Middletown transcript., 1903-12-19
r. SAW what / thought was small

from her head to her foot, ant
while her clothes were not ''coveret
with ashes and soot," there were httl
sparkly fakes everywhere, which, thougl
spelling rhyme and meter, were certainl.
more attractive. Even at this distanc
1 could see her cheeks flaming like Christ
mas candles. She certainly looked lik
Santa Claus, and told her go when sh
met me.
How rude of you! she cried; the ide
of telling a nice girl she reminds yo'
of fat old man, and she began battin
her bright eyes at me over her muff.
This is one of Stella's most allurin
tricks. She does it when displeased, a
little children do it when they are sen
away to bed, and it is intended to disma..
her victim. The poor girl does not know
that it never accomplishes its purpose
for those lucky ones at whom the bat
are directed are SO fascinated in watching
the futtering of her lids they forge
quite what they have been talking about
Some particularly stupid ones even thinl
she is flirting with them, and go ava.
jubilant when they should be mos
crushed. However, 1 am not one o
these, so I pulled long face and looked
miserable.
Never mind, said Stella, charitably
for she has the kindest heart in the
word; you meant to be complimentary
suppose. Anyway, she added, l always
thought Santa Claus very lovable old
gentleman.
So do I, I cried, with perhaps unnec'
essary violence, the most adorable old
gentleman in the world. love every
bit of him, from his fluffy yellow head
to his pretty little feet.
Aren't you getting bit mixed? asked
Stella. And 1 wish you wouldn't stare
sol But she looked little pleased, SO
I gave her vanity tweak.
1 was looking at your nose, said,
dreamily. It's the loveliest shade of
pink-that deep, rich shade SO suggestive
of Christmas; the color that looks well
with turkey and holly leaves. But Stella
was already some feet away from me,
steaming along like little tug.
Why do you hurry SO? 1 asked, inno-
Gently, as I caught up with her, though
to tell the truth was fearing had gone
too far.
Stella trotted ahead scornfully, the
offended feature burrowing, sulkily, into
the fur Of her muff.
Lovely day, painted, for Stella's speed
had now become like nothing in the
world but an automobile, crisp-snappy
your blood tingle-gives you
color Stella gave little lurch for
ward, and quickened her pace. 1 saw
something must be done or l die Of apo
plexy. So 1 mentioned the Appleton's
dance, and had the instant pleasure OF
seeing her 60 beautiful pink, and settle
down to respectable walk again.
The Appleton's dance is the sword
which I hold over Stella's head, and
which keeps her willful spirit in check.
She knows me too well to think l would
ever tell what happened on that memoir
able evening, but she daily lives in terror
Of hearing me mention it to herself.
She said on one occasion when l had
goaded her to desperation by references
to that night: can't think what ever
made me such an idiot would sooner
die than be such a fool again! All of
which, though scarcely complimentary
to myself, shows what importance she
attaches to the incident and my resulting
power over her. At all events, she was
a fool, and it comes in very bandily on |
occasions this one, for instance.
1t took Stella two blocks Of steady |
walking to reduce the flush my words |
had caused and to allow her to look at |
me.
Are you going to hang up your stock
ing, Mr.. Randall? asked Stella, when the
two blocks lay behind us. The "Mr.
Ranaaiiif' was my punishment, but I
affected not to be dismayed by it.
No, I said, have dark recollections
Of time when a long switch was the
result of my practicing that Christmas
pastime. The thought of it makes me
nervous even now. I always take the
precaution of hiding my stockings Christ
mas Eve just to make sure.
You must have been a dreadfully
naughty little boy, said Stella, disap.
provingly. Now, my brothers get good (
les, and horns, and things. 1 fill their
stockings every Christmas Eve.
If you will fill mine, will hang it up,
volunteered, valiantly.
l won't do that, but you may come
;o-night, and help me fill theirs, she
sweetly.
There is some difference, / said, dis
but I'll come. l hope they
won't all come trooping down to the
,arlor, though-the boys 1 mean, not
he stockings-I shall bring a stack of
witches with me in case they do. 1t
would Go them good after getting good
es, and horns, and things all these years.
Stella paused before her door.
I'll expect you at eight, she said. You
lad better 60 home now and rest-you're
III out of breath, and putting horribly.
Did gentlemen shouldn't exercise too
and she had gone before l
ould say word about the Appleton's
lance. However, 1 contented m, self
With thinking up new and devilish WAYS I
1 putting it to her as walked along.
/ supposed myself alone as I entered
he parlor of Stella's home, but glance (
pward showed me a pair OF feet and
nkles perched on top of a stepladder. {
here was apparently nothing more than
nst these and the heavy branches OF a
christmas tree. However, 1 am not {
articular, 80 addressed the ankles.
Good evening, I remarked, blandly,
ou are looking charming tonight. / a
lWaya liked red and ziozavs aro q ,,as 4