Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-01-06
Christmas
Y. At Martins |
The Day When the Pride Of
Ten Years Melted Away
By JOHN c. WHARTON
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association


iii Association. I'LL
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
gercd 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 Mt at
tenti0n; 1t irritated Benjamin Marlin
to have a servant behind his chair.
at last the man at the table lifted
bis head and looked around the ex-
panse Of snowy damask, glitterine
with silver and cut glass. In the cen
ter bowl Of crimson carnations
famed richly.
'Caleb!'' he said sharply.
"Yes, Marse Ben" was the eager re
ply.
do you know what day It ISL" Mar
Inns face wrinkled into a bitter smile.
"Yes, sab: it's Christmas eve" re-
piled Caleb. with all expectant glanc,
at his employer.
Hannah understands that my or
ders are still in forceT
Caleb's face heightened. you mean,
Marse Ben. dat you don't want no
Christmas dinner cooked in dis house?'
THAT is what mean, and don't
want anything served that approaches
aChristmas 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
SaneaA~was washing dishes with
&suSlng disaster upon the Marlin china
vs.Bare. 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. 'T kin see by yoFt
face dat he's not gwine to have Nc
Christmas dis Year,
81 dunno what we're coming to-
groaned Caleb at amt scarcely re
spectibble not to keep Christmas"
sRespectibbler' snorted Hannah an
grily. 1T amt righteous. Der
wouldn't nobody but Satan rid mar
fly in de face of Christmas for ter
years a.runningl | don't care II it am
Marse Ben Marlin hisself Don't yot
look at me dat way, Gale Brown.
.Treckon l nussed Marse Ben when he
was little boy. and l seed him grow
up into willful tempered young gen
'leman who was always let TO have
his own way. OF 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 way, mebbe. once
in awhile, mos anybody could see dere
was bound to be trubble."
III Miss gorny hadn't took bofe dc
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 niince pie. Oh,
Lordy, l wish dat debbil could be driy
outer Marse Ben and he'd send for 'em
all to come home.'
Twelve years and tree months to
day." calculated Caleb mournfully. 81
reckon shall run away from Marse
Ben before next Christmas, Hannah
and you kin run too. l 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."
.Humphl You knows as well as
does dat Miss Corneia don't keep no
help. Amt we heard time and agin
dat she's teachin' folks how to stag
and play de pianner and wo'klng her
pretty self to skin and bones to take
care Of dem chillen-an' too proud to
take penny from him for dere keep
1t makes my blood bile, Gale, to think
of dem cnillen a-fixin' up a Christmas
box for dere pa each Christmas and
him having it put up in de nursery
without even untying de stringl It's
a billing shame to be so proud as Marse
Ben"
Their Indignant voices fioated up the
forgottea open shaft Of the dumb wait
er into the dining room overhead
where the e.s yet 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.
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. His own apartments were on
the north side. but on the south there
stretched a 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
unlocked the nursery door and entered
the room. He reached up ana snapped
on the electric lights and looked
around,
Hannah's loving hands had kept the