The record-union., 1897-12-05

4
garet came up later and stopped at the
door, we'll nigh convulsed, for the small
tyrant twearied at lasD was playing
! Sousa with animation for the two
couples of men who were manfully en-
/ deavoring to follow her directions.
over by the windows, Bob. Just
dance round there for few minutes.
Let Mr. Crawford lead, Mr.. Clark; you
can follow better than he does. Now.
then, MIR. Crawford, dance over to the
north corner No, no, stupid Don't
yon know the points of the compass?"
| Come back heTe,''
III be hanged if l will" exclaimed
Jack, suddenly catching sight Of the
| girls in the doorway. I've had enough
of this. You can finish up with Fay and
Margaret
Il am very sorry to interrupt you,"
said Fay, ''but we haven't enough tin
sci. Could one of you boys drive over
TO the village and pick some out for
| US! Won't you go, JACKIE
/ "Oh, yes" put in P'tite. Let me go,
too. | have very good taste in tinsel."
"Fll so if no one else will volunteer"
| said Mr.. Crawford, but / promised to
read with Miss Heatherton at O'Clock.
Would you mind accompanying Miss
Merrytield, Ted?''
P'tite was equal to the occasion. "Do
come, Ted, or Fay will have to send
Martin, and 1 am so anxious for the
drive"
Ted did not need much urging. and
Jack went down stairs to bask upon
the chilly smiles of the Bostonian au-
tocrat
Christmas morning was as bright and
clear one as ever cold -blooded lit
tie Southerner could have wished for.
L ute was radiant She had planned
TO be the first in the drawing-room be-
lore breakfast, but Jack Crawford was
standing by the window when she en-
tered
| Merry Xmasr' she cried rs this
day bright enough to warm you up
you walking icicle?" She sat down
on the window seat directly before him,
SO that he could not avoid her.
Not to your extent he replied half
smiling. What would become of this
household if there were no heel taps
to any of us? You have spirits enough
for half dozen and always on tap.
For which l give daily thanks. Don't
you ever get enthusiastic?'''
Not if l can help it,
Poor boy."
Il don't believe demonstrative people
are sincere. How much of this palav-
ering do you feel or how much of your
tomfoolery do you really enjoy? Con-
Tess. Isn't it merely to attract atten-
ton? Tell me, do you ever forget your
own interests for moment?" She
rose and met him face to face. He
was leaning back, half sitting on the
table behind him.
Never! If 1 stop my tomfoolery for
a moment she answered, and then
she crossed the room and took hold of
Fay's hand as her hostess came in.
"Oh, Fay, L have another fancy. l
want to dance the first dance tonight
with the oldest man in the room, who
will be Colonel buckingham, and the
last with the youngest, that darling lit
tie 16-year-old Sammie Templeton. Alb
solutely nonsenscal, of course, but yol
don't care, do you? Have Bob tell both
of them for me- Then she ran our of
the room.
jack said Miss Sterling, after she
had greeted him, do you know what
you are doing?"
Just at present?" he asked
"At present and all the time. I can't
help interfering, because it is in my
house and because ! am so fond of
both of you. I would have made BOB
warn you, but you know why l couldn't
do that. Really, Jack, do be more care
full"
My dear girl" returned Mr.. Craw-
ford, taking up a newspaper to show
that he was bored, "do be more ex-
plicit."
Fay controlled herself with difficulty.
You know what l mean,' she said,
quietly. You know that you are
making that girl fall in love with you"
The newspaper went back TO the ta
bic abruptly. Mr.. Crawford was fully
aroused now.
Either Miss Merryfield is exception
ally clever or you are exceptionally
stupid he said, bluntly. There is
no occasion for anxiety on your part.
Miss Merryfield is too much of Will
o the wisp TO bother herself long over
anyone
That isn't true for moment. There
is the making of woman in her. Ii is
the novelties in this world that attract
women. Everyone else becomes her
slave, while you, with your Puritanical
notions about propriety, are exactly
the man to impress her. l heard you
call her selfish; you, of all persons in
the world with your entire lack of SYM
pathy for anything not wholly in ac
cordance with your own views"
Fay stopped, realizing that though
her long friendship might give her Ii
cense to some freedom of speech, that
still he was her guest
'It is for your own sake" she aided,
"as well as for hers, that l warn you"
Il am very much obliged to you for
your interest" he replied, grimly-then
suddenly:
NO, no, Fay-I beg your pardon. |
didn't mean that. / do appreciate what
you say, and viii remember it,
Ptite came running down stairs that
evening as soon as she was dressed
with more grace than dignity. Three
members of the male contingent, SYM
phonies in faultless black and white.
were standing at the foot of the stair
case. Jack Crawford was reading in
the den.
P'tite beckoned TO the nearest of the
group, who happened to be Clark.
Let's take a peep at the tree be-
fore the candles are lit." she whispered.
Just for a lark. Fay won't know
She led the way to the room where
it was placed.
Strike MATCH" she commanded,
when the darkness revealed an inter-
esting but indistinct conglomeration to
their eyes. She gave a small Shrek of
delight when the match fiared up and
she began examining everything, poK-
ing here and prying there, despite