The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-05
ink You cannot any longer be angry
with our host, and having set him aside

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 a
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 found
Clara and me in the parlor. He ap-
preached US in somewhat hesitalng
way, and as l lookel around at him
| could see an EXPIRE ssion on his COUNT
nance which looked like fear that he
had come back before 1 had gotten
through with the business OF the morn
| ing. or perhaps before 1 had begun it.
But as we both rose to meet him l, still
| holding Clara's ha ID, all doubt van
| ishei from his handsome, honest.
weather Drowned face.
Il know it, he cried, as he looked
! from one to the other of US, Il know it.
You nee In't tell me anything" and he
! stretched out q 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 inquirngly.
1T was because you were making
all sorts OF arrangements for me with
out my knowing word about them.
"Oh, that was because he didn't
understand about the wall paper" |
said. IF he had known about that
About what?" exclaimed Major Pen
dallas.
We two laughed, AMI then we took
him into the reading room. When all
was explained to him, he exclaimed
Upon my world" and then with his
hands thrust deep into the pockets OF
his short coat, he tarned about and de-
libarately gazed upon the four walls OF
the room.
"Truly," he cried, Il can't take it 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 great
city store where they had thousands OF
patterns Of wall paper, picked out this
one in ten minutes; although there wero
, q half-dozen others she fancied, / would
have none but this for my reading-room.
j 1T is the flowers and the air of spring,
/ said, and / want to have it always
with me- thought liked you, mad
, eme. on account of what I had heard OF
, YOU, and listening to you, but that
! wasn't all-no, that wasn't all.
There was moisture in Clara's eye
. as she held out her hand to him.
, st is most marvellous and most
charming, she said, @and can see only
one objection to the state OF affairs-the
, picture should have been Clara's and
the background mine.
Not bit of it," exclaimed the Ma.
, jor, the picture con be taken down, II
can be stolen-lots OF things can happen
to it, and it occupies only little space
/, after all. but that beautiful wall il
there, and it is here, ami all around us,
!. and here it will stay. 1t will last out my
: lifetime, and if any accident happens t
, it, I've got a lot more of it upstairs.
: A servant now entered with a lettel
: which had been brought over from thu
|. Delivers by the man on snow-shoes. i
: was written to Clara, and she read it t.
: us. Our friends were evidently over
:, loved that we had not remained in thu
: city, as they had supposed, and that we
= would soon be with them. They insiste'
+. that Major Pendallns should come owe
!. with us and spend the night. They hat
. q large party Of friends AT the house ant
= were having jolly time.
!. "Oh, I'll 60, said the Major; i in
= tended to go anyway, hut, as to Jol.
:, times, the times they are having Their
2 are no more to compare with what W
. are having here than an ashman'
:, donkey is fit to run three-mile hea
= with my colt Sapling. But Well hel
= to make them jolly. I'll take over tn
= big silver punch towl that won fou
!. years ago, and have not used yet. for
:, have never had people enough here
- make it worth while. Well christie
:, - the bowl on this happy day, and yor
!. madam, shall have the first glass on
OF it. And now, continued the nos
looking from the one to the other. be
= fore we do any more or say any more
or think of anything else, 1 want to te
YOU this: Are you two going to acceI
my proposition, and coming to live wit
me? / don't gay anything al out winte
time, because that may be asking to
much, but in the time Ct thu year yo
would want to live n the country an
way"
aMy dear Major, said Clara, w
have been talking about your propos
ton, and don't see how we can he
it."
Good" cried the Major, good, be
ter, best. remarked before that tn
is a glorious Christmas, and Irepeat tt
statement. Look you, the sun Is bean
ing out of doors almost as brightly
we are beaming in here. There is
| broad path out to tho stables, and
: want to show you sorrel mare wit
the most beautiful tail and name u
ever saw. am going to have her p
into training to carry lady, and she
~ to be at your service, madam, whenev
os you want her; and as for you, sir, the
VI are my stables. And if beautif
ho country and fine horses help to maj
NO people happy, think you will have
ot fault to find.
a az Early in the afternoon the Major dro
~ us over to the Delivers behind pair
- magnificent Cleveland bays. The graz
os action and spirit OF the powerful an
h %o mails. fired by the delight of being o
i h of doors on this sparkling winter da
my would have made Clara tremble, s
,m said, under ordinary circumstances, b
o. y. with tho Major holding the reins s
-