The Republican journal., 1902-12-04


can give you, if you feel offended at
what l shall propose, is that | am
homesick. Here it is, anyway: Let us
eat our Christmas dinner together"
She did not seem surprised, so he
went OH before giving her chance to
reply.
Il know it would be unconventional,
decidedly so, but that is the only OBJ
| lection [ can see. That is if you can
trust me- 1t seems to me the day
| would pardon the unconventionality.
If had met you somewhere near the
North Pole, both of us being lost, it
would have been proper enough for me
to have asked you to share my walrus
meat, l am sure And are we not
as much alone in this city today"
After the dinner we shall part, and l
will not even ask your name"
He waited for her reply. She stood
there silently, with her eyes on the
ground, and with perplexed look on
her face. Once she glanced up and
looked him full in the eyes. He return
| ed the look frankly, and her eyes once
more turned towards the ground. Fin
| ally, with a curious expression of re-
solve and amusement, she spoke
81 thank you, Mr.. Gordon. 1t gives
me great pleasure to accept your kind
invitation
Good" he replied, laughing. ''Your
acceptance, at any rate, is formal
enough, Shall | meet you at your
home, or will it be more convenient for
you to come direct to the Astoria?"
The latter, | think, would be better
At two?"
1es, promptly at two
81 will be prompt, she replied. Here
is my car. Goodby, Mr.. Gordon" and
she had gone. 1t seemed to him as he
stood there moment after she had
vanished into the crowd that she had
pronounced his name little peculiarly
Almost as if She-pshaw, OF course
he had never met her.
He returned to his room in much
better frame of mind, and even muster
ed sufficient courage to finish the inter
esting case of Hamersley vs. Smith
Smith was convicted, and he was
glad of it.
CHAPTER II.
Christmas Day came, and with it the
worst storm OF the year. Where Joy
already existed, the binding snow with
out only served to intensity the merry
making, but within the grief-stricken
homes it added tenfold to the misery
When Jack awoke and looked around
his dreary room, and realized that this
day was Christmas Day, the sense of
his utter loneliness overcame him com.
pletely. He turned over, and burying
his head in his pillow gave himself up
to his inconsistencies.
Detail by detail he went over his last
Christmas, and it was long and by slow
degrees before he returned to the pres
ent, and his engagement at two.
He arose and spent the morning in
writing letters home. After he had
| finished Them he reread one, and care
fully gathering them together put them
in the fire. Condensed they read, Il am
homesick-and wish that | were dead"
After that he dressed for dinner, and
paced the floor for an hour and three
quarters before it was time to start
Strange to say, he speculated very
little ABOUT his companion of the even
ing before. Perhaps it was because he
| devoted the greater part of his thought
| to the person of whom she had at first
reminded him.
Promptly at two he entered the hotel,
! and found her waiting for him. He al
most started at the stylishly dressed
woman who greeted him. He had not
noticed last night that she was so beau
tiful. She was really handsome.
"a Merry Christmas to you, Mr.. Cor
don," she said, holding out a small
gloved hand at his approach.
"And to you, -Miss-well, never
mind-a Merry Christmas to you" She
blushed as he hesitated at the name
| He laughed as he noticed it. 81 may as
well settle what l am going to call
| ho 10
call you," he said slowly, Miss Ruth
Creighton, but mostly Ruth, do you
mind?"
She started, and with difficulty re-
gained her self possession.
"Why-why do you choose that
name?' she asked with a peculiar look.
perhaps l will tell you at dinner.
But won't call you that if you mind.
Do you?"
"No, that will do as well as another.
1t sounded strange at first. And yet, :"
she added, glancing up at him sharply
for second, lit fits in nicely with the
| Christmas comedy, and that is what it
is, is it not?''
Certainly" he replied, 1--WE are but
obeying the old adage,
cat Christmas play and make good cheer
| For Christmas comes but once a year."
| They were soon seated in the large
dining hall, gay with Christmas deco
rations. The spirit of Christmas was
over it all. The merry chatter of the
| guests, the contagious laughter, the
hustle and excitement were irresistible.
1t was just what their starved natures
craved, and they were soon chatting
merrily
A careful observer might have no.
ticed that she watched him rather close
| ly, and at times her brows were knitted,
as though she were engaged in some
close study. He, on his part, ran along
frankly and openly, describing to heI
his life at home, his friends, his am
billions.
They merrily ordered those things
that make up the good old-fashioned
dinner, from the fat turkey and Gran
berry sauce to the mince pie. He laugh.
ingly admitted that he would not dare
order two pieces of pie. Mother does
not allow it, you know" he said.
And she in her turn told him of her
home life, although guardedly; of heI
trials and ambitions.
1t was wonderful how completely at
ease they were.
Time passed rapidly, and they soon
got to their coffee. She leaned back
gracefully in her chair, and said with a