The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-03

"h SldtIl! man, ana Mrs. Brundpr. hi
Wlfe. For several years these two ha,
made up the family--a very small fnmi
ly for so large IL house They had n,
children, and. although they were yer.
good company for each other they fcl
as they daily grew older that they coul,
not OF themselves make their home n,
chSerlul and as pleasant aS they woul,
have il. They felt this the more forci
bly, because there had been many year.
when that house was very cheerful ant
very pleasant. Therefore il was about
six months before this story opcns thi.
I'll too quiet couple had taken into their
home young girl, Margcy Griffith. tho
niece OF Mrs. Erundcr and one OF 4
larg" family OF fnthrrlcSS boys and girls
The Hon. Horace had never been fond
Of children. and at one time in his liz,
II might have been said that he abSo.
iutely diSlIkcd boys and girls, but now
since he had ceased To go out i'm all
weaihers and was feeling a growing de-
pcn9rnce on the indoor pleasures OF hi.
home. he had agreed with his wife that
II would hc good thing to have some
young life in the house and that OF all
the persons they knew The niece Mar.
key VAS best adapted to supply the miss
nR and needed element in their house.
hold life.
~
family TINT it was a most fortunate thing
that her rich uncle. who did not care for
young people" should take hcr into his
house. and for time the girl herself was
very well satisfied with the change from
me somewhat contracted suburban house
and the active hustle Of = large family to
the quiet rural beauty OF the old mansion
ITS garden. its lawn and its woodland
But MS summer passed and aS autumn
1,,.,.,
went and us the rigo"= IS. winter settled
themselves upon the land. Margcy often
thought OF the Siirrin. life which was 20.
ing on nj home. whci" winter was the
livr!icSt time OF the year
AZ last Christmas canc. but il was n
dulI time for Margvy. There were neigh.
bors invited, but they were nll elderly
people and Of II rcpoScfuI turn Of mind.
Maigcy received several presents among
them beautiful little watch from her
uncle. and. although she had never re-
'cv;T|u, anything which could compare
with these Christmas gifts. they did not
compensate her for the loss o. 'lc hol;'av
atmosphere Of her home. During the
whole day she felt rs though .h" were at.
tending the funeral OF Santa Claus.
Bat on the last day OF the year her
spirits sank still lower With her broth.
ers ana sisters and the elderly members
of the family she had been accustomed
ever since she could remember To make n
great deaf OF New Years eve. and among
the obScrvanccs which were never omit.
ted was til" traditional custom OF opening
the front door of the house exactly as the
clock struck the hour OF midnight i'm or.
der to Let the New Year come in. Then
all together young and old, they would
shout rs the door swung back: Come in.
New Year. Welcome, New Year" And
when II wns considered that the nrwcom.
er had really crossed the threshold they
would turn to each other each wishing
all happy New Year and many more to
como. This time honovcd ceremony was
to Margcy one OF the most pleasant fca.
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 Margcy felt
herself in n truly dolcfr mood Her
uncle and aunt had gone to their room
at 10 O'Clock, and not one word had they
said which indicated that they consid |
ered this evening to he i'm my way diff |
fercnt from the ordinary evenings Of the
year. To Margcy this seemed like sort |
OF dor'cstic sncrilcge. II she could have
done So she would have sped away to her |
home. even IL II hnd 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 ont down stairs. but she did |
not go to bed. She sat thinking OF all |
tho lively scenes that were going on at
home. Most likely they were playing
charndcs. but they would be sure to stop |
them little before IL. Her mother and |
ono OF the girls would be getting things
together for little supper. for they al.
ways began the New Year with some.
thing to ent. drink and be merry over
In this big. old house 1t would be high
treason to eat between - :nd O'Clock
at night.
The hands OF Margey's new watch
moved on and on until they pointed to q
quarter OF -. and then the eyes Of our
young lady opened wider and wider as
she sat and gazcd at the wall and saw
the family Mt home. She could see them
just as well rs though they were there.
"Thcy are all looking at the clock"
she said. watching and waiting and
talking. They always begin too soon for
fear Of being too late. Tom Is standing
at the front door now SO that nobody
shall get ahead Of him when the time
comes"
For a few moments she sat az though
her eyes were fixed on the energetic
ION, Wnen sud0enly sne rose TO her feet |
'1'll do It," she said. even II l have
to do It all by myself in the dark. III
30 down and let the New Year In"
Slowly and on tiptoe she descended the
softly carpeted staircase. At the landing
which overlooked the hall there was q
round window. through which came tho
rays OF the full moon. lighting the hall
and stairway. so that Margey could see
her way without the slightest trouble.
The biz clock was in the shadow. but she
knew II was not yet r. and. stepping
lightly to the great hall door. she went
Qrietly to work to unfasten It. There
were a bolt and chain and lock. The
hrat slipped back easily and without any
noise. and the chain was removed in a
but the lock turned hard, and as
she forced the big key around she was
afraid that there might be a sudden click
which would be heard on the floor above.
II would be q dreadful thing IL her aunt
o"ouiu near II, Tor II nad been thoroughly
impressed on her mind that IL that good
lady should be suddenly startled nobody
would know what might happen. But,
she moved the big key slowly
and with much difficulty. she moved Il
steadily. and finally It went around as far
as 1t would go and without click.
The door was unfastened. She turned
ths knob and stood holding IL firmly.
"a. |