The sea coast echo., 1906-12-15

4ndJ IHlHS, Sne DOlnteu DIT tHo
poor Christmas number, brought
Christmas before me-"
'Of course; that was it's reason for
existing"
And | hate Christmas"
why not ignore it? Treat it with
hauteur. Cut it, so to speak"
How can l, when there are pud-
dings to be made, presents to be
bought, cards to be sent, rooms to be
decorated with holly that seems to
prefer decorating ones fingers, and
mistletoe that invariably gets stepped
into the carpet?"
ANY more?"
''Oh, heaps; a great tree is to be
dressed"
Yes, doesn't it? And snapdragon
to burn ones fingers in. Just as if
we. liked burned raisins when We got
them. And"
Still mere?"
"Oh, the boys come home from
school; and we have a ronpy dance;
and we go to church; and we sing
carols and-O, dear. isn't that
enough?" 1.
Ample" I replied.
Miss Kitty groaned again at the
very thought Of her future.
Yes" 1 remarked, pensively,
there seems to be a great deal of it;
one might almost say a surfeit. But
I can't sympathize, you know"
You can't" Miss Kitty raised her
shoulders from her cushion and looked
genuinely surprised. 4 should have
thought that you, IA"
Miss Tesseler swung her foot and
looked gloomy.
There is one way in which | might
help you" l said, meditatively, after
we had sat and looked at the fire with
much interest for some moments.
Don't be silly, Mr.. Arlington. You
may tell me your idea." she added, af-
ter pause.
Miss Kitty's eyes twinkled, and she
looked at me and waited for news.
"a sorrow shared, you know, is
halved, and at least l shall be able to
sympathize next Christmas"
you will come to stay with us?
Must l invite you?" She was positive
ly dtmpling now.
Il think a few judicious hints to
your brother Bob might spare you that
responsibility"
Miss Kitty narrowed her lids and
smiled at the fire.
Bob is dear boy" she remarked
to the blazing coal.
Perhaps people may have been right
about Miss Kitty.
"We'l do the whole thing, mind"
You'll have to beat eggs and stone
raisins"
81 shall probably be in a mood to
beat anything, and the raisins will
fare as martyrs at my hands"
You'll have to go to church"
'Of course"
"There'll be an offertory."
mo doubt l shall be able to produce
a six-penny Bit" | remarked, stiff1y.
besides, u added, q may get it re-
funded from the pudding"
And there are the crackers" she
walled
I'VE must do that together" 1 said.
She only rippled again.
Then there are the gifts l con-
tinued. Il know what | shall give
you
"Oh, do tell me-" she exclaimed
leaning forward and putting her palms
together as she looked at me.
tested.
oh" with chagrin and bafied curl
osity.
And what are you going to give
me-" l questioned.
You have everything you want"
she sighed.
Not everything I cOntradicted.
Then looked at Miss Kitty and Miss
Kitty looked at me; then she looked
away, and the corners of her lips
curled upward little.
There are just one or two things
in this Christmas number which are
rather funny" she remarked, irrele-
vanity, taking it up and turning the
pages.
mot everything" [ repeated, ignor-
ing her subterfuge and taking the pa
Per from her.
Then she gave UP irrelevance and
smiled into the fire again.
Surely you wouldn't be stingy,
when I've decided to sacrifice so much
for your sake?"
Would it be a sacriice?" she asked.
daringly.
IF am to believe all you told me, y
| answered warily Are you going to
give me what / want, Miss Tesseler?"
She made another dive for the
Christmas number / frustrated her.
How can l guess what you want?'
she asked, smiling broadly into my
eyes.
Il will tell you.
"No,"she said, hastily, wait till
Christmas Perhaps it may brighten
your season of misery
q think it WILL" l agreed, compla-
Gently.
Then Bob came in, and we all set
to abusing the Christmas number.