The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19

Ruth Hunter, aged nNe.
Teddie Hunter, aged three.
Aunt Bessie.
Cousin Jane and Mr.. Smiley.
Miss Helen Smiley.
Mr.. GrOSVenOr.
The Ghost.
It's too bad! The most provoking
thing that could have happened, and
just exactly what I expected"
Then if it's too bad and just what
you expected, my dear, why didn't you
do something to prevent it, whatever
it is?'
That's just like you, Joe. You al
ways take the time when I am in real
trouble to try to be funny. It's all your
fault, anyway; wanting to ask more
people after the dinner was all ar
ranged"
More people! I! Well, I like that!
Here you've got a lot of people we
hardly know, Cousin Jane and all her
belongings, present and future, and
have only asked dear old Aunt Bessie,
who gave me my first Christmas tree,
and Uncle George, who was my best
friend when I was a kid. What in the
world is the matter with you, Mary?"
Joe Hunter gazed at his pretty wife,
who looked from him to the small yell
low paper in her hand Don't cry,
dearie, but tell me what is wrong"
why, you see, Uncle George can't
come" she sobbed, handing him the
paper. He is i'll with rheumatism
again"
Joe read the telegram and smiled a
little, although he was very sorry that
Uncle George could not come, and
sorry, too, that the reason was so SER
ious
But pardon me, little wife, if I don't
exactly understand. l thought you were
saying something not quite compli-
mentary about the people l had asked
to dinner, and now you are crying be-
cause one of them cannot come. To
my stupid masculine mind it seems as
though you should be laughing with
relief
"Oh, you foolish, silly Joe. I never
knew such a stupid. Don't you see
It's because of Mr.. Grosvenor. Cousin
Jane says that Helen's whole heart is
bound up in him, and that the dear
girl is not like herself since she has
known him. She's so happy when she
thinks he cares for her, and so wretch
ed when he speaks to any other girl.
OF course Cousin Jane doesn't think it
possible that he doesn't care for Helen,
and she can't understand why he
doesn't speak and end the girls mis-
cry. Mr.. Smiley, too, thinks that Mr..
GrosvenOr is the soul of honor and
wants to speak to him, but Cousin
Jane will not let him. She says she is
sure that Helen would never accept a
lover who had to be dragged to her
by her father. SO you see the poor
child is just wearing her heart out be-
tween hope and fear, and Cousin Jane
is afraid that she viii go into a de-
cline
"All this is very interesting, my dear,
but where does Uncle George come in?
"Oh, Joe, you're so dull tonight.
Cousin Jane says it's the only fault
that Helen has. Naturally her mother
thinks her perfect, and you know, Joe,
you said yourself that she was beauti-
full, and even Cousin Bessie who finds
fault with everybody, acknowledged
hat she sings well. Her mother thinks
t is growing on her, and all because of
aer unhappinesS about Mr.. Grosvenor
Sometimes they can do nothing with
ner. Why, only a few days ago her
mother heard a strange noise in her
room and, rushing in, she found Helen
lying on the floor sobbing and moaning
and in her hand a tiny looking glass; II
seems that she had tried to see a tooth
that had just been filed, and had shut
her teeth on the glass and broken it.
She cried so that they were frightened
said that she knew she was doomed to
be wretched, that fate was against her
and that she had nothing to hope for
but death. Now you see what an un-
fortunate thing it is that Uncle George
can't come. It is on account of Mr.
oil c1n lory
of those spells what would he think
And Cousin Jane would say that we
had done something to break it off. TIC
say nothing of an empty chair at the
table, which 1 abhor. There they come
now. 1 hear the carriage and L must
go down. 1t can't be helped; we must
do the best we can and stand what
comes"
wait, Mary; stop for one moment
Am to understand that this charming
and unusual young person is likely t
be overcome because Uncle Geo"
Marys eyes expressed her scorn Of
Joe's intelligence. There will be thir-
teen at table" she said slowly
Mr. Hunter looked grave and sud.
denly remembered that he had not beer
feeling well for the past few days. All
I see. Well. 1 wouldn't say anythins
about it, and perhaps no one will no
tice it."
Shouts of laughter reached then
when Mrs. Hunter opened the door
Perhaps she began, "one of the chill
dren-Agnes-"
L was just going to say the sam.
thing, but not Agnes. 1 couldn't eat m,
Christmas dinner without her. but
don't see why Jack"
Jack Oh, no. That won't do. Joe,
wouldn't like it and Teddie woult
make such a fuss"
Well, never mind. We can't sacrific
the children to-day, of all days in. tn,
year. wonder what the little devils ar
up to now? \ loud crash, followe,
by peals of laughter, came up from
below.
Mrs. Hunter closed the door and hur
ried downstairs. In the drawing room