The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-19
THE RETURN.
CHRISTMAS STORY BY C. 7. FERRIS.
[Convright 18a7 hv the Author.l

Frustrated hope threw it's blight on the
CHEEKY old face as Mrs. Martin read the
letter from her son Paul He had been
from South Africa. The same feeling
haunted Kate Lockwood S fine eyes, though
she bit her lip at the conscious revelation
But Mrs Martin did not see Her eyes
were blurred And murmuring, "What
could have happened to change his mind?'
as if it were the presage of some greater
blow, she went on with the reading:
''I'd give a few 'sparklers' to be with
you on Christmas, as had planned. But
fellow can't always fulfill his own wish.
es. It's better to have everything wound
up before leaving. South Africa has treat
ed me pretty well up here in its diamond
fields, so shouldn't kick if it keeps me in
its clutch little longer. 1 shan't be sor
ry to leave this furnace behind When my
letter reaches, Jack Frost will be abroad
with you in Vermont, clad in ice and
snow, but here man will be baking at
90 in the shade. I'm burned as black as
any Kaff1r in the mines, SO that you and
Kate would scarcely know my swarthy
phiz. By the way, you may tell that young
woman from me that don't half like her
goings on with the Swinton man. Didn t
she promise to wait for me? I shall have
word to say to her about her faithless-
ness" And so Paul's letter rambled on
in a semichaffing tone. Kate's face had
darkened to angry scarlet when Mrs Mar
tin looked up and said: "Why, my dear
you mustn't take Paul's jokes so hard
You know what a tease he was from a
boy"
That was precisely the trouble Paul
had always been joking, Kate feared. A
distant cousin and reared in the family
ever since she had emerged into woman,
hood a more tumultuous sweetness had
mingled with the calm affection she had
once felt for Paul even as she had for his
elder brother Will When he had gone
away, she was only II, and keenly she had
quivered with the pang of parting. Year
after year had slid by, and the rolling
stone found no rest and the girls sore
heart had certainly found no balm in the
absent Paul's jocose phrases. Yet she had
sometimes fancied thrill of sentiment
and tenderness quickening his sportive al
lusions. At all events suitors had lacked
fuel for their fire, and her friends rallied
the young schoolteacher that the only men
folk she liked were the lads, with whom
she could be ''jolly good fellow" in most
fascinating way. Her latest admirer the
head of prosperous factory and much
liked by the Martins, had no better luck
than predecessors
'There was time" the old lady con-
tinued in reminiscent mood as she laid
down the letter, when hoped you and
Paul would come together some day; but,
lackaday, that's all done with. l cam
understand the girls nowadays. s'pose
you amt afeared of bein left an old maid,
fer, you know, you re good lookin''-and
Mrs Martin peered quizzically at Kate
over her glasses-"but still you might
never have such good offer as Mr.. Swim
~ton-plenty of money, not too old, and as
good as gold. AS for Pauls stayin away
another year,
whats that about Paul's not comm
homer" Mr.. Martins jolly red face, now
beginning to quicker with years and care,
was filled with dismay as he suddenly en-
tered the room. "That scapegrace of ourn
oughter be thrashed of he's a-goin to dis
appoint us g'in." So Mrs Martin again
read the letter aloud, while Kate, amid the
varied comment of the old couple escaped
for hearty cry.
Farmer Martins gloom had deeper
root than ordinary miscarriage of hope.
"I'd ruther looked to Paul's help CT the
wust comes" said he to his wife, "fer
Wills got all he can shoulder. The mort
gage on the place has never been easy to
meet-what with poor crops and low
prices. met Squire Barber jes' now, ara
1 told him we expected Paul. Fer sure,
said he, and laughed with his Ho, no!
like some DANCED ole hyeny, and then he
said he hoped there wouldn't be any delay
this year bout the mortgage money or
somethin might turn up, and then he outs
with another smoker. Confound his hide,
it's as heartless as his sheepshin books, fer
I had allus rcckoned him friend afore. "
Though Christmas did not promise any
appetizing sauce for its turkey and mince