Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26

ate his meals, nor did he meet her in the
hall, nor see her in the parlor. But l
think he imagined he saw her very many
times in that twenty-four hours. 1t is a
foolish way men--young men-have. Tues
day night he was late TO supper and
bolted it alone AS he was hurrying
along the hall to leave the house, he
saw through the open door, as he passed
the parlor, Title standing by the crate.
He knew he hadn't time, and had a
dreadfully guilty feeling as he did so,
but ne went in.
Newspaper men are worked harder at
Christmastide than any other time, aren't
they?" she said as he came UP to the
fire.
''Why do you think SOP said Dick, his
heart jumping as he thought of possible
reason.
''Why, 1 haven't seen you since Sunday
night"
ut was your fault"
ut was yours"
you were late to all your meals"
"And Mr. Brown was calling when /
went out from supper last night"
Eyes, he just came to ask me to go to
the Academy with him tonight"
And are you going?'
Il told him would"
please don't, Tillie."
IT promised"
ed Dick, eagerly.
''Why are you so anxious for me to do
SOP" she asked, in surprise. There was
pleasure in her face and voice, but Dick
was very blind some time.
Because i don't like him." he said,
impetuously.
but l do"
well, you know the reason, Title. 1
don't want you to go out with anybody
except myself"
MIR. BROWNE COMES IN.
ooh, there is Mr. Browne" said Tillie,
as the door-bel sounded.
Dick walked up and down the block for
a quarter of an hour. At last he saw
Mr.. Browne leave the house alone. Work
was easy to him that night. But he
tried in vain to write the Christmas story.
AS soon as he attempted to put his mind
on romance. instead Of the facts of cur
rent history, it became a blank.
Dick was worried the next day when
no reply came from his aunt He had
set his heart on his plan. He did not
go to supper, but the next night, as he
was on the point of going out OF the
hall door, he saw Title coming down the
steps. He waited at the foot OF the
stairs, as she descended towards him, a
happy smile on her face.
II am to have a Christmas after all"
she said, joyousiy. Il can hardly be-
lieve it. 1 received letter to-day from
an old lady in Fauquier county, who
says she used to know my family, and
said she would be SO glad IL l would come
up and stay week with her. She asked
me in such a way know she wants me,
and | wrote her l would CO."
Sounds like play" said Dick, braZen-
". What is the fairy godmother's
name?"
Mrs Emily Foster. and she lives near
Usage"
"Why, that's my aunt" said Dick, in
such well-affected establishment that
even had Tillie been suspicious she would
not havd detected his duplicity
Then there was something very like a
scene, until finally Dick exaggerated his
affectation of innocence and surprise TO
such a degree, and grew so hilarious,
that Title had to tell him to be quiet,
Mr. Browne was in the parlor.
This put a decided damper on Dicks
spirits.
what does he want again tonight"
he growled.
ITO see me-" said Tillie, sweetly. as
she passed on towards the parlor door.
a concert tomorrow night"
"And are you going?" asked Dick, his
face Frightening as he remembered how
she had not gone to the theatre with
him.
mo" said Tirie, looking back over
her shoulder, and half whispering, while
her eyes danced merrily.
81 shall tell him am going to start
then to pay your aunt weeks visit"
THE STORY NOT WRITTEN.
In vain Dick tried that night to write
his Christmas story. A dozen times ne
started It, and as many times tore up
the first sheet. He could not write
romance now. II seemed to have got
ten so nixed up with reality II confused
his brains.
He cursed his luck a dozen times the
next day, when he was forced TO miss
both dinner and supper and with them
all chance of seeing Title. But that
night he managed TO rush down to the
Rroad-street station. hoping TO see her
off. He found her In the day-coach-
. sleeper was too expensive for poor
gtrl like Title. II was nearly time for
the train to start, but Dicks tongue ran
as II had never done when talking TO her
before. The car was crowded. and he
could not say what he wanted to say
most hut he felt she understood now.
pa told her all about the story he had
not written, and she expressed the SYM
pathy that made him feel many times
bette'. than il he had done his duty. The
hell was ringing when he told her good
by wishing each other a merry Christ
mas. 49,.
were her last words.
"oh, bother the story" said DICK
pnS that isn't what the city editor said.
az now the reader gan understand why
pIck received telegram to come 10
Fanouier county last night. and why ne
obey,d at once. But I only started 70
tell why tbs Christmas story vas u''
.,rftfeu-