The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-12-14

the gates, but what might you be want
ing at Carston, should like to known"
ats where my daddy used to live,"
said Tony, settling himself into his seat.
"Oh, 1 seer" said the man, feeling more
satisfied. He supposed the boy must be
the son Of some coaohman or gardener who
lived at Carston, and Tony had so much
self possession and confidence that no more
questions seemed necessary.
More passengers got in, the conductor
shouted, the driver cracked his whip, and
the omnibus moved on. 1t seemed long
time to Tony before 1t stopped to put him
down in dark road, where the conductor
pointed enoouragingly to a white gate at
the end Of little lane and told him that
that was the way to Carston. "There'll
be a bus back to town every quarter of an
hour" he said, "but maybe you won't
want ones You're going to spend Christ
mas with your father, reckon?"
"Oh, yes" said Tony, not at all sus
pecting the drift of the question. And
then the omnibus rolled away, leaving him
all alone in the dark with an unaccustom-
ed sensation of fear and-an unusual thing
for him-a strong disposition to cry.
But he mastered the weakness, and,
grasping the violin faster, he turned to-
ward the white gate at the end of the lane.
1t was unfastened, and when he had pass
ed through 1t he found himself on gray
eled walk winding whitley between trees
and plantations toward large, dark look
ing mansion, which Tony OWNED to be
Carston, his fathers old home.
He followed the path until he came to
the garden, and then he lost himself lit
tie, but by and by he emerged from the
shadows and found that he was fronting q
wide flight of steps which led up to the
terrace in front Of the dining room and
drawing room windows. Tony nodded
quite joyfully when he saw the terrace
and the steps, His father had told him
about them many time. He mounted
them slowly and carefully; then, standing
on the terrace, he looked about him lit
tie while and decided that it was time for
him to begin to play. He felt rather cold,
now that he was not moving, and snow
fake or two melted upon his nose and
made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless ID
was with great resolution that he drew his
bow across the strings Of the fiddle and
began his favorite tune:
"while shepherds watched their hocks by
night.
AL seated on the ground"
whats that caterwauling in the
grounds, NorrisP" said the master of the
house to the butler in his crustiest tones.
He was at dinner, and the notes Of vio-
lin fell strangely upon his ear. "Did ]
not tell you that would have no parties
of carol singers this yearP They only
trample down the plants and destroy the
young trees in the plantation. Go out
and put a stop to that noise directly"
Norris went out with rather grave
face 1t was a troubled one when he re-
turned.
sits not the carol singers at ALL, sir.
It's-it's only little boy"
"Send him away at once them"
"If you please, sir, he says he wishes to
speak to you IL think he's gentle
mans son, sir"
"What If he is? He can have no bust
moss here. Send him off. Some begging
trick, I dare say"
But as the general-for that was the
rank Of the master of Carston-spoke the
music waxed louder and louder, and a
sweet child's voice rang out like birds.
To the vast surprise of master and servant
alike, tho door of the dining room was
pushed open, and there in tho hall stood
child, with shining hair and big brown
eyes, playing and singing, as no had done
at first:
while shepherds watched their hocks by
night,
All seated ON the ground"
The generals white mustache bristled
flercely, and his voice was harsh and rasp-
ing when he spoke
"Boy-you there-stop that noise"
Tony desisted, but turned a look of an
gelic reproach upon the speaker. 'Don't
YOU like it9" he said. Its my greatest
favorite, and you must know 1t quite
well, because daddy says he used to sing
it to you when he was little boy"
"When he-your father-what do you
mean, child?'
st amt child said Tony, with dig
nifty "I'm boy. It's quite long time
since was child.
"What's your name?" said the general,
softening and smiling in spite OF himself,
but the answer banished all smile from
his face.
Anthony discard Fairfax" said Tony
triumphantly. isn't it beautiful names
It's my grandfather's name, daddy says
but I haven't never seen him In all my
life." And his innocent, trustful eyes
looked straight into the face Of the very
man who was his grandfather.
Norris gasped. He expected an explosion
of anger; he almost feared violence, but
for a minute or two the general stood per-
fectly silent Then he said to the man.
"You can 60"
"Shall go toos" said Tony.
"No. Stand where you are. Now, tell
me who told you to come here tonight"
"Nobody told me. thinked 1t for my
self"
. "Do you see these grapes and sweetest
narxisted the general. lyon shall have ~
many OF them as you like II you win let
me know who suggested-who put 1t into
your head-to come.
Tony's face grew red. He saw that he
was not believed. but be answered gal
lantly:
az told you'll thinked IT for myself.
Nobody said one word about coming, and
I thinked Of II only tonight when daddy
had gone to the theater. He's told me lots
Of things about this house and how boo'-
full IL wa"