The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28


to stand of that sort o. thing. Your
bags will be brought in, and your horse
put in the stable. Mrs. Bardsley will
take charge of Miss Weldon. I'll at
tend to YOU, sir, and supper will be
ready in half an hour" and without
waiting for an answer he left the room.
We looked at each other and laughed.
THAT is Just what / hoped he would
CO." said Miss Weldon. L have had
all the sleighing want for this day.
Good" / cried, throwing off my
overcoat; Il feared might have to per-
suade you.
That is really absurd" she said, "as
if the storm and Major Pendallas were
not quite enough.
In Ave minutes Miss Weldon had
been carrie of by the beaming Mrs.
Bardsley, while MAJOR Pendallas con-
Quoted me to a bedroom on the ground
floor, in which found a cracking wood
fire. The house was large one, and
seemed to be lighted from top to bot
tom.
We three sat down to big round
supper table, and as might have been
expected the meal was bountiful, hot
and most grateful and CHEEKY to the two
storm beaten travellers, who had eaten
nothing since breakfast except an unat-
tractive luncheon on the train.
Our host did most of the talking, and
we were well content to have him do it..
you cannot imagine, he burst out.
as soon as we were seated, how glad l
am to have you two people b re. ex-
! pected to spend this Christmas eve alb
solutely alone, and / should have felt
that, for 1 never did anything Of the
kind before, and from a boy l have
thought more OF Christmas eve than OF
| Christmas day. There is less OF strain
in it. On Christmas day you feel as II
You ought to be awful jolly, because II
you don't, you won't have another
| chance for q year. On Christmas eve
| one can be oily without thinking OF 1T.
| II there are any shortcomings they can
| be made up next Cay. Last year my
| niece was with me and we had plenty OF
| company, but now she's married and
| cleared out utterly. Gone to Europe
| with her husband, ami intends TO st y
| there.
! But the storm has been good to me.
Let me give you piece OF this chicken,
sir. and some butter This is Christ
mas butter, especially made from the
cream OF two cows, both granddaughter
of the great Cavalier George.
The Majors anticipation OF a truly
| io.ly Christmas eve was interfered with
by Miss Weldon, who declared, shortly
after nine o'clock, that she was so ia
tiQued by her days experiences that sh,
would be obliged to bid US goo mig 1T
| When she had gone the Major and
each lighted a cigar and drew up before
the big fire in the parIor.
Il n'shelp being disappointed. sa'
he, @for intended to get up lot o
games, and haye Mrs. Bardsley and he
i daughter in. They are very RESPECTABLE
people, and at Christmas time we oil
1 WAYS have them in at the games. Blu
bed is the best place for Miss Weldon
after what she has pulled through thi
day. And I am SO re. DICED to have yo
both In the house that sha MT grum
BILE. 1t doesn't matter in the least tina
when the sun set to-day had neve
seen either OF you, nor you me. knoS
who you are, and you know who am
at least Miss Weldon knows, and that
enough.
But you don't know me, ] said.
Indeed do. he exclaimed, slappini
one Of his sprea !-out knees and leanin
toward me. Il know you in the hes
kind of way. have one of your pic
lures. Now. don't go and say you ar
| not the artist, Henry G. Ashmead.
Il am that man. replied.
Il didn't doubt it, said the Maiol
. leaning back in his chair, you loo
/ lie it. / am bachelor. sic, and
, takes o good deal to keep that sort OF
man content and easy IN his mint
Pictures and books help lot in tia