The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-24
EVENING STORY
An Old Diary.

SlIIIInereQ out INTO the nlSnt, anu SUI
voices and light-hearted laughter min
gled with the vibrant notes of a violin
as it scared above the deeper tones
>of the piano.
In my secluded room the music
reached me as turned the leaves of a
yellow, time-stained book. My own
name was written in furnished letters
upon the cover. The date was 1853
One hundred years before a girlish
hand had traced the faded words. and
I. the great great grand niece and
namesake, glanced with tenderness at
the little story therein written
1t was a love story, sweet and whole
some. The spelling and peculiar use
of capital letters made it difficult 10
read, but 1 soon accustomed myself to
the writing and my interest grew with
every word.
1T is a white Christmas" 1 read.
the first 1 have ever known, ana L
have slipped away to look once more
upon the wonderful outside world For
hours the snow has. been coming
down in great flakes, covering the
pansies, the crocus and the hyaclnths
blooming in the shelter of the ooX
hedge. 1 am wearing a cluster OF
whom. Not even to you, my diary
who knows my dearest thoughts can
1 whisper the happiness that is IN my
heart. But we picked them togetner
under the hedge, as the snow was hlu-
ing them from sight, and Charles-
dear me! 1 could not help it. He SO
fills nv thoughts that I have thougnt
of little else and before me is MS
beautiful miniature. his first gift;
"'Tis a pretty fancy-glft giving,
and how proud 1 will be TO wear nia
before our world. Yet it's strange
custom, that all young maids mus.
wear the miniature of their betrothed
when they appear in public 1 do not
think maids more tickle than those
charming gentlemen who swear etef-
nal devotion upon their knees put tIs
disgraceful to be not wed before
eighteen, and when love comes an
the world must know. 'Tis full young
to be a wife, but Charles begs for an
early wedding day; yet l know not
still-perhapS-
Christmas day. The slaves aWak-
ened US at daybreak, their soft voices
ringing clear in the old songs SO dear
to them, and, shivering, l crept from
nv warm bed into the clothes Mann
nv had ready for me. There was
roaring fire in the dining room, ana
outside our people waited IoI
Papa and for me. 1t is good to be
loved as they love us, and twas
pleasure to see their black faces as
my hand went into my retlcule OF
Papa's into his waistcoat pocket But
none were so glad as old Uncle Fhli
when ne opened the pdchaSe IAos -
come all the way from England for
him. It was a fiddle. A beautiful:
shining fiddle, thai Papa had ordered
after hearing him play on the long
necked gourd with horsehair strings
that he had made. In very JOY the
old man danced a hoe-down' win Ins
tears streaming down his wrinkled
face I thought once he would mug
Papa, but instead he caught his hand
and thanked him over and over again
He win play for US to dance tonight.
'Such a day as it has been l knew
not L had so many kinfolk. I felt so
sorry for the tired and hungry little
children that l took them into the up
per hall where Uncle Alec had made
a splendid fire, and they played blind
mans buff and hunt the slipper unui
worn out Then Charles told them
the drollest stories He must have
been a mischievous boy. and he GER
tainly is good to look at Jack Rogers
also helped amuse the children, and
doubt not he, too, is full OF old
nick. The other night he caught pref
ty Lucy Keen under the mistletoe. She
made a great to-do. but I'm sure she
liked it He betrothed did not. how
ever. He glared and glared. and went
off in a corner and sulked.
, December Is: There is something
in the air that keeps US all aquiver
with interest The gentlemen are
=
one of the towns the people carried
a black coffin thru the streets to show
the king they despised his commands
about the stamp act. But we young
folk still make merry. Yet my heart
is filled with fear: What If there
should be war, and Charles!
II told him of my lack of courage,
and he but laughed and pinched my
cheek and took me in his arms. as if
to ward off all danger and unhappi-
ness from me. l was happier for
that little moment with him, alone,
and when he left 1 gave my thoughts
to Christmas finery. 1 feared indeed
'twould not be here in time, but it
came two days before the dance.
would not for all the world miss the
Calverts' dan
January End: I am tired, tired,
tired; but, oh! what pleasure to re-
member! Every day, every hour,
filed with joy. 1 fear me 1 showed
too much happiness, for cousin Eli
nor Carol reprimanded me and told
papa my spirits should be kept in
check. Papa only laughed and
pinched my cheek. Cross old thing'
She looks as if she never had been
young.
Such lovely things as papa gave
me for the Christmas ball, besides my
pink brocade that will stand alone.
Charles told me l was charming when
he saw me in it. but truly it was my
beautiful gown. l felt shy and I'M
comfortable with his minia ture resting
upon my neck for all to see, and 1
thought to die of shame at the free
spoken words. Why must such things
be, that maids must blush and hang
their heads for that so near their
hearts? / knew not where to hide
my blushing face and sad confusion.
But twas a magnificent ball and all
the world was there.
THE young people danced and
danced, but the measure Of my hap
piaess was bubbling over when Colonel
Washington did me the honor to
dance a minuet with me. l held my
head high and courtesied with the
utmost dignity. but I could not alto
gether hide my pleasure. 1 fear he
thought me but a foolish maid, yet
when he kissed my hand he asked me