Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS CALF.
By EMILY MEREDITH AYIwARD.



Copyright. 1895, by the Author.l
,eSunposo snid Miss Gascoigne, draw
IN, mn her Slight. crest figure ard laying
down her coffee cup with Hn MIR OF solu-
Ton ave giyo tho calf to tho Willough-
bys." ..-.
"Suppose. " said Jack Percy, we put q
rone round the necl; Of our dear darling
Christmas right here and not prolong her
life to needless torture. She'll die VIC
lent death in the end. "
Jack said Miss Gascoigne reproving-
". "you'yc evidently forgnttcniwhnt the
Willoughby children are like You might
know. at an events that when propose
giving them tho calf thcy must love ami
mails. They simply adore them To hint
unwilling else Is simply bad ttstr when yuu
know how l am wrapped up IN that calf.
/ thought l liked Thunksgiying-she was
n beauty-but now l really think like
Christmas better wouldn't sec her given
nway to any ono but the Willoughbys, bo-
cause thoy are the only people l know as
enthusiastic about animals as ! am myself
Those children went wild over IhHnksgiv'
ing. What will they say when they Ind
Christmas at the door on Nmns morning.
Just week old; all their own property
"They won't say much They'll proceed
to make merry with her oh, what a
morrymaking there will DO with that ton
der wenkling of calf She'll sleep on
Xmas night after lively day But don't
look blue, Cousin Minna. She may stand
weel; of it ."
my son, " intorposed Mr.. Percy grave
", but subdulng u sniio which ilicSered
round the corners of bis mouth, "you real
" ought not to talk Tint way eyon In fun
Yon know Cousin Minuu doesn't like It.
Besides | am fully Of the opinion Tint the
calf will be made n great pct. We don't
need her here, and she will give SO much
pleasure to those children. Why, saw lit
tic Helen and Grace only tho other day in
the paddock pctting lame Burns, the moth
err in tho gentlest way,
"And in the end they could hardly be
GOT away from her, +" continued Miss Min
na. land said that Of all presents in the
world they would like a calf best. They
havsntn single animal now but tho bull
pup, and they have such nice house for a
calf MIR and Mrs. WillOushby will be dc
lighted; tho children Will ho in ecstaslcs.
lisa perfectly charming arrangement all
round.
"Gully," murmured Jack, thrusting out
his long 17-yoar-old legs and taking his
last bite of pear at gobblo won't the
calf and tho bull pup have bully timer
Philkins, dear, retract The death won't
be violent tn DO nervous prostration
after race. Won't 1t be bully to sec the
calf Mt n 2:40 gait round the WillouGhby
lot with the bull pup in chase We can
see it, II we stretch, across the lawn from
my window"
Jack, you tall; too much" put in
T. N ~ Mt "a toI
1t was pretty we'll understood that Greyillc
had decidedly tender regard for Miss
Gascoignc; that eight years agone he had
proposed 90 her and been refused; that in
or about tho same time she had given her
heart into somebody's keeping who had
played with it and bruised 1t and given 1t
back to her when along had come maid
On with larger dover. Now she held 10
in proud roticcnoc, and the gllmmcr OF
warmth with her was rare The eye that
probed deep could sec in her deep capnc-
ity for affection, but her tender side was
nor tho ono shown to tho world. The
nearest to it was when moved, rs now,
over tho possible woes Of nu animal, and
the smallest disclosure of sympathy ON any
score lent light tn her ego which famed
high the stcndy flame In Greville's breast
She was still pretty woman, in the late
twantes. with self reliant charm and
dignity which made her decided social
success Her observation and wit We're
keen and her speech ready and well
enough chosen to obtain the reputation of
brilliuncy. Her sense Of humor was un-
falling in anything and everything which
did not pertain to u member of tho brute
craltion. When 1t came to joke at an
animals expense, Miss Minna couldn't
see 1t and resented it with nm air OF
prinked up severity which sayorod IA littlc
of the old maid.
But, after all, =" thought Groville, "ii
she Is bit silly on this score, it's the one
thing silly about her. It's her ono hobby
In everything else who is like herr Shu is
so susceptible to the touch Of comedy OF
pathos Moro attractive than cyer''-hC
realized with n lonely sense Of longing
"animal fads Notwithstanding.
Tho calf, he said chccrily. twill ht
well looked out for at the Willoughbys
You ore quito right, Miss Gnscoignc. vii
loughby wouldn't have fly suffer on hi,