El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-30

lively heavy in its style or architecture
resided the Hon. Horace Brunder, now
AN elderly man, and Mrs. Brunder, hi:
wife. For several years these two hao
made I'D tie family-a very small fami
by for so large a house. They had nc
children and, although they were very
good company for each other, they felt
as they daily grew older that they could
mot of themselves make their home as
cheerful and as pleasant as they would
have it. They felt this the more forc1
Ibiy because there had been many years
when that house was very cheerful and
VERY pleasant. Therefore it was about
six months before this story opens this
all too quiet couple had taken into their
home a young girl, Marcy Griffith, the
niece of Mrs. Brunder and one of a
large family of fatherless boys and girls.
! The Hon. Horace had never been fond
of children, and at one time In his life
it might have been said that he abso-
autely disliked boys and girls, but now,
since he had ceased to go out in all
.weathers and was feeling a growing de-
pendence on the indoor pleasures of his
home he had agreed with his wife that
lit would be a good thing to have some
young life in the house and that of all
the persons they knew the niece Mar
igey was best adapted to supply the miss
ing and needed element in their house
hold life.
1t had been considered by Margey's
family that it was a most fortunate thing
that her rich uncle, who did not care for
iyoung people, should take her into his
house, and for time the girl herself was
very we'll satisfied with the change from
THE somewhat contracted suburban house
and the active hustle of a large family to
the quiet rural beauty of the old mansion,
its garden, its lawn and its woodland.
yD,,4
with its bright hued foliage, came and
went and as the rigors of winter settled
themselves upon the land. Margey often
Thought of the stirring life which was go
ing On at home, where winter was the
liveliest time of the year.
At last Christmas came, but it was a
dull time for Marcy. There were neigh
ibors invited, but they were all elderly
people and of q reposeful turn of mind.
iMargey received several presents, among
them a beautiful little watch from her
uncle. and, although she had never re-
iceived anything which could compare
with these Christmas gifts, they did not
compensate her for the loss of the holiday
atmosphere Of her home. During the
whole day she felt as though she were at
tending the funeral of Santa Claus.
But on the last day of the year her
spirits sank still lower. With ner broth
iers and sisters and the elderly members
of the family she had been accustomed
ever since she could remember to make a
igreat deal of New Years eve, and among
the observances which were never omit
ted was the traditional custom of opening
the front door Of the house exactly as the
clock struck the hour of midnight in Or
der to let the New Year come in. Then
all together, young and old, they would
shout as the door swung back: Come in.
New Yeari Welcome, New Year" And
when it was considered that the newcom-
er had really crossed the threshold they
would turn to each other, each wishing
all happy New Year and many more to
come. This time honored ceremony was
to Marcy one of the most pleasant fea-
lures of the holiday season, for it con
cerned not only the joys of the moment.
but those of happy days to come.
On this New Years eve Marcy felt
herself in a truly doleful mood. Her
uncle ard aunt had gone to their room
at 10 o'clock, and not one word had they |
said which indicated that they consid- |
cred this evening to be in any way diff |
ferent from the ordinary evenings of the !
year. To Marcy this seemed like a sort |
Of domestic sacrilege. If she could have |
done so, she would have sped away to her |
home, even if it had been necessary to
speed back again before the cock should |
crow.
She went to her room, not because she
wanted to do so, but because the lights
were all put out down stairs, but she did
not go to bed. She sat thinking of all
the lively scenes that were going on at
home. Most likely they were playing
,harades, but they would be sure to stop
hem little before II. Her mother and
one of the girls would be getting things
together for little supper, for they al
ways began the New Year with some
j.. l.
In this big, old house it would be high
reason to eat between II and I o'clock
It night.
The hands Of Margey's new watch
moved on and on until they pointed to q
quarter of II, and then the eyes Of our
,oung lady opened wider and wider as
he sat and gazed at the wall and saw
he family at home. She could see them
ust as well as though they were there.
"They are all looking at the clock"
he said, watching and waiting and
aIking. They always begin too soon for
ear of being too late. Tom is standing
It the front door now SO that nobody
hall get ahead of him when the time
ONES"
For a few moments she sat as though
er eyes were fixed on the energetic
'om, when suddenly she rose to her feet
"I'll do it, she said, seven if I have
o do it all by myself in the dark. I'll
o down and let the New Year in"
Slowly and on tiptoe she descended the
oftly carpeted staircase. At the landing
which overlooked the hall there was a
ound window, through which came the
avs of the full moon, lighting the hall
nd stairway, so that Marcy could see ,
er way without the slightest trouble. ,
NE big clock was in the shadow, but she ,
new it was not yet II, and, stepping
ghtly to the great hall door, she went
uietly to work to unfasten it. There
7ere bolt and chain and lock. The
rst slipped back easily and without any
Disc, and the chain was removed in a ,