Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-14

In the middle of the long dining
room the small table was an oasis Of
light. Benjamin Marlin sat alone I'M
der the softly shaded electrolier, his
strong hand idly playing with the
stem of his wineglass.
The light shone on pale. sharply cut
features and hair prematurely gray.
1t was a handsome countenance, but
overcast with habtual gloom that lin
gered in the fine gray eyes and was
written about the well cut lips.
A negro servant moved slowly to
and fro vainly profferinG this or that
tempting dish for the notice of his
master. At last the servitor moved
toward the door and stood there at at
tention: it irritated Benjamin Marlin
to have a servant behind his chair.
At last the man at the table lifted
his head and looked around the ex;
panse Of snowy damask, glittering
with silver and cut glass. In the cen
ter q bowl of crimson carnations
famed richly.
Caleb" he said sharply.
Eyes. Marse Ben" was the eager re-
ply.
10 you huO" "udI OdN IL 10 MIL
Inns face wrinkled into a bitter smile.
Yes, sab; It's Christmas eve" re-
piled Caleb. with an expectant glance
at his employer.
Hannah understands that my or
ders are still in force?'
Caleb's face heightened. you mean,
Marse Ben. dat you don't want no
Christmas dinner cooked in dis house?"
THAT is what l mean. and I don't
want anything served that approaches
a Christmas dinner, understand? Han
nah will know what to do-just as
you have done for the past ten years"
The servant bowed respectfully and
turned away with bent shoulders.
Yes, Marse Ben" he said brokenly.
Down in the warm kitchen big black
Hannah was washing dishes with a
clatter and bang that threatened to
bring disaster upon the Marlin china
ware. She turned a white turbaned
head toward her husband as he en-
tered the room.
You needn't say a word, Gale. hon
ey," she CALCULATED. 81 kin see by yore
face dat he's not gwine to have no
Christmas dis Year,
81 dunno what we're coming to-"
groaned Caleb. at amt scarcely re-
spectibble not to keep Christmas"
'Respectibbler' snorted Hannah an
grily. cit amt righteous. Dere
wouldn't nobody but Satan rid man
fly in de face of Christmas for ten
years a-running. l don't care If it am
Marse Ben Marlin hisself. Don't you
look at me dat way. Gale Brown.
reckon l pussed Marse Ben when he
was a little boy, and l seed him grow
up into a willful tempered young gen
'leman who was always let to have
his own way. OF co'se when be mar
ried high sperrited gal like Miss Cor
nelia, who give him as good as he sent
and wanted her own way, mebbe, once
in awhile. mos anybody could see dere
was bound to be trubbler'
IF Miss Corny hadn't took bofe de
young uns with her" mourned Caleb.
I'VE might have had leetle Christmas
instid of cooking fish or cabbage or
mos anything dat don't smell like
chicken or turkey or mince pie. Oh,
Lordy, wish dat debbil could be driv
outer Marse Ben and he'd send for 'em
all TO come home"
Twelve years and tree months to a
day." calculated Caleb mournfully. Il
reckon | shall run away from Marse
Ben before next Christmas, Hannah,
and you kin run too. | shall try TO
ind Miss Cornelia, and mebbe she'd
take us. | expect she has a sight of
trubble wild help down in Philndel
phia."
"HumDh. You knows as well as l