The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-25
THE LAST CALL.
BY MRS. GENERAL GEORGE H.
 PICKETT.
4 Christmas stery.

BY MRS. GENERAL 06V
 PICKETT.
 Copyright, 1904. Daily Story Pub; Co:'
 Was there ever such a dreary Cnrist- mas eve? Kathryn Lyle shivered and bent over the grate lire. Not that the weather was cold. It was the gloom of it that threw her into a shfver. A rainy Christmas!
 Kathryn was accustomed to white christmas. clear and sparkling under fine rIeam of stars and tingling with inc sharp kiee of December winds. She was used to the soft tinkle of sleigh bells ripping out on the air and the crisp grind of swift runners on the snow.
 be-" she said to herself, impatiently. "How else could 1t be down here in 6 region that Is neither North nor South. but a neutral kind of country. possessed of the bad qualities of both and the attractions of neither. be- lieve in family affection to a reason able extent, but 1t ought to have it's limits. like other things. I am sure I could have loved Aunt Eunice very much more if she had accepted mann mas invitation to spend Christmas with us instead of asking me to come down here and cheer up her holidays. The best Christian in the world. which I do not pretend to be. could be more affectionate in a comfortable place than horrid one. Cheer her up? I feel about as cheerful as an epitaph."
 When Kathryn felt exceedingly blue she usually fell to thinking of Willie Olds. If she had thought of him some- times when she was in lively mood. his chances might have been better. But she never did.
 He always proposed to her at Christ mas time. He had an impression that the general sentiment of peace on earth, good. will to men" might im- prove his prospects. So far 1t had not, but Will was not easily discour- aged. When he was near enough he would cali on her to remind her that he was still at her disposal and ex- pected to remain so indefinitely. Be- ing a thousand miles away, he had written to her this time.
 She pulled a letter out of the pocket of her travelling jacket. She had it there with her knife and a ball of cord and some postage stamps and a package of postal cards and a paper of caramels and few other things that were necessary to the existence of a traveller. She read 1t aloud. dwelling with special emphasis on this passage:
 "You wrote me that you were going to your aunt's to spend the holidays. . The prospect fills me with hope. } should think that the festal days un- der those circumstances might induce you to do almost any reckless thing.
 T am contemplating a proposition to take permanent bachelor quarters. They do not present irresistible attrac- tions. I am not dwelling with antici- patory rapture upon their prospective delights. I have no ambitious long, ings to be, like the man on the desert island. monarch of all I survey
 will you relieve me from the deso- late, prospect will take Mopsie and Puggie if you consent, and if you have a pet bird and favorite beetle and a trained snake, they will be welcome
 Mopsie, purring on the rug and open ing her eyes now and then to blink al the fire, heard her name called and came to her mistress. rubbing fondly against her and moving affectionately Puzzle gave & tender bark of satis' faction and wagged his tail apprecia' lively. Not wishing to unlimber his dignity sufficiently to divide attention with his rival, Mopsie. he remained where he was, looking on in benevo- lent approval of the suggestion. You ungrateful beases! You si' there regardless of your loving nis. tress, after all she has done for you even to hiring Sam to bring you tc visit and suffering agonies all the way Jest he should suffocate you or let you run away. In fright of him and then you grow enthusiastic over g proposal from somebody you do not know very well and your mistress does not like"
 Mopsie and Puggie resumed their places on the hearth and fell into med itation. apparently upon the baseness of their emotional attitudes.
 Kathryn also meditated. The sub- ject was not evident. but that it was not wholly unpleasing was shown by the smile that sometimes lit up the gravity of her face. The door opened and her aunt came in with letter in her hand.
 Its a special dellvery."
 Kathryn signed for it and Aunt Eunice went out.
 There 1t Is again. He used to be satisfied with trying his fate once g Christmas. Now he has doubled on it."
 short enough" she said, reading:
 Lease still unsigned. Last call for dinner. Wire answer"
 was there ever such ridiculous child?" she said, looking at Puggie who, considering himself appealed to- responded with a negative yelp.
 T suppose bachelor quarters are lonesome" she unused. She had not before contemplated the subject with seriousness. In a general way she had always fancied that they were de- liciously unconventional and free from care, but now she could imagine that they might leave something to be de- sired in the way of festivity. especial ly for Christmas time. At least there was snow where he had pitched his bachelor quarters. That was an ad- vantage. And great white glares of ice and sleighbells and all that.
 An appalling apprehension seized