Middletown transcript., 1907-05-18
Light OF Christmas Candies
BY ELEANOR HoYT

always the aristocrat. Already
I have meditated upon the dinner
Monsieur. It shall be of the best.
Watkins and I have made the
bank account"
aIf you would allow"
The mans hand went to his
pocket, but the French woman's
face flushed.
"Pardon, Monsieur, no. 1t is
I, Francoise, who offers the din
ner. Mademoiselle permits.
But it's this for which I ventur-
ed to stop Monsieur. I knew
him to he an old friend of the
family and I said to myself, TO
dine alone is not right, on the
Noel" Then the dinner--more
than one should appreciate it.
Perhaps Monsieur Broughton
would have the kindness-not
for me,..but for the old friend
ship"
She stuck fast, tangled in en-
barrassment-then went on
breathlessly: "If you could but
add to the pleasure-to the sur
prise-if you would but dine
with Mademoise1le on Christmas
Day. I would have all things
ready; it would be like a dinner
out of the past. It is not good
that one should see no old friend
on the Noel, Monsieur!"
The man was as embarrassed as
she-but with a difference.
81 would be glad to eat your
dinner, Francoise, but-Made-
| moiselle-It would be an intru-
sion. She has never sent me
| word-she would have let me
know if she had been willing I
should come"
He was stammering like a boy.
''The pride, Monsieur = only
the pride. A friend laughs at
the pride. And on Christmas
Day-it is the season of good
| will, is it not - the season of the
soft heart +? The Christmas can
dies would melt the pride, Mon
sieur. You will conner"
He hesitated, then squared
his shoulders.
Eyes, Francoise. I will 60"
Ala bo1aheur! There shall be sole
au vin btanc.''
You will give me the address
and I may send flowers p
"To me, Monsieur. Tt is to
be surprise"
She gave him the address.
"Au revoir, Monsieur. You
are of a kindness. It shall be a
success, that Christmas dinner. !"
She hurried on to Watkins.
Dudley Broughton stopped
a passing cab and drove to his
club. He could think better at
the club. His thoughts went
back to the days when the Van
dervecks lived in Vanderveck's
house and he was exceedingly at
home there. He could remem-
ber Elizabeth's debut. She was
pretty girl, a trife cold and
proud even then, but he admired
her TRANQUILITY. He was past
enthusiasm over debutantes and
already dancing under protest.
It was on her father 'saccount that
he had drifted into the position
of friend. At least that was
what he had thought, but the de-
butante matured into a lovely
woman and he still admired her
TRANQUILITY. She had stood as his
standard for womanhood. He
had felt that if he should marry,
his wife would be like her. Prob
ably he would marry some day
some far-off day. One ought
to do that sort Of thing, and
Elizabeth but one was so comfort
able at the club. Marriage en-
tailed responsibilities, curtailing
of freedom, domestic difficulties,
trouble with servants, bad din
ners. At the club one had what
one wanted and one paid ones
dues. That was all.
The gossips grew tired Of con
Meeting his name with Miss Van
derveck. Elizabeth was cordial,
serene. She had admirers, a host
of them, and each one went away
in time; but Dudley Broughton
still dined at the house regularly
on Sunday and dropped in at all
hours. He was q selfish man,
not a vain one, and it never oc-
Cured to him that Elizabeth low
ed him. Of course he loved her.
He accepted that fact as he &C.
cepted the sunsets, but things
were very well as they we're.
He was in India when the crash
4 1. IaE