The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25


II can't explain exactly" said Molly
who was rather old-fashioned in her ideas
and ways of speaking. s'I thought it was
to be different kind of Christmas that
q was all.'
What kind of Christmas, darlingP"
Why-different" said Molly. Then
seeing that further explanation was re-.
qulred she made desperate effort over
herself and continued: II thought eyery-
body was going to be. good and love each
other and forgive everybody that had done
them any harm-thats what 1 mean bv
white Christmas. All white and clean.
don't you know, mother. Don't you
think 1t would be nicer"
Very nice, indeed" said Eleanor with
a sigh.
DO you think we shall ever have
Ohrlstm as like that, motherT'
Some day, perhaps
mot this ChristmasP"
"Ah, no my darling, fear not"
"MotherP'
We'll, MolIy?"
Didn't you say the other day that God
gave people what they prayed tor, if it was
right thing for them to have.
Yes, my darling; but we don't always
Know what is the right thing"
but it must be the right thing for
people to be good and love one another"
said Molly, logically; $50 that if you and
i, mother, were TO try and pray very hard,
don't you think the white Christmas
might conner"
at might Molly, perhaps" But there
was a dull despair in EIeauor's tone.
What whiteness of love and forgiveness
was likely to come into her life again2
"We'Il try, mother" said Molly. with
sanguine anticipation in her tone. And
the mother could not but kiss her and tell
her to go to sleep. and that everything
Awould be made right in Gods own time.
y "But may ask him2' she asked little
qanxiously.
oh, yes, dearest, ask him-ask him by
all means. All, yes, pray, Moliy-pray
that there may be a white Christmas some
day for your grandfather and me-"
There was tone in her voice which
Molly scarcely understood, but she fell
asleep with certain qualification in feel
Ing that her mother sympathized with her
and would pray for white Christmas 100.
As Eleanor passed an uncurtained win
dow In the corridor she looked out and
saw that it had stopped showing The
sky had cleared little and the starlight
threw faint radiance which was caught
and reflected by the snow. As she looked
out she saw mans dark figure crossing
the avenue, and she caught her breath in
sstonishment. Who could it beP 1t was
too slight and tall for her father, and she
did not think it likely that any of the
gardeners or stablemen would be out at
that hour. Instead of going 10 her room
she ran downstairs and spoke to the butler
"Is your master in the library ?''
mo, ma'am; he has gone OUT
S"Gone out-on night like this?'
cit is not showing now, ma'am. Mr..
Carteret thought he saw some one in the
avenue, so be went QUITO look. He would
q not allow any one to accompany him,
ma'am."
So her father had also seen the black
figure crossing the snow.
Eleanor knew that it was almost useless
to await his return. She dared not ask
him whether he had seen the man, or
whether he had met with any adventure
at all. She was not on terms with him to
speak unless he spoke 10 her. 1t was a
miserable state OF things. For she loved
her father in spite of all.
She fingered in the breakfast-room, near
the hall door, in order to see him come in
and make sure that no harm had hap
pened to him. He did uot appear for
nearly an hour, and she had grown
nervous and apprehensive before his re-
turn. She had put out the gas, and
watched him unseen as he entered.
Surely, she thought something was
amissl His step seemed unusually heavy
and slow; his head and shoulders were
bent; there was al grim, dark look upon
his face. He went to the library and
locked himself in. while Eleanor crept
:: softly upstairs to bed. There was strange
fore 0oding at her heart.
The Squire had gone to the front door
to look at the sky and predict the weather,
as is the way Of country gentlemen. The
butler held the door open, and Mr.. Car
teret stood on the doorsill, remarking on
the cleaTness OF the sky. when ne, like
Eleanor, saw a dark figure cross the
avenue.
Who can that be?" he said quickly.
'One of the men, Iexpect, sir"
What are the men doing on this side of
the house at this hourP 1t looks as if
there were something wrong" said the
Squire. give me my hat and coat,
Robert; I'll take stroll down the avenue
myself