Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

brought glorious touch of red to her checks
She incarnated the very spirit OF youth and
beauty and happiness as she reentered the hail.
and coming face to face with Gor1nly wished
him again a Merry Christmas.
Gormly had been busy during the night. He
actually had not slept wink. As soon as he
had got the party safely to bed, he had gone to
the stable. and, in default of anyone else who
could do so, he had ridden across the country
through the snow and storm, which even
then dying out. to notify the people at the Hal
dane place of the predicament of the family and
to arrange that maids and men with proper
clothing should be brought over to his own cot
tage early in the morning
With four horses attached to the large station
wagon, the maids and men had arrived betmeS,
and when mistress and master awOke they
ready to attend to them. Hence Miss
Haldane was under no necessity OF appearing
in evening costume at eight o'clock in the
morning, or of making guy of herself in Mrs.
Bullen's extraordinary attire. She was one OF
the rare women who appreciate the privileges
they en- JOY. She was correspondingly grateful
and naturally very curious. She had learned.
of course, from her maid how the news had
been brought and how she happened to be
there with the change of apparel
Miss Haldane had not slept very we'll; for
one reason, her thoughts had dwelt unceas-
ngv upon that strange conversation she had
had with her host. She had awakened earlier
than the rest. had dressed immediately and had
descended to the hall in the hope of seeing him.
ewes as she extended her hand.
HOW delightfully."- Christmaslike is the room;
II how good it smells." she said after the
first words of greeting.
am glad indeed that 1t pleases YOU.
answered Gor1nly, smiling. And if you will
permit me, shall repeat my words of last night.
or early this morning, and wish YOU again very
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Well"
7 81, i, !,
terest," returned Miss Haldane, . as did last
night | am sure that all intensely
grateful to YOU for your forethought in having
the maids and clothes brought over. Fece,
nv maid. has told me that you rode over your
self very early this morning to carry the news
of our plight. 1t must have been hard riding.
1t took me back to boyhood days, Miss
Haldane''
:" In the Vest" asked the girl,
well, YES" was the somewhat reluctant
answer, although the greater part OF my boy
hood was not spent in the West.
And this ride in the storm was it like the
other rides and storms you have experienced
This was a very mild affair compared to
those. l could wish that it had been harder
Why"
This time l was riding for another woman,
a different
Miss Haldane rather thrilled to the direct
statement: but, womanllke, she changed the
subject She was interested in Gormly. nothing
else 1t was quite obvious that the man was
greatly impressed by her, and other things,
which were not quite obvious, were certainly
possible and perhaps even more than probable;
but Miss Haldane did not desire to realize these
things more clearly than she did at present.
Yet She could not be insensible to them.
Women always think tenderly OF their adj
mirers, and they never quite lose certain
regard for those who have protested affection
for them. \ woman may marry and be a de-
voted wife and mother: but she resents, be
she as old as the hills. the detection of any
former ad1nirer as personal slight to her quail
tiles and characteristics. 1t Is part OF the IN
nate seltishness of a that lives to be admired
and has achieved its present position because II
has qualities that provoke admiration and de-
mand it Therefore, Miss Haldane was pleased
with what she thought she saw and heard IN
Gormlv's manufacturing more than that.
Did YOU have this Christmas arrangement
of pines made in the hall?
For vou-and your party, lnterposed
Gormly with perceptible break after the
pronoun so as to allow the fact to perneate
thoroughly. Il wish" he added. that CIR
cumstances permitted me to signallze the
season by offering you an adequate Christmas
present"
Indeed, YOU have made us all a Christmas
present in extending such gracious and ade-
quate hospitality, in your thoughtful care and
provision for us.
Il have, however, something that may pos