
ularly was the presence of that pedi-
greed prig from Philadelphia, MIR. Mar
tindale, whom he had long suspected OF
n sneaking affection for Madgc, who. by |
the way, was particularly pleasant to
him, not 10 shy somewhat confidential
with him. For, ut least n half dozen
times, viii had seen them, apart |
from the rest, talking in guarded
tones about something or other,
and ut these times both had looked
very serious. II was getting past en-
durance, decided Mr.. Drailen. and he pro-
posed TO put stop to IL. So when they
returned from their sleighing party. on
New Years eve, he drew Madge, who Ind
seemed TO be flirting desperately all the
evening with Mnrtindale, into recess
In the hall, where he proceeded to pro-
test with much vigor against the treat
ment accorded him.
Madge laughed merrily, then pre-
tended to be offended. Don't be nm
IDIOT. win" she said. sharply. Il think
know what I'm about"
"You know nothing OF the sort, or
else you don't care." declared VIII,
with some heut. ut seems to ME am
to some consideration, instead
81 which you do your best to mike me
eel badly and to make a laughing
'tock OF me. Darling" he went ON,
more gently, this is the last year OF
'ur single lives. Can't we watch Il out
nd the new one in just by. ourselves,
'ince the New Year means SO much to
rs bnth7"
Madge was touched, but for some in /
crutable reason did not choose to let
lin see II just then. "Don't lie spoon
VII" she answered, pettishly. "lve've
II our lives to be 'spooney' In, and, be-
iles, have other obligations" She
urned and left him, regardless Of the f.
heading. repronchful eyes thut she ,
new were following her. and for the '
est Of the evening she hardly noticed I
I'm at all. Indeed. be kept out Of the 8
NY as much as possible, for all this =
pertinent was 10 him, in his present O
hood. gull and wormwood.
he had just returned from n lonely r
moke In the library, and. somewhat n
oothed. was returning to Join the G
Tiers, who were gathering about the i
3 aFeplaes " What good Airs. War. "