Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15

on her arms. She was beautiful as a
queen; and. if ever a woman's face
told story, her face did. / read in ii
power. passion, terrible repression
the outcome Of an unnatural life; |
read usefulness and fear 1t was the
loyeliest, but the strangest face had
ever seen. One popularity of It was
that, when she was not speaking or
smiling her lips became very pale.
She came to me with outstretched
hands, but without a smile. without
CLEAN Of welcome in her eyes. She
was like a marble statue; yet what a
depth of feeling lay in the dark blue
eyes!
You have had long cold journey,
Miss Forster" she said 1T is eight
o'clock and we are just going to take
tea. Mrs. Harper shall show you to
your room, and Their you can join us"
Not to save my life could have re-
Trained, as | raised my eyes, filled with
tears, to her face, from saying:
This is not much like Christmas"
And. If the words had been so many
barbed arrows that pierced her heart,
she COULD not have started more. 1t
was as though some long-lost voice had
spoken to her.
is it Christmas Eve?" she replied.
Il had forgotten it,"
you forgot that it was Christmas
Eve?' | cried, wondering to myself
what manner of woman this was.
why" | continued, the whole world
remembers and loves Christmas.-
Il loved it once" she remarked
"And why not now" | asked with
out thinking that perhaps my words
were abrupt.
"Now?" she answered, duly. ooh,
now is quite different" She looked
confused as though she hardly knew
how to answer me. Then, seeing the
tears ran down my face, she added,
You must try to be happy. 1t was
kind of you to come. You win find
Ullamere a beautiful place, but very
dull"
She shuddered as she spoke: and /
noticed that her voice was sweet and
clear but sadly deficient in the sweet
intonations that speak of hope and
love. | believe that was almost
frightened by her.
You are fatigued with your long
Journey" she said, seeing that my
tears still fell,
Yes; but ii is not that" | replied
II thought Christmas was so beauti.
full in England"
80 it is" she replied; and she
clasped her white hands together. "But
not here-not here; we forget It. 1t
must seem strange to you"
Il had read such beautiful stories
of Christmas Eve in England-of the
holly and mistletoe. and of Christmas
decorations. | rendered my prayer
at the stile under the snow-fringed
trees.
Il haye asked for a Christmas gift"
| said. impulsively
What have you asked for?" she in
quired.
II was looking at the blue sky.
watching the stars and | asked that
heaven as my christmas gift, might
give me some one to love me-"
Some one to love youi" she echoed.
Her face flushed, her eyes sparkled,
her hands trembled. ASK for a sword
serpent to poison you. for lightning to
strike you dead, If you will; but never
for any one whom you can love!'
And the next minute she was gone.
A kindly. comedy woman. whom
knew afterward as Mrs Harper, the
| housekeeper. came to me a few min.
utes later.
viii you so to your room, miss %
she asked, you must be tired and
cold"
| Yet. though the wintIy wind had
pierced me, and the frost had seized
my hands, my heart was colder still:
and | longed for the happy. sunny
France that had left.
We went through long winding pas.
sages. Mrs. Harper carried a wax
tapes. which made the darkness seem
all the more profound. The wind
moaned fitfully.
What a dreary house," cried in,
/ 'NA"A'0'tAs" why ue pu not nave IL
| lighted"
There is no gas nearer than Ulla-
dale, she replied. and that is quite
five miles awa,, Besides no one cares
about having the place lighted up"
No one cares." | repeated. what
an extraordinary thing, thought
every one liked 10 make house cheer.
| full"
AN the gas that could be made in
the world would not render this house
cheerful" said Mrs Harper There is
shadow over it,"
The shadow of WHAT" l asked. with
pale face and fast,beating heart,
! NO one knows. can see the shad-
ow and feel 1t, but | cannot tell what
il is. You are young. Miss Forster
and you must try to be cheerful. Do
not let the gloom Cypress you. That
is the bell for tea
| looked at my few plain and simple
dresses.
! Il am ashamed to so down in one OF
these | said. Are there any Wis
! itorse"