The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-12-17

eImed TO be bringing down tables and
:nairs In their wake There was a sound
as of the overturning of a hatrack, on top
of 1t the unmistakable smash of lamp,
on top of that u rush and rumble as Of
domestic earthquake, finally a flinging
backward of the drawing room door, as
though from the momentum of thou
sand fists, and then in the midst of the
waiting party stood the calf.
"Hi, therep' screamed Mrs. Willoughby
darting forward and wrenching his um-
brella from beneath the tenor, who, being
gracefully propped upon it in picturesque
attitude to sing, nearly lost his balance
and barely escaped being Frustrated on the
carpet. "Hi there-sh-out, out, hi Did
you ever in your lifel Hey-hi-outr'
And under vigorous brandishes and pokes
of the umbrella, through flying columns
of tittering women and men swearing un-
der their breath, beneath the dazed melan-
choly of Miss Minna's fixed gaze, the calf,
having made double circuit of the room,
was finally driven out through the French
window
"Well," gasped Mrs. willoughby, drop.
ping in sheer physical exhaustion on q
divan, "the idea, poking in here at such
q timel Did you ever know such con-
trary animalP Thank goodness, got 1t
out so soon. Here, Mr.. Armitage, here's
your umbrella I'm so glad you can go on
with your song. IL hadn't got that calf
out, you couldn't"
"Oblige mo; sing it. Do" stammered
Miss Minna, who was on the borders of
collapse, and who stood by In silent tor
ture while the bewildcred tenor made the
supreme effort of his life"
bo l. fet,
lank, lean Christmas-was still with the
Willoughbys She was still starved.
"Blowed," said Mr.. Armitage, tenor,
when he got to town that night, "if ever /
got my nose into such a hewildering circus
of surprises-wild, starved calf tearing
round drawing room; women tittering;
men swearing; woman owner grabbing
my umbrella and nearly upsetting me to
poke it out; hostess repressing hysteria;
man in love with her glowering at the
whole community; host looking as If last
straw had been piled on his endurance;
hosts son bowling with delight and near
ly strangling himself on sofa. What's tho
secret Of the whole businessp What is up
in that blooming village?'
Late that night, after an evening spent
in gloomy quietude by all except Jack,
who snickered all over the house and made
more than one allusion to "the bully
show" Miss Mnna said goodby to Gre
Vile For the first time in his life he saw
her in tears.
And now it was Christmas again. In ono
week more the bells would ring out the
| joyful good wishes of the nativity. 1t was
cold, clear, glistening Christmas, with its
trees decked with diamonds and it's paths
white and crisp with little cracking fur
rows Of ice. Miss Minna had just got
home, and, aided by Jack, was hanging up
the ivy garlands with the rich, bright mix
ture of scarlet holly berries intwined.
II am SO happy to be home," she said.
"I hardly know what to say or do first.
Jack, feel somehow now you won't laugh
at me as much as you would year ago,
but do you know l could be utterly, COM
pletely happy but for the calf
"I've never laid eyes on her since the
autumn" said Jack. "She didn't look
very bully then. Every one seems to have
shut up about her, though from time to
time, I'll admit, I've heard what Jeames
Plush would call 'gashly tails"
"Then let's not say any moro about her
now," said Miss Minna II know Cousin
George can't bear it, and don't want tc
get worked up so that he might suspect
anything I'm running in to town for an
hour after lunch to finish up my presents. u
An hour earlier than expected Miss Min.
ma got her train back. There was no car,
riaRe to meet her, and as she faced to walk
hnmeward her old friend, Colonel Hol
brook, testy, crusty, but sterling, overlook
her with his trap and offered to drive heI
home. She took her seat beside him cheer
fully and chatted brightly of everything al
home and getting back to 1t all with a zest
In which the colonel sympathized, for ht
was thoroughly glad to see her.
AS they turned into the drive thecolone
slaokened speed, conversation lapsed sud
denly, and his face assumed grave ant
portentous expression.
Miss Minna was wise from experience
for how many weary months had she no
learned to read any graveness of aspect II
the neighbor's face as the preface to som'
recital about the calf? She felt what wa
coming, and she could almost have gone oil
her knees to the old soldier to implore hin
to keep 1t back from her.
"Miss Gascoigne," he began gravely
"I'm sorry to be obliged to speak.
wouldn't spoil your home coming willing
ly for the world But 1t can't be helped
you know; something has got to be done
VIII you, my dear Miss Gascoigne TO
PHYS sake, for charitys sake. do some
thing about that calfH'
Poor Miss Minnal Her worst enem,
would have been sorry for her then. Sh
buried her face in her hands In an attitud
of absolute shrinking, and the oolone
could barely catch her little timorous ques
tion, "Are things so very bad, them"
"Badp echoed the colonel, who, in tn
excitement of years recolleotions, wa