The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-25
Catherine sGray's Christmas
Irsseit.

Little Mabel thrust her tiny hand into
the great china jar of rose leaves, and
though outside the winter wind
was ~shrleking through leafless trees. and
the binding snow vas whirling along
through almost deserted streets.
careful, my pet, don't spill the
rose leaves ;, murmured a sweet voice.
IL was Mabels sister, brown.eyed
Catherine, who sst sewing by a dim
light and u dying fire. She was furtive
ly making a pink dress for a cheap doll,
hidden under her apron, for tomorrow
would be Christmas and the doll must
be put in Mabefs little red stocking.
They were all alone, these two, and
Catherine was fighting the battle for
both But though her heart was
brave, hope would sometimes fail her,
Tor there were 80 many things that were
needed to keep grim poverty away from
the dor, N alas, there was 30 little
that she could do.
Only q few months ago they had been
the petted daughters Of a wealthy bank
or, but failing In business, their father
died OF the shock, aud his heart. broken
Wiie soon followed him to his grave.
Aud 30 Catherine and Mabel were left
alone. Riches took wings and friends
forsook them or all the splendors of
their magnificent home, nothing was
lcf. 70 them but u few dollars, and the
great rose jar. AND this Catherine
would keep, because the roses in IL
were the last Richard had ever given
her.
one had tried so hard to forge, but
never y day had daw nod siuce that aw
full night when he left her that she had
not awakened from hooking dreams to
u realization OF unutterable loneliness
aud desola,ion Sleeping or waking, In
crowds or in solitude, her sorrow was
ever with her-a haunting and pitiless
spectre, from which there was no rcsri,c
and nc escape And tonight rs ,;ttir
Mabel stirreu The withered leaves in The
old rose jar the wealth of that lost love
ND that deal summer burst forth from
is sepu!chrr anew.
1t happened al a ball and banqu.t a
land public function in honor Of Il dis
iilguishcd tow nsman, who had Just
Il, on elected to q high office,
Never bad GATHERINGS lover showed
ncr such ardent attention, never befur,
had he seemed 80 proud Cf her grace
Mdlovelincss, and the very noticeable
air of proprietor ship which he manifestc.
started the warm bushes to her delicate
checks.
She Lad tdcclined q val 2 18th t.,
Distinguished guest of the uy.Llus DC
cause Richard bad requested her Il
waltz with none but himself.
y nave never been 30 ~exacting be
iorc," he said, as he drew her to a sea
among the tall palms along the sides O.
the long salon, "but l am likely to be
come so from this on" ,
The long lashes dropped over tn,
petty brown eyes. and tho warn
b .ushes on her cheeks glowed a NOR,
vivid crimson, for she knew that thu
eager n meant that their marriag,
day was not far off. .
We shall always have plenty of thes
in the conservatory, darling" said he
drawing one of the long stemmcd rose
from the buhch at her waist. "They ar
my favorite Of all flowers, and 1 shall
never see Them without thinking of
His voice ceased abruptly, his hand
some head was suddenly erected, and b
sat as if spolt bound, his eyes fixed on
dazzling form in white gauze Of .cau d
nile" satin which had just passed then
In the whirl OF the waltz o.
her bosom was a spray of jasmine flow
ers, which emitted an Intoxicating Der
fume as she swept past. And, iron
that night, the sight or scent of tn
family odorous jasmine flower woul
turn Catherine faint and i'll
"Who is she, CatherineP" Richard In
quired. in a voice hoarse with passion
ate feeling. She did not know, and 8
she told him.
at the end Of the waltz he sprang L
his feet with the impatience of a schoo
boy, and with a slender apology he lef
her. presently she saw an Acquaintance
conduct him to the enchantress and tn
form OF an introduction gone throup
with, then in a few minutes they whirle
past her in the waltz
How Catherine lived through that av
full night, without losing her reason, sh
never knew. The rose that he ha
taken from her belt had fallen unheede
to the floor, and now lay crushed be
meath the dancers feet. He never ono
glanced ct her throughout the Who'll
evening. He no longer remembers
ever her existcnce-and strange tn sa
he was 30 absolutely the thrall of hi
passion, that he was unconscious OF an,
wrong doing on his part.
And that nag ~. beginning OF Rich
ard Hartsfield's infatualion for r IS
Carcw, and the end uf loves ,vuu
dream for sweet Catherine Gray.
For long time Catherine half hope,
he v ould return to her, but tho Ion,
Il "ohbS IL SIG nGVt.
n time heard from him. She seldnn
went out, she did not read the ncws
papers .shc was too busy and too boo
30 she did not know even what had he
come Of her old love
IF could only outlivc it." She moan
ed but l never shall. Oh, love, no
could you be 80 weak2 All you woul,
nave been kinder If You had elain IN
tLat bitter night"
While Catherine wept on her folde.
hands Mabel, ever intent on chiid,sl
mischief, came and leaned against heJ
knee, slipped the tiny thimble from he
niger and trotted back to dabble in th,
old rose leaves until her loyin,
nurse nanny came and put her TO bed
&xM
Christmas morning dawned on a col,
gray ky. and quietly falling snow. Ma
mel was very happy with the new dol
and sugar piums found in her stocking
and tho big yellow orange which Nam
my gave her. But for Catherine thcr,
was no Christmas token. Shecpreparet