New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25

It seemed queer way Of spending Christmas. but
lonely man. with no home but his hotel and no
storm; and thus il was toward the hour of fve on
~ ne bo IUeu 5;I y aIAnad Ibs
door for me herself, explaining that there were no
servants and that her guests Ike herself had 10
The servant nature is incapable Of accepting
in order not TO add Earring element to my party
Iney cant get aI9ig |lfhout CIisIIilaS I'D trees
ana GOD Bless our Home suppose, l salu-
oh, they are quite hopeless said Mrs Lee
DO ten what you expect Of me, I said as
followed her up the stairs I m afraid I've rather
know, and all that Christmas used to be quite
fixed institution in the old days. NJ. 1aa-r-orr+-
ney. It's ingrained like the taste for drink IN
me you see a prophet crying in the wilderness to
The usual audience for reforners remarked eGsd
ney. You had scarcely got started the other nlsh'
Like all great conceptions. it Is simple" she
said, stopping and turning TO me wltn one manu-
that the tenderest memories Of life cluster about
Christmas Blu in time IT degenerates mo err
our DAYS and marking the road 10 the grave Wnen
ESr gs IS lar oTtweished BY the pain 1t be-
comes the gIeOmiest Of anniversaries with HAPPY
but with hearts Ike lead and the shadows filed
with the phantom faces OF those we've loved ana
If you go on much more I'll cry, said ,,-..-
why I brought you here. SO that We can cry in
company ana be frankly miserable AT any rate,
and making the welkn ring. In this house there
pleasant empty rooms where misery can choose
company if IT wants to or can sprawl about on
cushions and read the magazines!
''By Jover' said. Tn gladder than ever that
= Choose my guests with care" said Mrs. Lee
Courtney. cOTnplacently. "IncorrlgloIe optlrnlsts
are not invited 5d & Rsa 9gd 0 The P Eeyho is
a gentle melancholy with tete-a-tetes in corners
4 hope You won't forget next Christmas
Sometimes they hold hands, said my hostess
Better and better' I exclaimed
Il just get q lot Of interesting men and a lot OF
pretty women said Mrs. Lee-Courtney and then
You're fti1'r awfuy generous. said Might ask
myself. said she. There's a good deal Of chOos-
ing about the whole affair. you know"
oh, I've already made ether arransenaents.''
said the pretty widow, sweetly-
i've already put your affinity on one side for
iOh. have your I exclaimed.
Grace Mountmorris' she said
was gieam Of curiosity in her blue eyes. Women
dying interest in the play. II took moment
to recover myself; To think that was in the the
steps Of where I stood; that she was waiting Tor
but Mrs. Lee-Courtney' I remarked at last.
you said something about being over thirty
There were nine years between US you know
Il am not exigent about the age limit" she said
spirit 5ifi -'' ''.''' '''' $500,
''Yeu can apply yourself TO consoiing the second
Il feel Ike man in a dream" said Grace
Mountrnorris! And after all these yearsF'
Now say Christmas Day and become maudlin.
You spoke il the nick Of time, remarked
Come in and her" said she
There were good ma any r 6sGRs 8 IN the ire He
SoaTse drsught Of the chimney. blended with the
rnurmur of voices gave a sense Of snugness
an6 oTtabs Suspense While she told a
nan somewhat tartly that he was putting 100
ggvfsr ur101O ha
IF there's one thing I'm mean about she SAID
,h qns r ySns t5ie e tat3etsle chorus feminine
tonaJion to the effect that the nalf or ms lnlqu-
ions arm and waited. looking about for the face
g sntsd i so m9Gh 20 e eg of Mrs.
Tee-Ceurtney took pity me and led me through
you cheerfuIiy waited eight years" she said.
and now you can't walt eight seconds.
Kn sSq oe she h repeated That's why asked
STD would have answered her but the words died
in my throat I perceived Grace herself in a
se9t leaning r o9sk Ssa sa 5ee ,5d r
fo-ward and caught her outtstretched hands
7 have explained everything 70 Mr. Harold: :"
said Mrs Lee Quincy calmly I'M Snd II ne gets
Fer contratS voice as she said this thrilled on
my ears with thousand recoleeuons-
Now I must chase up my interesting man said
more poaching him and he didn't seem trying real
hard 10 help himself ISut Roger snow oei s vo
troubier' With this farewell defiance Mrs. Lee
Courtney futtered OF. adding something about
supper at she passed through the portieres
and out OF sight; 60. g. ,,o.,.,.
or TWO neither OF Us spoke
Come nearer the light, Grace" said a. last
II ct pa read your face and learn something OF
the kind OF woman you've grown into. She moved
back into the shadow instead with protest In every
Il am NJ getting old. Evan" she said II am
txsnty-sight and-@nd-& wonaan's youth Ii soon