The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-12-26
A CHRISTMAS sTRATEGEM.
By Lura Milburn Cobb.


ST had the most delightful caller
this afternoon, Ralph" announced
the little bride to her husband as
they sat at dinner at the close of a
day In early autumn.
your callers are always delight
full" rejoined Ralph Marsden, who
adored his pretty young wife but
could not resist laughing at her i'm
pulsive ways and sudden enthusi-
asms.
He had married Clarissa after a
brief courtship land brought her to
an old-fashioned Indian town. She
was an orphan heiress, and he was
much relieved to find her happy and
contented in the quiet surroundings
of her new home. Clarissa was only
nineteen and was unframed in many
ways, but she overfiowed with gen.
erosity, and was beloved by all who
came under the charm of her beauty
and friendly disposition.
"But really, Ralph" persisted
Clarissa as she toyed with a dainty
custard, her brown eyes glowing and
her clear skin flushing under his
banter, "my caller to-day was excep-
tionally interesting. She was hand
some lady with snow-white hair and
deep black eyes and so aristocratic
and queenly looking. Everything she
wore was in perfect taste, and she
was dressed all in lavender. She had
~. tro It'd Cd
very much in looks and ways of one
OF mammals school friends who lived
in New York. and used to visit us in
Denver occasionally"
cit must have been Miss Eugenia
Grandson" remarked her husband,
leaning back in his chair, as Clarissa
rang the bell for coffee.
eyes," returned the little bride, cit
was Miss Grandson. She stayed
nearly an hour and we had a long
talk about our favorite flowers. She
invited me to come up soon and see
her winter garden. Miss Grandson
has some rare orchids, and her fern
cry is doing unusually well this year,
she tells me. But, Ralph, DEAR"
continued his wife as she slipped her
coffee, her big brown eyes growing
soft with sympathy, "why does Miss
Grandson look so sad? When her
face is in repose. she looks borne
down with grief"
Ralph Marsden waited until they
had left the table and were costly
seated before the open fire in their
spacious living-room before he re-
piled to her question.
miss Grandson is a lonely, dis
appointed, broken-hearted woman,
my DEAR" he began slowly. "Her
parents died years ago, leaving two
children, Eugenia, then eighteen, and
George. boy of ten years. Their
aunt, Mrs. Fenton, acted as house
keeper, and took care of the children
until her death a few years later
Eugene simply idolized her little
apmest boys I ever saw. He had
chestnut hair and big blue eyes, and
was one of those sunny, happy chill
dren who love everybody and whom
everybody loves In turn. The Grandi.
son family was the richest and proud
est family in the whole county. Their
home is about couple of miles from
town on the Chester Pike, and is an
old colonial mansion with large
grounds, and has always been consid.
cred the finest country-place in the
State"
81 remember that you pointed out
the house to me as we went to Ches-
ter several weeks ago." interrupted
Clarissa as she listened with eager
interest.
Miss Grandson attended Welles.
ley College and used to have school
friends and relatives stay with hel
for weeks at time," continued hel
husband. "She frequently went tc
New York for long visits while Mrs
Fenton lived. George had tutor.
here, and then went to Princeton
and graduated with honors. Miss
Grandson knew very few people here
in town. The Grandisons came tc
the Episcopal Church, and sometime:
did little shopping at the store, and
took the train at the railroad station
but Miss Eugenia was not really &C
Quainted with the town or the people
George knew everybody and was 6
great favorite In all classes of society
but unfortunately he fell In love with
the daughter OF the French baker
Blondon; I mean the owner OF the
little bakery shop on Second Street.