New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
The Christmas M14fir1eer,s,
By LLOYD OsBOURNE.


spent You Will expect to see me as was-and
b5 fi Ho 5 SO v dark sh1i cannot see you are as
"a an $3.50 Of ,-S :" she rarurras Sc. how
cold my hand IS, how it tremoles. Evan It's Ike
a meeting OF ghOstsr'
The ghosts OF our dead selves I said. Yes.
that's what are. Grace. questioning each other
about our dead lives and that other world We used
said.
And you never married Chlrrington.' said.
- couldn't she answered IT would have been
II was two years before heard you hadn't"
was building an electric road in VladivOstok when
the news drifted out 10 me"
Think repeated ION; I hardly know what
waited for YOU 10 wrire 10 me but YOU didn't"
What did you expect me to writer" she said
and marry me.-Sincerely yours, Grace Mount
7 did expect something Of the kind" I said.
How stupid Of YOU she said
I said.
Il left my address the cable Office on the chance
OF your cabling. Oh. how waited and waited
Yes: and never came near me-" she broke out
Henry Hartnell,' said, and 1 went straight back
And you believed her. she cried "Oh. how
dare people invent such hest
How was to know it was a. he?,' said
She said she knew 1 returned.
You ought TO have been the one to know" shs
1t was reasonable enough" said "FIartnen
TO you must remember you never answered this
two letters I wrote to you before I first left
7 did answer them she said
/ sprang from my seat
Grace" I said sOlemnly. 7 did not receive
She laughed 1nirthlessIy. 7 did not say sent
them, Evan she said - put them N ne nre
'svTeII it's all over now" she said I'VE broke
our hearts once. Don't let Us hammer the pieces
so Charrington married afterwards said
Yes she returned.
money. al any rate she said
I've never seen him since. you know. I said
couldn't be very ENJOYABLE for either Of you When
9 o1ce sH sBd t6e best friend FANS dead in love with
your hance, and the flames makes perfect fool
sees I hfTf but y aSGH5 goo a loya honest
IT think you might spare me that hat, said
Yet We were towards n9t 70 face Il out I
sacrificed ourselves for nothing. The modern book
Of martyrs is filled with the names OF fools Grace.
tons go of and marry somebody else
We can never recall those years. Grace said
an ss empty empty years too e14ghI her hand
We've -, been robbed Of that bat Don't let Us be
There's never been day when I haven't thoughr
g. Gra yeg It was i0F your sake never married
Evan" she said. and her voice as she spoke
me on your word OF honor not 10 ask me to-
What dc you mean?'' exclaimed
Il want you 10 promise" she said.
IT won't DO anything OF the kind" 7 said IT
don't understand you at all What do you ask
III YOU don't promise you'll never see me again.
she said, III go back 70 the others IN make
How long is the promise to Iast2'' inquired
"A year, she returned Yes or no. Evan
haven't any right TO ask such a thing We'ys
thrown away eight wears. and I must prom
'.Fronse She repestsd saS WifS snch u,,,.
ring o. insistence and resolution that could not
IAN right then. TN promise" I said,
as you'd give n 10 msG ans KEGS r. F ss
Nov perhaps you might tell me what II all
Evan she returned zone cannot stand stfn
for eight years man never seems TO learn that
back no matter how long after glowing vim hv
gore sentiments and byg0ne memories and expects
TO take IN things where he left on That's what
YES said, that's what am doing"
''ESut I'm not that person at all" she said. Tn
somebody else. Somebody that you don't know IN
ct shouldn't have suspected IT," said
"Of course NAV be lots nicer" she went
poee bIt d5S.r w,1r vo y "s sn ls ,, sup
NAV be hard afterward 70 unsay-'
Don't lot's art Ike sentimental fools sse re-
turned. and wind up with sentimental az
WHAT'S dsbachlee" I asked.
"A disaster smash she said
ITS Y not possible sometimes 70 be over scrupu-
''Retter nat than a false position" she r.,
.'you make ne feel thar must have altered con-
Can you have any doubt about thatF' she de-
ct mean for the worse" I said That i've dis
you expected fairy prince with rrglets ana pink
CHEEKS and are thunderstruck 20 md nothing but
middle aged American engineer. worn by the world
and not little weary -
She drew impereeptibly closer to me- the .ubtlsss
60 b continnsd1