Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-02-03
Christmas
At Martins
The Day When the Pride of
Ten Years Melted Away
By JOHN C. WHARTON
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association

IN
In the middle of the long dining
room the small table was an oasis 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.
1t was handsome countenance, but
overcast with habitual 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
tentlon; 1t irritated Benjamin Marlin
to have 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 lsf" Mar
Inns face wrinkled into u 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 forcer
Caleb's face heightened. you mean,
Marse Ben, dat you don't want no
Christmas dinner cooked In dis house2''
THAT Is what | mean, and don't
want anything served that approaches
Christmas dinner, understand Han
nah win know what to do-Just al
you have done for the past ten years"
The servant bowed respectfully and
turned away with bent shoulders.
Eyes. Mnrse Ben" he said brokenly.
Down in the warm kitchen big black
Hannah was washing dishes with n
clatter 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 calculated. ~ kin see by yore
face dat he's not gwine to have no
Christmas dis yearr'
81 dunno what we're coming to-
groaned Caleb. ut amt scarcely re-
spectlbble not to keep Christmus."
"Respectibblew snorted Hannah an.
grily. ut amt righteous. Dere
wouldn't nobody but a Satan rid man
fly in de face of Christmas for ten
years a-runnlng! | don't care II II am
Marsc Ben Marlin hisself Don't you
look at me dat way, Gale Brown. I
reckon / nussed Marse Ben when he
was little boy, and | seed him grow
up into a wlllful tempered young gen
'leman who was always let to have
his own way. or co'se when he mar
ried high sperrited gal like Miss Cor
nelia, who give him as good as he sent
and wanted her own why, mebbe, once
In awhile, mos anybody could see dere
was bound to be trubblev
III Miss Corny hadn't took bofe de
young uns with her." mourned Caleb,
I'VE might have had leetle Christmas
lnstid 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 driy
outer Marse Ben and he'd send for 'eIn
all 10 come home"
Twelve years and tree months to q
day." calculated Caleb mournfully. ~
reckon | shall run away from Marse
Ben before next Christmas, Hannah
and you kin ran too. shall try to
find Miss COrnelia, and mebbe she'd
take us l expect she has sight Of
trubble wild help down In Philadel-
phia."
"lIumph! You knows as well as
does dat Miss Cornella don't keep no
help Amt we heard time and agin
dat she's teachin' folks how to sing
and play de planner and working her
pretty self TO skin and bones to take
care Of dem chlllen-an' too proud to
take a penny from him for dere keep?
II makes my blood bile, Gale, TO think
Of dem cnlllen a-fixin' up n Christmas
box for dere pa each Christmas and
him having 1t put up In de nursery
without even untying de string! It's
n billing shame to be 40 proud as Marse
BEN"
Their indignant voices hoated up the
fnrunt Inn npan abo - nj tha IA, -, A.
err into the dining room overhead,
where the object Of their remarks sat
with viii @ stony face fixed unsee.
ingly on the opposite wall, where long
rows Of stlff necked ancestors looked
down on this member OF their race.
the most proud and stiff necked Of
them all and the most unhappy.
When the voices had sunk to low
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 Hls Jwn apartments were on
the north side, but on the south there
stretched sunny suit Of rooms
They had belonged to Cornella, his
wife, and behind them were the nurs.
cries.
For the first time In ten years he
unlocked the nursery door and entered
the room. He reached up and snapped
on the electric lights and looked
around
Hannah's loving hands had kept the