Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-12

due to the widow. She was
~ cheerful and careless, and as
4 u long as people had good
time she was satisfied. she
had been the life of the MaShoiia
House in Florida since early in au-
tumn, and now that Christmas was at
hand she arranged celebration ana
a tree for the exiles.
On the forenoon Of the day before
Christmas among the arrivals were
two attractive young people VINO were
entire strangers to one another. When
they appeared on the veranda after
lunch, the widow approached the
young man.
I'VE are going to have a Christmas
tree and german tonight. Would you
not like to contribute something for
the favors and attend:'
why certainly answered Mr.. FAR
child, for that was his real name, as he
handed over a bill.
What name shall / write?
Mr.. Fairchild looked the widow
squarely in the eye and said
"Mr. Marmadukc Weston
In the evening Miss Spauding was
sitting in coy window seat when the
widow came rushing along.
"By the way she exclaimed, I'VE
are one couple short for our german.
VIII you not join us? | have just
learned that your name is Miss Spar
ling"
Indeed" said Miss Spauldng laugh
ing as she rose, but not correcting the
error. Il shall be very glad to join in
the dance"
4 few moments later the widow in
troduccd Mr.. Weston TO Miss Spar
ling. and each thought it was a fine
joke on the other, They entered into
the spirit of the occasion with the
abandon that usually characterizeS
Christmas merrymakings, and finally,
as they moved toward one Of the pleas
ant hooks of the veranda aftera dance,
the mental comment OF each upon the
other was. Dances divinely"
The conversation was naturally I'M
progressive so 1t is hardly to be Won
dered at that after parting they car
ried away very distinct impressions.
She had found the tall. curly haired
athlete very interesting, while he found
the serious faced girl with the large,
wistful eyes puzZling.
So il was not surprising that the fol
lowing morning Fairchild looked in
the hotel register to find where Miss
Sparkling had come from. but a careful
study failed TO reveal her name in the
book. \ mystery surrounded her that
was certainly worth penetrating, he
decided. even without any thought of
becoming better acquainted with SO
young lady, and he strolled
out TO smoke his cigar and mediate
on the subject.
Shortly after Mr.. Fairchild left the
office Miss Spaulding entered that cen
trail bureau of information. She began
looking through the register, but on
no page of it could she find any record
Of the interesting Mr.. Weston. But
after all her investigations he contin-
ued just as much of a mystery to her
rs she was TO him.
When they met during the day, they
resumed their acquaint-
on the same artificial plane.
They played their parts with a nat
rral touch Of exaggeration that they
both knew would seem absurd in gen.
eral company, so By mutual consent
hey avoided each other when in dan
ger of meeting when others were about.
Many of their evenings. however, We're
snlivened by pleasant strolls in the
of the hotel. and they en-
Dyed their romance just as if il We're
II book instead of in their real lives
After few weeks had passed Miss
Spaulding was suddenly recalled to the
'ity and left the hotel while Fairchild
vas out boating, so there was no leave