Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-12-17

ANOl Uy OLucIS, ). Dexter, discreetly "but when it is you. dOar-'
 Isabel laughed and shrugged her shoulders as she fastened the last but ton.
 AS the carriage went down the av- enue Isabel bent forward to watch the crowd of Christmas promenaders.
 T ordered the holly and mistletoe yesterday" Mrs. Dexter was saying, ruminatively. "The flowers came last night, all except the table decorations. They are to be there by Il. Betty said she would look after them"
 "She has my chiffon dress to change before dinner" said Isabel
 Mrs. Dexter bowed her head in com fortable abstraction.
 .'She can do both"
 Isabel smiled Quizzically at her tone.
 Suddenly the smile vanished and she leaned toward the window eagerly to catch a glimpse of tall figure as 1t turned into Fifth avenue.
 There is MT. Wade now" she said. Shall we go back?"
 She hesitated slight flush tinting her face as she sank back against the maroon cushions.
 Mo-" she continued. T think he will wait"
 The carriage passed without Wade's recognition of it's occupants He walked on up the avenue, his hands deep in his pockets. his chin uplifted belligerently.
 He would see her at all costs. [. he asked for her alone. they could not keep her from him. Heretofore in his calls 1t had been Isabel, as matter of course, who received him. But to-day was Christmas, and ne carried Christmas greeting to the girl he loved.
 Tho ladies were both out, Clifford told him at the door. Would he wait?
 Miss Betty Is hanging mistletoe In the study for the ball tonight" ex- plained Clifford.
 T will wait there," said Wade, and Clifford stood alone in the hall, looking at $5 gold piece which had reached his palm suddenly.
 She was trying to hammer 8 small brass hook into the archway, and was singing softly. Wade thought as he let the portieres fall behind him that he had never heard "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing sound quite SO sweet in all his life.
 Merry Christmas" he said, and Betty dropped the hammer.
 T said Merry Christmas" he re- peated, laughing up at her
 Please pick up the hammer" said Betty, sedately. "You mustn't bother me-"
 Wade laid the hammer on the table.
 "You can't hammer in a hook. It screws in. Let me do it..
 Betty sat down on top of the ladder.
 "Everybody's out" she remarked, irrelevantly.
 'I'm glad of it," responded Wade, composedly.
 "Isabel's out, too"
 There was long silence. Betty's chin was resting on one hand. The other held bunch of mistletoe ready for hanging on the hook. and she looked down at the tiny, pearly berries meditatively. Wade walked to the window and back again to the base of the footladder.
 Don't you know that want to sec only you. Betty" he asked.
 Betty hung the bunch of mistletoe in place with unsteady fingers. He could not see her face.
 "rm veW busy. Mr. Wade. You know Aunt ocsAwh gives . bell to- night. I'm desoza4ers did ell tho rooms except for tic mistletoe. and { am to put n ef that up"
 "Xou arc sRWays busy
 \ trace of sa1oeas came over tho lovely eariish facs.
 ''Tha1 sfs su very Kind to me-. sAs sald, brsvsly. T Ike to help, aad feel that an needsds''
 ThefV w1s the covnd of carriaSe whesh on the avezas sutsSde. As they stoppta befors the house WAde's jaws sQuarsA &i<h determfnat1on. He held up k6 arns to tAs figure Ia black on tts stsplAnAsr.
 Betty. need yo1 mest. sweetheart.' . Ae satd. "WdAA you ceme to ns."
 Ths pertaa.es st the end Of the room partsd. and for n instant Mss. Dexter anA Isabel pauseA It sisht of the pic turs baf0re 0ep. At tho foot of tho ladder steCd Wade. with Betty held closely ia has sr4as. has llps pressed so her1.
 "ElieabstAi" exclaimed Mrs. Daxtsr. as she caught her brsakh.
 Wade raisss ns head. las eyes btan. ful of merriment.
 "tfs al right. Mira. Dextse." he sald. :hesf1ly. We're under the mistlstoe. md Betty's just promised to bs the only aistlstoA girl in tho world fee na lenrpv Cn1 n1snaa,m- -a.~e.. 0A.N~