Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-08-18
CHAPTER vi.


The hall into which Miss Haldane
stepped early the next morning had
been transformed into a perfect bower
of winter beauty. There had been no
time to buy anything; but the most
available pine trees on the place, OF
which there were several, had been
ruthlessly sacrificed, and under CORN
ly's personal supervision the hall, q
magnificent apartment under any cir
cumstances, had been lavishly decor
ated with the fragrant evergreen in
honor of Christmas.
Gormly had been busy during he
night. He actually had not slept a
wink. So 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 himself
ridden across the country through the
snow and storm, which was eve then
dying out, to notify b people at the
Haldane place of the ~predicament of
the family and to arrange that maids
and men with proper clothing should
be brought over to his oWn cottage
early in the morning.
Hence Miss Haldane was under no
necessity of appearing in evening cos
tune at eight o'clock in the morning,
or of making a guy of herself in Mrs.
Bullen's extraordinary attire. 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
well; for one reason her thoughts had
l-,11A ,,D0- %ho+ -%~@-~0
conversation she had nae with her
host. She had awakened earlier than
the rest, had dressed Immediately, and
had descended to the hall in hope of
seeing him. Her pleasure and salts
faction sparkled in her eyes as she
extended her hand.
How delightfully."- Christmaslike is
the room; how good it smells!" she
said after the first words of greeting.
81 am glad indeed that it ~pleases
you" answered Gormly, smiling. And
If you will permit me, 1 will repeat my
words of last night, or early this morn
ing, and wish you again a very Mer-
~ Christmas n a Happy New Year
as we'll"
And ] will give you back your wish
with interest" returned Miss Haldane,
"as l did last night. l am sure that
we are all intensely grateful to you for
your forethought in having the maids
and clothes brought over. Felice, my
maid, has told me that you rode over
yourself very early this morning to
carry the news of our plight, and to
bring them. 1t must have been hard
riding"
1T fnnk ma haNk tn hOUhnO6 60uc
Miss Haldane."
Ia the weSt?" asked the girl.
We'll, yes" val the somewha re-
luctant answer, although the greater
part of my boyhood was not spent in
the west"
And this ride in the storm, was 1t
like the other rides and storms you
have experienced"
This was a very mild affair COM
pared to those. l could wish it had
been harder"
Why"
This time 1 was riding for another
woman, a different woman"
Miss Haldane rather thrilled to the
direct statement; but womanlike abe
changed the subject.
Did you have this Christmas ar
rangement OF pines made In the hau?''
She asked i~rrelevantly.
For you-and your party" inter
posed Gormly with q perceptible break
after the pronoun nc as to allow the
fact to permeate thoroughly. Il WISH
he added, that circumstances permit
ted me to signalize the season by Of
fering you an adequate Christina
present.
Il have, however, something that
may possibly interest you, which ]
may venture to hope you may regard
rs a personal tribute from me in lieu
OK such a gift"
~And what Ia thatf" asked Miss