Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-12-23
A CHRISTMAS STORY.


Yes, | have been out eniOyin!
what is probably the last opportunit,
of the season." said Mrs. Peabody a
she stood in her bicycle costume, on,
of a little group waiting in the hote
rOtunda for the elevator.
Rather n cold opportunity, wa
it not?" said one of the gentlemen
regarding her with respectful admi
ration.
GA little fresh, but | can't let my
youth slip from me unimproved, ;
and smiling she stepped lightly, bu
with quiet dignity, into the elevator
"That's woman in ten thous
and" said the gentleman who haC
spoken to Mrs. Peabody.
Yes" said his companion
"'The worldly Mrs. Peabody a,
her family and friends half in jest
half seriously, call her, is an exccp
tio':-. woman. Her son Harry is 10
But years don't countN -. " r...A.
is as charming as Mrs. PcabOpy
Give me worldly woman ofthe righ,
sort every time. 1t will be time
enough for angels when we reach the
Elysian fields"
You're right. Didn't she look q
picture, though, i'm that natty bicy-
Gle suit?"
In the meantime Mrs. Peabody
had donned a modish house gown
and seated herself in the circling
window of her sitting-room. 1t was
one of the handsomest apartments
in the hotel and its windows com.
manded superb view of water,
shore and distant city. Although
the holidays were near at hand the
first snow was just beginning to fall
In large, tar-apart flakes that poised
and fiuttered in the air as if deter
mined 20 finish some eerie game be-
fore permitting themself to sink fl
nally. AS she took up some gold
and green satin which she was fash.
ioning into II gorgeous sofa cushion,
she caught a glimpse of the marvel.
Gus picture which wracking silver.
gray clouds, bits of sky, the water
and floating snow were forming from
shore to sky line. and she paused and
enjoyed it as only a person gifted
with fine appreciation could. Mrs
Peabody knew that she possessed
this gift and she never attempted To
belittle or exceed il. Her npprrcia-
ton of the efforts of others was cor
dial and intelligent and wholly un.
mixed, with n weak desire to imi-
tate them.
For this reason she was a tavorite
with artists, musicians and literary
workers, who valued her opinion
and regarded her not as the worldly
Mr.. Peabody, but quite one Of them.
selves. Still, Mrs. Peabody was IA
society woman to the end of her fin
ger tips. She would no more have
missed social function from choice
than she would have broken the dec.
alOgue, and she certainly would not
have done that, for she was not only
a member of one of the most fash.
ionable Presbyterian churches in the
city, but her husband was one of its
elders, and in her way she lived the
religion she professed. Indeed she
was in all things wholly sincere.
There was not even in her youthful
appearance single note of artiti-
ciality.
The Peabodys were not rich, but
they were able to have many of the
luXuries of life. On the wall above
Mrs. Peabody's work table was one
of CaZin's vivid yet delicately ideal
interpretations of nature. Further
on was small Corot, a brilliant bit
of Vibert's realism, a Landseer, Il
Gibson girl and a gay, impossible
poster, for Mrs. Peabody's apprecia,
tiOn was of the all-around kind.
Still, there were some things which
Mrs. Peabody wanted very much
which she did not have and one OF
them was pair Of diamond solitaires.
Her eyes had been pierced when she
was child. She never would have
thought Of wearing anything less
handsome than fine gems, and the
small, vacant punctures were an
ever present thorn in the rose Of hei
salts faction as she viewed herselfcos.
TUNED and Ornamented for the many
functions she was never weary of at.
tending. She would not have told
just how it was that desiring them sc
much she had always missed having
them, so it was. AS she sat stitch.
ing she found herself wondering il
possibly the coveted solitaires might
not be among her Christmas gifts
She had cOnfided to an intimate
friend, with whom Mr.. Peabody in
variably consulted when he gave hel
presents, how much she wanted
them. AS she sat sewing and think.
ing there came q soft knock at the
door followed by the announcement:
1t is just Annie, Mrs. Peabody
It's about Nora Pm after comin',r
she said as she came in. It's very
bad she is, mum. The doctor says
she must have operation that costs
dale of money, have her leg took
off or die. Nora says she will go tC
Heaven on the two legs of her, bu
won't be livin' wild stump. Nora.
savin's are all gone, and Biddie Sui
livan's too, and all they have now |!
Biddie's earnin's. Morals mother
poor old dame, can no more thar
take care Of her. 1 thought, mum