The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-14
By JOHN C. WHARTON

In the middle of the long dining room the small table was an oaGas of light. Benjamin Marlin sat alone un- 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 It was . handsome countenance. but overcast with habitual gloom that lin gered in the fine gray eyes anA 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; 1t 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 . bowl of crimson carnations famed richly.
 'Calebr' he said sharply.
 ~Yes, Marse Ben" was the eager re- ply.
 Do you know what day it is?" Mar Hn's face wrinkled into a bitter smile.
 "Yes, sah; it's Christmas eve," re- piled Caleb, with an expectant glance at his employer.
 Hannah understands that my or ders are still in forceT
 Caleb's face heightened. "You mean, Aarse Ben, dat you don't want no Christmas dinner cooked in dis house?"
 '.That is what I mean, and don't want anything served that approaches 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. 'sYes, Marse Ben," he said brokenly.
 Down in the warm kitchen big black Hannah wes washing dishes with. a chatter and bang that threatened to bring disaster upon the Marlin china ware She turned white turbaned head toward her husband as he en- tered the room.
 You needn't say a word, Gale, hon. ey," she ejaculated. 'I kin see by yore face dat he's not gwine to have no Christmus dis yearr'
 T dunno what we're coming to-" groaned Caleb. "It atn't scarcely re- spect1bble not to keep Chrfstmus.''
 "sReepectbbler snorted Hannah an xrfly. Tt ain't righteous. Dere wouldn't nobody but Satan rid man dy in de face of Christmas for ten years a-runningi I don't care if it am Marse Ben Marlin hisseTf. Don't you look at me dat way, Gale Brown. I reckon nusSed Marse Ben when he was little boy, and I seed him grow up into wiIlful tempered young gen. 1eman who was always let to have his own way Of co'se when he mar ried a 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'
 eff Miss Corny hadn't took bofe de young uns with her," mourned Caleb, i've might have had leetle Christmus instid of cooking fish or cabbage or mos anything dat don't smell like chicken or turkey or mince pie. Oh, Lordy, I wish dat debbil could be driv outer Marse Ben and he'd send for lem all to come home"
 Twelve years and tree months to a day" calculated Caleb mournfully. 'I reckon shall run away from Marse Ben before next Christmas, Hannah, and you kin run too. I shall try to find Miss Cornelia, and mebbe she'd <4Ir vxa II hn hac cfrkS of trubble- wh help down in Philadel- phia." ,.
 ''Humph! You knows as well as I does dat Miss Cornelia don't keep no help. Amt we heard time and ag'in dat she's teachin' folks how to sing and play de pianner and wo'king her. pretty self to skin and bones to take care of dem chillen-an' too proud to take a penny from him for dere keep? 1t makes my blood bile,s Gale; to think of dem cnillen a-flxin' up Christmus box for dere pa each Christmus and him having 1t put up in de nursery without even uttying de string! It's a billing shame to be so proud as Marse Benr
 Their indignant voices floated up the forgotten open shaft of the dumb wait CT into the dining room overhead, where the object of their remarks sat with a white stony face fixed unsee- Ingly on the opposite wall, where long rows of stiff necked ancestors looked down on this member of their race, the most proud and stiff necked Of them all and the most unhappy
 $1o bod fr grumble Benjamin Marlin arose and left the room. He did not cross the hall to his library. as was his usual custom. but turned and went slowly up the circular staircase to the second floor. His own apartments were on the north side, but on the south there stretched, sunny suit of rooms. They had belonged to Cornelia, his wife. and behind them were the nurs- cries.
 For the first time in ten years he nnlock>d the nursery door and entered the room He reached up and snapped on the electric lights and looked . eround.
 Hannah's loving hands had kept the pretty room spotlessly clean. The miniature furniture brought back sharp pang to his heart as he remem- h.-od tbo doljchtfr,I days he and Cor