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Show plates of ice. Katie Vivian had never been on the boulevard before. It was all new to her, the hosts of gliding the crowds sleighs, the assembled along the sidewalks to watch the gay throng; and a thrill of innocent, girlish pride arose in her heart as she leaned back in the luxurious little cutter with its red velvet lining, its glossy black fox robe, its chimes of silver ringing bells, and the arching neck and dilated nostrils of the superb jet black horse which drew them. Major Fontaine, In his sealskin coat and cap, his long, drooping mustache, and the diamonds that sparkled in his linen Kate thought, as she glanced timidly up at him from under the brim of her Gainsborough hat, what a brilliant life it would be to glide along like this at his side! And presently they left the crowds and the hotels and the swarming sleighs behind, and dashed onward, through lonely woods, alongside the ghostly glitter of frozen cascades, athwart dark glens where the orange sunset lay in bars of gold, for miles and miles of gliding swiftness. Until, all of a sudden, there was a creaking, splintering sound a mad forward steed and plunge of the Katie was flung into a snow drift by the side of the road! It was nothing four-in-hand- HOLLY AND IVY. Holly and Ivy made a great party. Who should have the mastery In lands where they go. Then spake Holly: I am fierce and jolly, I will have the mastery In lands where we go.. Then spake Ivy: I am loud and proud. And I will have the mastery In lands where we go. Then spake Holly and bent him down on Ittiao Vila I pray thee, gentle Ivy, me no villainy Essay In lands- where we go. - It was New Years Eve. Kate Vivian, the dressmaker in High Street, was making preparations for the sleigh ride party to be given the next evening by Major Frank Fontaine. It isnt as if we were going all by ourselves, remonstrated Kate to her fiance, who had come to her to protest The Fetherstones that afternoon. are to be of the party, and Mr. Hyde and Susie Mountbee, and Kate, said George Grayson, taking her hand tenderly into his, do not go. Let my wishes weigh with you for this once. Respect my prejudices, if prejudices you choose to call them, and give But Kate up this mad expedition. hand little the pretty plump, jerked out of his. I am going, she said, her dark eyes sparkling with rebellious deterI have promised Major mination. I do not intend to break and Fontaine, word. my Kate, he reasoned, do you know what all this means? I dont understand you, she said. It means that our engagement will be broken. It means that you ar wearied ot me that you prefer the brilliant companionship of Frank Fontaine to my humble devotion! She was silent. Once more he offered her his hand. Good-byjKate, said he, pale but quiet. For a second she hesitated; and as he noticed the trace of that uncertainty in her face, his heart beat high within his breast. But alas! the eyes glittered disdainfully once again the lovely coral lips compressed themselves into an invisible thread of scarlet. She laid her hand lightly she said, with forin his. Good-bmal courtesy. And so they parted. George Grayson went back, feeling as if he had left a dead corpse behind him. He had loved little Kate Vivian so well, so truly. He had toiled so perseveringly and incessantly to make a home for her; he had lived his life so to speak, entirely with reference to her and now she had thrown him away as carelessly as if he had been a withered bouquet or a worn glove. Are all women like that, I wonDo all love der? he said to himself. dreams end like mine? While little Kate on her part, was flushed and jubilant with a sort of fevered elation, half frightened to think that she had really broken with George Grayson, half angry that he had had the will and resolution to fling off the chains of her bondage. And even while she was selecting her prettiest dress to go on the sleighing expedition, and sewing new ribbons upon her silky Gainsborough hat, she flung the needle down and burst Into a hot, sparkling shower of tears. Let him go! she said. Major Fontaine is richer handsomer more stylish. And I am almost sure that Major Fontaine loves me. Next day she put on the black velveteen dress which had taken so many months of her earnings at the dressmakers atelier to pay for, and set forth upon the sleighing party. It was an ideal New Years after noon; thf meadows crusted oyer with frozen pearl; the woods all ajingle with icicles; the sun rising high in the blue cold heavens, and every little roadside stream sealed in shining s, jet-bla- ck a cheerful little sitting room, red-curtain- ed, and carpeted with a staring roses of design anthtullps, where there was a wood fire burning on the hearth and a shaded lamp on the table. And here she sat rather listlessly, waiting for the rest of the party, when the loud, laughing voices of the young men, adjourning from the piazza into the barroom, struck discordantly on her ears. A regular little beauty, said one. I congratulate you, Fonsaid another, When Is it to taine, come off? said athird. Of course, its a foregone conclusion, remarked Dont make fools of yet another. yourselves, said Fontaine, sharply. Whats the matter? cried a loud voice. Are we iuistaken? Isnt It Miss , Blanche Boisseau, after all? Certainly it isnt! retorted FonAnd Til trouble taine, brusquely. you to make a little less free with that ladys name in a place like this. Its only little Kate Vivian, the dressmaker. Shes good form and the best of company, and I brought her up here just for the fun of the thing. But as for being engaged to her thats the New Year service, when a little hand fell softly on bis arm, and a tremulous voice whispered the one word: George! Katie! he cried, his heart giving an upward bound. My Katie! Yes, your Katie, George yours forever! she answered, hiding her flushJOY TO THE WORLD. ed face against his sleeve. And oh! r to I so th of 11. th lorj it have been silly. But believe 1 Joy earth im-hLt Hint; hr never shall be again, if only you will Let to&tiw itb fr&crvd mirth nirjr lilt loud aiiUttiKt forgive me! The subject was never again alluded Ilsrk. hark. nfcai fct jarful ixwt, to, and Katie Vivian was married to To new.l ho all halloo rcM; honest George Grayson In the spring. y rejoice, a Kise u torn. Who it with glory cravs'4, He has a heart of gold! she said. And I would rather be his wife than lie come, the tiding qrtU, to sit upon a throne. A Savior full of crar; ? To-da- In merry, to mtore, lie A coim. tinlui, fallrn race. Probably every child in the land has wondered where Santa Claus prepares the stores of knicknacks that he an- nually distributes throughout the length and breadth of the world. l!e must be a busy old man. Indeed, to make so many things that delight the young of every dime. What Is known as Santa Claus workshop Is situated nonsense. And now leave off talking in the very heart of the Black forest stuff, and help me with the cutter, of Germany, that region about which will you? so many tales of peril and adventure little Kate Only Vivian, the dress- have been written. For two centuries maker! The hot blood rose to her or more Sonncbcrg, a picturesque tit- - .DOILYS mw'iwmmMV cose to Cant I, please, your New Year party? pleaded Jack Mason of hts sister Dolly, who sat, with her mother. Industriously writing out Invitations for a party on New Year afternoon, Yes, Dolly dear, why net Invite your brother and a few of his young friends, the brothers of the little girls who are to be of your parly? Because, mamma, said Dolly And boys are horrid! they spoil all the fun. And. boride, they cat up everything before we have had time to git seated at the table. We do not want any boys at our New Year party. Juit as you please, my dear. But I thick you make a mistake. Jack said nothing, tut a mischievous look came Into his fate. On the afternoon cf the party there assembled in Mrs. Masons parlor twelve as pretty little girls as you ever saw; and for an hour there were games and such fcich revelry. By and by a march was played open the piano, and then Polly, at the head of the grand procession, marched, with another little girl at her side, gravely through the parlors, around to the the hall and then down-sta- ir c m. dlning-roIn the feast Dolly glanced at th dishes and gave , a cry. Where lib. mamma! said Is all the rake? And Bridget, renting In at that moment. threw up hard la astonishment. exclaiming: "Wheres all the lee cream and the And at thin slicks orange? and stonrs cm the p!aU ! "Its thiKe horrid boy! fall Drily. It was a sad Pnd Hub company that crept upstairs arcin tBcr Mrs. ea-phaticsl- e, lly, h-r-- kk - y, Mm on had cne.!d them a txll ns she could with seoifisie and bread and butter. And as the rmvs pjog-rcrthere were tear of n mi Iteration wiped off many a little girls ed cheek. Mrs. Mason, going out the hack dour called the boy and had a lcng talk with them. Now. boys raid she. there D only one thing you cun do to W forgiven. What is It? asked the boys, for they felt ashamed. Do as 1 tay. and all will be well! raid Mrs. Ifiioa, appearing in the parlor later, you are requested by the young gentlemen to come down Into the dining rocsx They have something nice to give you. Now speak your little speech. Jack. raid Mrs. Mason, and then the young ladies will understand. Young ladles. raid Jack, we with to ark yon to Join us at our New Year feast. We heard there Jack to a stopped little) that you cough were disappointed In yours, and within on hour we have prepared ihl supYoung ladles, per. cheeks like a boiling tide at the serious, after the first shock and ror were over, and Major Fontalno cents of cool contempt In which tho lifted our frightened little heroine ten- words were spoken. He despises me.f she said to herderly out of the snow. was across a fallen bough He has only brought me hero self. It only the road, he explained. I didnt see to amuso his idle fancy, and all tho lt in the twilight, but Sultan shied at while I foolish I have been imagin it, and the cutter is broken. And now ing that he loved me. Oh! what Is his you will have to walk with me a few frothy fancy to the deep, noble, ensteps up the road fortunately there is during love of George Grayson? Oh! a hotel near by and wait until the what a fool, what an idiot I havo rest of the party come up, and we been! can patch the cutter together. Pray And during all the long homeward do not allow yourself to be annoyed. ride Katie Vivian scarcely spoke to The moon will be up in half an hour Major Fontaine. ' , and we shall have a delightful return She isnt as good fun as I thought, And so Katie brushed away said the discomfited cavalier to himtrip. her tears and smiled once more, as she self. Ill be banged if I ask her but accepted the support of his arm up the again! And, besides, Blanche might hillside. hear of it, and there would bo tho Several young men were lounging deuce and all to pay,! on the steps of the hotel as they came up, to all of whom Major Fontaine apGeorge Grayson was standing sadly be to well Katie and known, peared by the church door that evening, wait- was led by the bustling landlady into ing for his mother to come out from ter- ac- George froze the cream. Ralph tie village surrounded by mountains stirred the cake. Willie went to the and dense forests, has been known to the world as the workshop of the good saint ot childhood. Here lt is that most of the finest playthings of tho Christmas season are produced dolls, soldiers, houses, animals and all sorts of gaudily colored trinkets. store for fruit, and as far me. I set the table, and the other boys ran errands. 1 hope, young ladies, you will like the feast. I think, mamma, raid Dolly that eight, that boy are very pleasant and nice when they want to be. I am Some one has said that there cannot really glad that they came to oar be found In literature a single Christ- party. Next year well Invite them. mas sermon which meets the occasion. Of course there cannot. The occasion Is the new birth of the world. Unless the preacher Is competent to say bow far the world has grown since Its new birth unless he can comprehend and declare the Infinite greatness of the kingdom of God which the Savior of men promises in the world, and unless the same preacher can describe tho world as It was, the people who sat in darkness, he cannot preach tho sermon which shall meet tho occasion. Edward Everett Hale. |