Passaic City record., 1900-12-22

and carry ner over narq orrdges.

and carry ner over nard DrTGges.
Now the three had met, and-well, they
felt young again, and acted so.
''1hree old pieces of driftwood toughened
by the tide, said Estella. TOO old to eel
ebrate anything, even day antique as
Christmas"
Il have heard that driftwood makes a
beautiful fire for warmth and Color" said
Penelope, softly.
Yes, added Urania, 'and an open fire is
so comforting. Three logs and pair of well
polished andirons-'
was certainly forgetting nerves, and cold,
age and infrmity.
'Do you remember" said she, ''that aw-
ful Christmas we were forced to spend at
Miss Verplanck's boarding school? B.ess
me, girls, it will be 50 years this Christmas!
Surely you remember it?''
well, | guess we do,' chimed in Pencil
ope. & was exied because of scarlet fever
at home; you because your mother and
father were called to London, and dear
Urania, here, stayed lest we should be un-
happy; bless her!'
Yes" added Urania, with slight flush,
''and do you remember the feast in Estella' $
room? How you knitted something soft
and white, and Estella played minor things
on the piano, till tear dropped on one OF
the apples | was roasting for supper, and
how you stuck your knitting needle IN that
apple, so that | should swallow my own
tear. Then how we danced the Highland
schottische, tlllittle Miss Verplanck put her
head in the door, and said, with that little
cough of hers: "A little less noise, young
ladies, if you please
Let us do it all over again." cried Estel-
la. Come to my rooms on Christmas night
at five o'clock. Urania may send the cooked
chicken; you, Penelope shall send the nuts
and candies, and i will do the rest"
Prof. Wensel did not become richer in
pocket through these old ladies, but if, as
he said repeatedly in his lecture, spiritual
rewards always found and enriched him, he
must have been in affluence after this night
People wondered why Urania laughed so
much, one old boarder saying some one must
have left her fortune Another thought
she must be on the lookout for husband,
after which astute conjecture he gave extra
attention to his hair and clothes, and tied
his scarf with wondrous care.
Penelope worked with such zeal that her
employers were surprised. One day she
hummed little tune to herself, at which the
junior partner remarked:
'By Jove, there's plenty of courage and
work in the old girl yet"
Estella spent every spare moment in max
ing her two rooms beautiful and immacu-
late. She had ceased to grumble about the
chimney place being draughty. 1t was no
longer 'an unsatisfactory heater and quite
out of date" 1t was now glorious, such
perfect ventilator and so cheerful.
On Christmas day she was prompt at
church. The anthem passed off capitally.
Everyone was pleased. She visited the chill.
dren's ward in the old hospital, and was so
funny and lovely that the pale little crea-
lures stretched out their hands to her, and
laughed a little with their hoarse pain
of pennies to the beggars that beset her
homeward path, and at three o'clock in the
afternoon had busted every article in the
quaint room to fine polish.
Two great broad windows overlooked
sloping hill and the roofs of many houses.
Beyond lay the great gray ocean A side
filled with potted plants that bloomed pro-
fusely and overran the ugly red clay that
inclosed them.
NCIOSS Oue COIuer SLOOu LuG plduO. L
was the only really new thing at hand, and
its polished surface took on shadows of the
ancient grandeur about it, as if in apology
for its presence here. Opposite the flower
window was another recess filled with book
shelves, where goodly reading was to be had
between the shabby covers of many an old
treasure.
A few easy chairs and tables lay cozily
about; and the great brick fireplace with
its brass andirons and high old mantel shelf
was the heart and core of the room.
Estella laid the fine thin old cloth care
fully on the round, polished table, garnish-
ing it by pinning little sprigs of holly on its
satiny surface.
She placed Urania's chicken by the warm
hearthstone and on stool near by laid
basket of rosy apples and a pile of bread
with the great toast-fork on guard. With
much pride of manner she turned out glass
of crab-apple jelly into an old glass dish.
and fanked it by another dish of branded
peaches.
That will surprise the girls" she said,
and laughed little as she showered Pencil
ope's lavish supply of candies in every con-
ceivable little receptacle she could find.
Estella looked queenly. Her black satin
gown was old, but she had drawn over the
patched waist fchu of soft yellow lace,
and fastened in its folds a bunch of pretty
old velvet wall flowers. Her hair had a
trick of curling itself into proper places,
and a CLINT of its old auburn tint was in
its white sheen. Her eyes were bright and
her cheeks rosy with expectancy.
Toward five o'clock the shadows grew
heavier. Day was almost gone. Estella
went to the window, looked out moment
on the sea. even the great deep is quiet
today" she said, "and there is no poor
lonesly Estella this Christmas"
She drew the curtains, put fresh log on
the blazing fire and hurried to answer
timid little knock that came on her door.
As the gust of air rushed in she looked up
to see Penelope and Urania with hoods off
and hands extended, whilst they sang in
nasal tones the old street waits: 'I pray
you, merry gentlemen" Estella laughingly
whirled them into the room, saying: 81 am
dismayed."