The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-17
THE CHRISTMAS CALF.
By EMILY MEREDITH AYLwARD.
[copyright. lsoo. BY the Author.l ]

Copyright, 1896, by the Author.l
Suppose" said Miss Guscoigno, draw
ing up her slight, erect figure and laying
down her coffee cup with an air of solu-
tion, 1--WE give the calf to tho Willough-
bys"
"Suppose," said Jack Percy, eve put q
wps round the neck of our dear darling
Christians right here and not prolong her
nfe 10 needless torture. She'll die vio-
lent death In the end"
"Jack," said Miss Gascoigne reproving-
ly, you've evidently forgotten what the
willoughby children are like. You might
know, at all events, that when l propose
giving them the calf they must love ami
mails. They simply adore them. To hint
anything else Is simply bad taste when you
know how 1 am wrapped up In that calf
] thought liked Thanksgiving---sh was
a beauty--but now really think like
Christmas better. wouldn't see her given
away to any one but the Willoughbys, be-
cause they arc the only people l know as
enthusiastic about animals as am myself
Those children went wild over Thanksgiv-
ang. What will they say when they find
Christmas at the door on Xmas morningp
Just q week old; all their own property"
"They won't say much They'll proceed
TO make merry with her. Oh what
merrymaking there will be with that ten
der weakling Of calf She'll sleep on
Xmas night after lively day. But don't
look blue, Cousin Minna She may stand
week of it.
"My son." interposed Mr.. Percy grave
ly, but subduing smile which tlickered
round the corners of his mouth, "you real
ly ought not to talk that way even in fun.
] You know Cousin Minna doesn't like 1t.
Besides am fully Of the opinion that the
| calf will be made great pet. We don't
need her here, and she will give 80 much
pleasure to those children. Why, saw lit
| tle Helen and Grace only the other day in
| the paddock pettng Jane Burns, the moth
or, in the gentlest way. D."
"And in the end they could hardly be
got away from her" continued Miss Min
ma, "and said that of all presents in the
world they would like q calf best They
haven't single animal now but the bull
pup, and they have such a nice house for q
calf. Mr.. and Mrs. Willoughby will be do
lighted; the children will be in ccstasies
| It's perfectly charming arrangement all
round"
"Golly," murmured Jack, thrusting out
his long 17-year-old legs and taking his
last bite Of pear at a gobble. won't tho
3 calf and the bull pup have bully timer
be violent. It'll be nervous prostration
after q race. Won't it be bully to see the
calf at $40 gait round the Willoughby
Lot with the bull pup in chaser We can
see IL, II we stretch, across the lawn from
my window"
'sJack, you talk too much" put In
Philip Greyille, the one guest at the table.
It was pretty we'll understood that Greville
had q decidedly tender regard for Miss
Gasooigne; that eight years agone he had
proposed to her and been refused; that In
or about the same time she had given her
heart into somebody's keeping who had
played with 1t and bruised 1t and given II
back to her when along had come maid
on with larger dover Now she held II
in proud reticence, and the glimmer OF
warmth with her was rare. The eye that
probed deep could see In her a deep capao.
ity for affection, but her tender side was
not the one shown to the world The
nearest to It was when moved, as now,
over the possible woes of an animal, and
the smallest disclosure of sympathy on any
score lent a light to her eye which famed
high the steady flame in Greville's breast
She was still pretty woman, In the Late
Ewonties, with self reliant charm and
dignity which made her a decided socia
success Her observation and wit wert
keen and her speech ready and wei
enough chosen to obtain the reputation ol
brillianoy. Her sense of humor was un
N failing In anything and everything which
4 did not pertain to member of the brutt
creation. When 1t came to joke at M
| animals expense, Miss Minna couldnt
I rec ID and resented 1t with an air o.
\ prinked up severity which savored littl'
y of the old maid.
n "But, after ALL" thought Greville, 81
she Is bit silly on this score, it's the ont
thing silly about her. It's her one hobby.
" in everything else who is like her? She Il
90 susceptible to the touch Of comedy ol
pathos More attractive than ever"-h'
realized with lonely sense of longing
II r"animal fads notwithstanding
X "The calf" he said cheerily, twill b
well looked out for at the Willoughbys
You are quite right, Miss Gascoigne. vii
1oughby wouldn't have a fly suffer on hi