The record-union., 1897-12-05
A MOMENTS EXPENSE.

her brown curls in a tangle under her
veil. But it would have needed more
than Berkshire hills snowstorm TO
have taken the crispness out OF Ptlte
Merryfield. Her spirits were heightened
rather than cooled. She came IN IKE
a small gust of wind from Whlch she
was running away and like the wind
she brought refreshing change OF at
mosphere to the group inside.
'Oh-h-i" she gasped.
Even Miss Heatherton smiled gener-
ously at the small figure SO perslstently
pretty in spite of adverse cIrcum-
stances, until Bob Sterling, with whom
she had been having a discussion on
Society or Socialism, suddenly found
the settee beside the hearth, even. with
the consideration of $50 degrees Fahr-
enheit, preferable to a comfortable
window seat-to say nothing OF
profitable conversation. She then lean
ed back and surveyed the newcomer
with more doubtful approval.
''She is fascinating-just as much so
to me as to them,'' she mentally assured
herself. "Quite the sort of girl TO at
tract anyone-for the hour.
And Mrs. Sterling forgot her preju-
dices in her motherly instinct Of care
taking.
MY dear, you will have frlghtful
cold. You must take some hot ginger.
I'll fix you a dose myself"
"Oh. no, Mrs. Sterling-please! I'm
all right. Everybody feels cold when
they are rash enough to venture out
on such q day as this-naturally."
but you aren't used to it. Morally,
] must insist. Put your feet on has
sock to keep them up to the fire until
i come back" The good lady departed
to carry out her mission of kindheart-
edness, while the object of it gave
shrug of mock resignation and stretch
ed her small hands widespread to the
blaze.
mo wonder you Northerners are so
unsentimentall" she calculated. "Such
weather would freeze ones very
heart"
But we are so constitutionally
warm-hearted, my dear little F. F. v,
that we glow, Notwithstanding" said
Bob from his coign of vantage on the
hearth rug. Miss Merryfield looked up,
and was about to retaliate, but she ap-
precated suddenly that big, jolly Bob
was so good an illustration of his own
statement that it deffed criticism so
she contented herself with saying
"humphl" and began looking around
for hassock.
There's one under Jacks feet" said
Bob. Aren't your extrenities cooked
enough by this timer" This last to
the occupant of big chair on the right
of the hearth.
There's another one over by the ia
ble," replied the gentleman addressed.
He nodded in the direction designated,
but did not lift his eyes from the book
Bob brought the hassock and in
quired whether Miss Merryfield would
not prefer a chair to the settee.
Thank you" she replied sweetly,
*'but it would be in Mr.. Crawfords s
way
What's that?" came from the arm
chair NO it won't. There is a
smaller chair than this back of you
which will fit in here all right" He
motioned with his head again, but this
time was interested so far as to close
his book over his fingers and move
about six inches to the right. He
watched the girl until she got settled.
then he asked:
Where did you drop your yellow
pup"
she couldn't loose him, Cholly."
came cheerily from the doorway, and
the subject in question entered.
Did YOU get those skates hung?"
asked <se little Southern girl. You've
had time enough to clean them by this
time. That's the pretext under which
he stayed in the hail." she explained to
the others. Il am under the impress
sion that it was a hoax to get acquaint-
ed with the radiator so that he could
join in your laugh at me-
She addressed the last of her remarks
TO Bob alone, for Jack was deep in his
book again.
The yellow pup" nee Edward Riv-
ington Trumpbull, but chrstened
Teddy or "Trumps," and lately that
other more distinctive title on account
of certain services rendered daily, was
so good a personifcation of the charac-
teristics which the last nickname inn
piled that no one would ever have con-
eidered it disrespectful. He looked the
part" as our friends, the critics, say.
But it wasn't only his diminutive stat
ure and his canary crop of hair which
invited freedom of thought and speech
but his infinite good nature and ever
buoyant spirits, together with his total
inability to retaliate. Jack Crawford
] believe, was the originator Of the last
epithet
Characteristic OF him, Teddy crossed
The room and stationed himself beside
Bob on the rug, regardless rather than
unconscious that the position made the
applied term more apropos than ever
4 yellow pup" in truth, kind of use
less, convenient thing always under
foot, yet as amusing as it is provoking
here sat in juxtaposition with a colossal
st. Bernard.
You're in my way said the little
Southern girl, and Teddy. whose own
hands were half frozen from carrying
the skates, was obliged to~leave the fire
Bob was monopolizing the left side of
the settee and willingly broiling rather
than surrender his place to Ted. who
had had a clear field for two hours.''
Where are Fay and Harvard" in
quired the last member of the assembly.
Margaret Van De Camp.
Give it UP" answered Mr.. Trump
bull. I'VE left them on the pond an
hour ago. They may have gone
through by this time. The ice isn't very
strong yet"
Has it taken you an hour to come up
TO the house," asked Bob. That's doing
pretty weIl-500 yards
Guess again, my boy" responded the
genial Mr. Trumpbull. I'VE have been
field insisted that her life depended upon
d mint julep. so we dedicated our share
Of the ice to the other two"
There's a jolly big hole at one end
exclaimed Miss Merryfield. I'VE kept