A Christmas Eve suit. The Christmas holidays had come, and with them a
welcome vacation for Hedley Marston. Although as yet a briefless young lawyer, he
had a case in hand which absorbed many of his thoughts, the conflicting claims
of two young women in his native village on the Hudson. It must not
be imagined that the young women were pressing their claims, except as they did
so unconsciously by virtue of their sex and various charms. Nevertheless, Marsden was
not the first lawyer who had clients over whom midnight oil was burned, they
remaining unaware of the fact. If not yet a constitutional attorney, he was
at least constitutionally one. Falling helplessly in love with one girl simplifies matters.
There are no distracting pros and cons, nothing required but a concentration of faculties
to win the enslaver and so achieve mastery. Marsden did not appear amenable to
the subtle influences which blind the eyes and dethrone reason, inspiring in its place
an overwhelming impulse to capture a fortuitous girl, because to a heated imagination,
she surpasses all her sex. Indeed, he was level headed enough to believe
that he would never capture any such girl, but he hoped to secure one
who promised to make as good a wife as he would try to be a
husband. And with a fair amount of self esteem, he was conscious of
imperfections. Therefore, instead of fancying that any of his fair acquaintances were angels,
he had deliberately, and some may think in a very cold blooded fashion,
endeavored to discover what they actually were. He had observed that a good
deal of prose followed the poetry of wooing and the lunacy of the honeymoon,
and he thought it might be well to criticize a little before marriage as well
as after it. There were a number of charming girls in the social circle
of his native town, and he had, during later years made himself quite
impartially agreeable to them. Indeed, without much effort on his part, he
had become what is known as a general favorite. He had been too diligent
a student to become a society man, but was ready enough in vacation periods
to make the most of every country frolic, and even on great occasions,
to rush up from the city and return at some unearthly hour in the morning,
when his partners and dance were not half through their dreams. While on
these occasions he had shared in the prevailing hilarity, he nevertheless had the presentiment
that some one of the laughing, light footed girls would one day pour his
coffee and send him to his office in either a good or bad mood,
to grapple with the problems awaiting him there. He had, in a measure
decided that when he married, it should be to a girl whom he had
played with in childhood and whom he knew a good deal about, and not
to a chance acquaintance of the world at large. So beneath all his diversified
gallantries he had maintained a quiet little policy of observation until his thoughts had gradually
gathered around two of his young associates, who unconsciously to themselves as we have
said, but in stronger and stronger claims every time he saw them. They
asserted these claims in the only way in which he would have recognized them,
by being more charming, agreeable, and as he fancied, by being better
than the others. He had not made them aware, even by manner of
the distinction accorded to them, and as yet he was merely a friend.
But the time had come, he believed for definite action. While he weighed
and considered, some prompter fellows might take the case out of his hands entirely.
Therefore, he welcomed this vacation and the opportunities it afforded. The festivities
began with what is termed in the country a large party, and Carrie Mitchell
and Lottie Waldo were both there, resplendent in new gowns made for the occasion.
Marston thought them both charming. They danced equally well and talked nonsense with
much the same ease and vivacity. He could not decide which was the prettier,
nor did the eyes and attentions of others afford him any aid. They
were general favorites as well as himself, although it was evident that to some
they might become more. But they were apparently in the heyday of their girlhood,
and thus far had preferred miscellaneous admiration to individual devotion. By the time
the evening was over, Marston felt that if life consisted of large parties,
he might as well settle the question by the toss of a copper. It
must not be supposed that he was such a conceited prig as to imagine that
such a fortuitous proceeding, or his best efforts afterward, could settle the question
as it related to the girls. It would only decide his own procedure.
He was like an old marauding baron in honest doubt from which town he can
carry off the richest booty. That is, in case he can capture any
one of them, his overtures for capitulation might be met with the slings and
arrows of outrageous fortune, and he be sent limping off the field. Nevertheless,
no man regrets that he must take the initiative, and he would be
less than a man who would fear to do so. When it came to
this point in the affair, Marston shrugged his shoulders and thought, I must
take my chances like the rest. But he wished to be sure that he
had attained this point, and not lay siege to one girl, only to
wish afterward it had been the other. His course, that evening proved that
he not only had a legal cast of mind, but also a judicial one.
He invited both Miss Mitchell and Miss Waldo to take a sleigh ride with
him the following evening, fancying that when sandwiched between them in the cutter,
he could impartially note his impressions. His unsuspecting clients laughingly accepted, utterly unaware
of the momentous character of the trial scene before them. As Marston smoked a
cigar before retiring that night, he admitted to himself that it was rather a
remarkable court that was about to be held. He was the only advocate for
the claims of each and finally he proposed to take a seat on the bench
and judge between them. Indeed, before he slept, he decided to take
that august position at once and maintain a judicial impartiality while noting his impressions.
Christmas Eve happened to be a cold, clear, starlit night, and when
Marston drove to Miss Waldo's door, he asked himself, could a fellow ask
for anything daintier and finer than the red lipped, dark eyed girl revealed by
the hall lamp as she tripped lightly out, her anxious mamma following her with
words of unheeded caution about not taking cold and coming home early. He had
not traversed the mile which intervened between the residences of the two girls before.
He almost wished he could continue the drive under the present auspices, and that,
as in the old times, he could take toll at every bridge and
encircle his companion with his arm. As they bounced over the thank'ee ma'am's.
The frosty air appeared to give keenness and piquancy to Miss Lottie's wit, and
the chime of the bells was not merrier or more musical than her voice.
But when a little later he saw blue eyed Carrie Mitchell in her furs and
hood silhouetted in the window, his old dilemma became as perplexing as ever.
Nevertheless, it was the most delightful uncertainty that he had ever experienced, and
he had a presentiment that he had better make the most of it, since
it could not last much longer. Meanwhile, he was hedged about with blessings,
clearly not in disguise, and he gave utterance to this truth as they
drove away. Surely there was never so lucky a fellow here. I am
kept warm and happy by the two finest girls in town. Yes, said
Lottie. And it's a shame you can't sit on both sides of us.
I assure you, I wish it were possible. It would double my pleasure.
I'm very well content, remarked carry quietly, as long as I can
keep on the right side of people. Well, you are not on the
right side to night, interrupted Lottie. Good gracious, thought Marston. She's
next to my heart. I wonder if that will give her unfair advantage.
But Carrie explained, of course I was speaking metaphorically in that aspect of the
case. It would be ashamed to me if any side I have is not
right toward those who have so honored me. He hastened to say, Oh,
Carrie has all the advantage. She is next to your heart. Would
you like to exchange places? Was the query flashed back by Carrie. Oh
no, I'm quite as content as you are. Why then, since I
am more than content exultant? Indeed, it appears that we all start from
excellent premises to reach a happy conclusion of our Christmas eve, cried Marston.
Now you are talking shop, mister, long premises and conclusions. Indeed,
said Lottie, since you are such a happy sandwich. You must be a
tongue sandwich and be very entertaining. He did his best, the two girls
seconding his efforts so genially that he found himself, after driving five miles,
psychologically just where he was physically between them as near to one in his thoughts
and preferences as to the other. Let us take the river road home,
suggested Lottie. As long as you agree, he answered, You both are
sovereign potentates. If you should express conflicting wishes, I should have to stop
here in the road till one abdicated in favor of the other, or we
all froze. But you, sitting so snugly between us, would not freeze,
said Lottie. If we were obstinate, we would have to assume our
pleasantest expressions, and then you could eventually take us home as bits of sculpture.
In fact, I'm getting cold already, are you also, miss Carrie?
Oh? I'll fall out before summer. Don't mind me? Well,
then mind me resumed, Lotty. See how white and smooth the river looks.
Why can't we drive home on the ice? It will save myles.
I mean it looks so inviting. Oh, dear, cried Carrie, I
feel like protesting now. The longest way round may be both the shortest and
safest way home. You ladies shall decide this morning, I drove over the
rout we would take to night, and I should not fear to take a
ton of coal over it. A comparison suggesting warmth and a great fire.
I vote for the river, said Lotty promptly. Oh well, mister Marston,
if you've been over the ice so recently, I only wish to feel
reasonably safe, I declare, thought Marston, Lotty is the braver and more
brilliant girl, and the fact that she is not inclined to forego the comfort
of the home fire for the pleasure of my company reveals the difficulty of,
and therefore incentive to, the suit I may decide to enter upon before New
Year's Meanwhile, his high art on Carrie's side began to grow warm and alert,
as if recognizing an affinity to some object not far off. Granting that
she had not been so brilliant as Lottie, she had been eminently companionable in
a more quiet way. If there had not been such bursts of enthusiasm at
the beginning of the drive, her enjoyment appeared to have more staying powers.
He liked her none the less that her eyes were often turned towards the stars
or the dark silhouettes of the leafless trees against the snow. She did not
keep saying, Ah, how lovely, what a fine bit that is.
But he had only to follow her eyes to see something worth looking at.
A proof that Miss Carrie also is not so preoccupied with the pleasure of my
company that she has no thoughts for other things, cogitated Marston. It's rather
in her favor that she prefers nature to a great fire thereabout even Yet,
meanwhile, the horse was speeding along on the white, hard expanse of the
river skirting the west. They now had only about a mile to drive before
striking land again, and the scene was so beautiful, with the great dim
outlines of the mountains before them, that both the girls suggested that they should
go leisurely for a time. We shouldn't hastily and carelessly pass such a picture
as that, any more than one would if a fine copy of it were
hung in a gallery, said Carrie. The stars are so brilliant along the
brow of that highland yonder that they form a. Dah, oh, oh,
what is the matter, and she clung to Marston's arm. The horse
was breaking through the ice. Whoa, said Marston firmly. Even as he
spoke, Lottie was out of the sleigh and running back on the ice,
crying and wringing her hands. We shall be drowned, she almost screamed hysterically,
mister Marston, what shall we do? Can't we turn around and go
back the way we came? Miss Carrie, will you do what I ask?
Will you believe me when I say that I do not think you are
in any danger? Yes, I'll do my best, she replied, catching
her breath. She grew calm rapidly as he tried to reassure Lotty, telling
her that the water from the rising tide had overflowed the main ice and that
thin ice had formed over it. Also that the river at the most was
only two or three feet deep at that point, but all was of no
avail. Lotty stood out upon the ice in a panic, declaring that he
should never have brought them into such danger, and that he must turn around
at once and go back as they came. But miss Waldo, the tide
is rising, and we may find what places returning. Besides, it would
bring us home very late. Now, Miss Carrie, and I will drive
slowly across this place and then return for you after we have been across it
twice. You surely won't fear. I won't be left alone. Suppose you
two should break through and disappear, what would become of me? You would
be better off than we, he replied, laughing. I think it's hard
to laugh. Oh I'm so cold and frightened. I feel as if the
ice were giving way under my feet. Why, miss Lottie, we just
drove over that spot where you stand here. Miss Carrie, shall stay with
you while I drive back and forth a loane. Then if you were drowned,
we'd both be left alone to freeze to death. I pledge you my
word. You shall be by that grape fire within less than an hour if
you will trust me five minutes. Oh well, if you will risk your
life and ours too. But Carrie, you must stay with me. Will
you trust me, Miss Carrie, and help me out of this scrape?
Carrie was recovering from her panic and replied, I have given you my promise.
He was out of the sleigh instantly, and the thin ice broke with
him. Also, I must carry you a short distance, he said,
I cannot allow you to get your feet wet. Put one arm around my
neck, so now please obey as you promised. She did so without a
word, and he bore her beyond the water, inwardly exalting and blessing that
thin ice. His decision was coming with the passing seconds. Indeed it had
come. Returning to the sleigh, he drove slowly forward, his horse making
a terrible crunching and splashing Lotti, meanwhile keeping up a staccato accompaniment of little
shrieks. Ah, my charming creature, He thought, with you, it
was only what will become of me. I might not have found out until
it was too late, the relative importance of me in the universe had we
not struck this bad crossing. And one comes to plenty of bad places to
cross in a lifetime. The area of thin ice was not very narrow,
and he was becoming but a dim and shadowy outline to the girls. Lotty
was now screaming for his return. Having crossed the overflowed space and absolutely assured
himself that there was no danger, he returned more rapidly and found Carrie trying
to calm her companion. Oh, sobbed Lottie. My feet are wet and
almost frozen. The ice underneath may have borne you, but it won't bear
all three of us. Oh dear, I wish I hadn't. I wish
I was home, and I feel as if I'd never get there, Miss
Lottie. I assure you that the ice will hold a ton. But I'll
tell you what I'll do. I shall put you in the sleigh, and
Miss Carrie will drive you over. You two together do not weigh much more
than I do. I'll walk just behind you with my hands on the back
of the sleigh, and if I see the slightest danger, I'll lift you
out of the sleigh first and carry you to safety. This proposition promised so
well that she hesitated, and he lifted her instantly before she could change her
mind, then helped carry in with a quiet pressure of the hand. As
much as to say, I shall depend on you, But mister Marston,
your feet will get wet, protested Carrie. That doesn't matter, he replied,
good naturedly. I shall be no worse offt than Miss Lottie, and
I'm determined to convince her of safety. Now go straight ahead as I direct.
Once the horse stumbled and Lottie thought he was going down head first.
Oh lift me out, quick, quick, she cried, Yes, indeed,
I will miss Lottie as soon as we are opposite that great fire of
yours. They were soon safely over, and within a half hour reached Lottie's
home. It was evident she was a little ashamed of her behavior, and
she made some effort to retrieve herself, but she was cold and miserable,
vexed with herself, and still more vexed with Marstern that a latent sense of
justice forbade The latter feeling only irritated her. The more individuals, as well
as communities, must have scapegoats, and it is not an unusual impulse on
the part of some to blame and dislike those before whom they have humiliated themselves.
She gave her companions a rather formal invitation to come in and get warm
before proceeding further, but Marston said very politely that he thought it was too
late unless Miss Carrie was cold. Carrie protested that she was not so cold,
but that she could easily wait till she reached her own fireside. Well,
good night then, and the door was shut a trifle emphatically, mister
Marston said, Carrie sympathetically, your feet must be very cold and wet after
splashing through all that ice water. They are, he replied, but I
don't mind it. Well, if I had tried for years, I could
not have found such a test of character as we had to night. What
do you mean, Oh, well, you two girls did not behave exactly
alike. I like the way you behaved. You helped me out of a
confounded scrape. Would you have tried for years to find a test? She
asked, concealing the keenness of her query under a laugh. I should have
been well rewarded if I had by such a fine contrast, he replied.
Carrie's faculties had not so congealed, but that his words set her thinking.
She had entertained at times the impression that she and Lottie were his favorites.
Had he taken them out that night together in hope of contrasts a finding test
that would help his halting decision, He had ventured where the intuitions of a
girl like Carrie Mitchell were almost equal to second sight, and she was alert
for what would come next, He accepted her invitation to come in and warm
his feet at the glowing fire in the grate, which Carrie's father had made
before retiring. Missus Mitchell, feeling that her daughter was with an old friend
and playmate, did not think the presence of a chaperone essential and left the
young people alone. Carrie bustled about, brought cake and made hot lemonade,
while Marston stretched his feet to the grate with a luxurious sense of comfort and
complacency, thinking how homelike it all was, and how paradisical life would become
if such a charming little he bee presided over his home. His lemonade became
nectar offered by such hands. She saw the different expression in his eyes.
It was now homage decided preference for one, and not mere gallantry to two.
Outwardly, she would to merely oblivious and maintain simply her wonted friendliness.
Marston, however, was thawing in more senses than one, and he was
possessed by a strong impulse to begin an open siege at once. I haven't
had a single suit of any kind yet, Carrie, he said, dropping
the prefix of miss which had gradually been adopted as they had grown up.
Oh well, that was the position of all the great lawyers once, she
replied, laughing. Marston's father was wealthy, and all knew that he could
afford to be briefless for a time. I may never be great, but
I shall work as hard as any of them, he continued, to tell
you the honest truth. However, this would be the happiest Christmas Eve of
my life if I had a downright suit on my hands. Why can't I
be frank with you and say I'd like to begin the chief suit of my
life now, and here a suit for this little hand. I'd plead for
it, as no lawyer ever pleaded before. I settled that much down on
the ice. And if I hadn't happened to behave on the ice in a
manner agreeable to your lordship, you would have pleaded with the other girl,
she remarked, withdrawing her hand and looking him directly in the eyes. What
makes you think, so, he asked, somewhat confusedly, you do He
sprang up and paced the room for a few moments, then confronted her with
the words, you shall have the whole truth. Any woman that I would
ask to be. My wife is entitled to that, And he told her
just what the attitude of his mind had been from the first. She laughed
outright, then gave him her hand, as she said, your honesty ensures
that we can be very good friends. But I don't wish to hear anything
more about suits, which are close of kin to law suits. He looked
very dejected, feeling that he had blundered fatally in his precipitation. Come now,
Hedley, be sensible, she resumed, half laughing, half serious.
As you say, we can be frank with you each other. Why only
the other day we were boy and girl together coasting downhill on the same sled.
You are applying your legal jargon to a deep experience, to something sacred,
the result, to my mind, of a divine instinct. Neither you
nor I have ever felt for each other, this instinctive preference, this subtle
gravitation of the heart. Don't you see your head has been concerned about me,
and only your head. By a kindred process, you would select one
bale of merchandise and preference to another. Good Gracious, I've faults enough.
You'll meet some other girl that will stand some other test far better than I.
I want a little of what you call silly romance in my courtship.
See I can talk about this suit as coolly and fluently as you can.
We'd make a nice pair of lovers about as frigid as the ice water you
waded through so good naturedly. And the girl's laugh rang out merrily, awakening
echoes in the old house. Mister and missus Mitchell might rest securely when their
daughter could laugh like that. It was the mirth of a genuine American girl
whose self protection was better than the care of a thousand duennas. He looked
at her with honest admiration in his eyes, then rose quietly and said,
that's fine, Carrie. Your head's worth two of mine, and you'd make
a better lawyer. You see through a case from top to bottom. You
were right. I wasn't in love with you. I don't know whether I'm
in love with you now, and you haven't an infinitesimal spark for me.
Nevertheless, I begin my suit here and now I shall never withdraw it till
you are engaged to another fellow. So there, Carrie looked rather blank at
this result of her reductio ad absurdum process, and he did not help her
by adding a fellow isn't always in love. There must be a beginning.
And when I arrive at this beginning under the guidance of reason, judgment,
and observation, I don't see as I'm any more absurd than the fellow who
tumbles helplessly in love. He doesn't know why. What becomes of all these
people who have divine gravitations? You and I both know of some who have
had satanic repulsions. Afterward they use their eyes and critical faculties after marriage instead
of before. The romance exhaled like a morning mist, and the facts came
out distinctly. They learned what kind of a man and woman they actually were,
and two idealized creatures were sent to limbo. Because I don't blunder upon
the woman I wish to marry, but pick her out. That's no reason
I can't and won't love her. Your analysis and judgment were correct only up
to date. You have now to meet a suit honestly openly announced. This
may be bad policy on my part, yet I have so much faith in
you and respect for you, that I don't believe you will let my precipitation,
create a prejudice, give me a fair hearing, That's all I ask.
Well, well, I'll promise not to frown, even though some finer
paragon would throw me completely in the shade. You don't believe in me yet,
he resumed, after a moment of thought. I felt that I had
blundered awfully a while ago, but I doubt it. A girl of your
perceptions would soon have seen it all. I've not lost anything by being frank
from the start. Be just to me, however, It wasn't policy that
led me to speak, but this homelike scene, and you appearing like the
good genius of a home. He pulled out his watch and gave a low
whistle as he held it toward her. Then his manner suddenly became grave and
gentle. Carrie, he said, I wish you not a merry Christmas,
but a happy one, and many of them. It seems to me it
would be a great privilege for a man to make a woman like you happy.
Is this the beginning of the suit, she asked, with a laugh
that was a little forced. I don't know. Perhaps it is, but
I spoke just as I felt. Good night. She would not admit of
a trace of sentiment on her part. Good Night, she said, Merry
Christmas, go home and hang up your stocking. Bless me, she thought,
as she went slowly up the stairs. I thought it was going to
be through with him for good and all, except as a friend. But
if he goes on this way, the next morning, a basket of superb
roses was left at her home. There was no card, and Mamma queried
and surmised, but the girl knew they were not displeasing to her, and
somehow, before the day was over they found their way to her room.
But she shook her head decidedly, as she said, he must be careful
not to send me other gifts, for I will return them instantly. Flowers
in moderation never commit a girl. But then came another gift, a book
of pencilings here and there, not against sentimental passages, but words that made
her think it was his manner in society, however, that at once annoyed,
perplexed and pleased her. On the first occasion they met in the company
with others, he made it clear to every one that he was her suitor.
Yet he was not a burr which she could not shake. Off.
He rather seconded all her efforts to have a good time with any and every
one she chose. Nor did he wallflower, fashion mope in the meanwhile and
look unutterable things. He added to the pleasure of a score of others,
and even conciliated Lottie, Yet at the same time surrounded the girl of his
choice with an atmosphere of unobtrusive devotion. She was congratulated on her conquest,
rather maliciously so by Lottie. Her air of courteous indifference was well maintained,
Yet she was a woman and could not help being flattered. Certain generous straits
in her nature were touched also by a homage which yielded everything and exacted nothing.
The holidays soon passed and he returned to his work. She learned,
incidentally, that he toiled faithfully, instead of mooning around at every coin of
vantage she found him, or some token of his ceaseless effort. She was
compelled to think of him and to think well of him. Though Mamma and
Papa judiciously said little, it was evident that they liked the style of lover
into which he was developing. Once during the summer, she said, I
don't think it's right to let you go on in this way any longer.
Are my attentions so very annoying? No? Indeed, a girl never had
a more agreeable or useful friend. Are you engaged to some other fellow?
Of course not? You know better. There is no, of course,
not about it. I couldn't and wouldn't lay a straw in the way.
You are not bound, but I you bound. Certainly You must remember what
I said, then I must except the first man that asked me. I
ask you no some one else so as to unloose your conscience and give you
a happy deliverance. You would leave me still bound and hopeless. In that
case, I love you now, Carrie Mitchell, Oh dear, you are
incorrigible. It's just a lawyer's persistence in winning a suit. You can still
swear on the dictionary that you don't love me at all. I might on
the dictionary there I won't talk about such things any more. And she resolutely
changed the subject. But she couldn't swear even on the dictionary. She didn't
know where she stood or how it would all end. But with increasing frequency,
the words I love you now haunted her, waking and dreaming hours.
The holidays were near again, and then came a letter from Marstern asking her
to take another sleigh ride with him on Christmas Eve. His concluding words were,
there is no other woman in the world that I want on the other
side of me. She kissed these words, then looked around in a startled,
shamefaced manner, blushing even in the solitude of her room. Christmas Eve
came, but with it a wild storm of wind and sleet. She was
surprised at the depth of her disappointment. Would he even come to call through
such a tempest? He did come, and come early, and she said
demurely, I I did not expect you on such a night as this.
He looked at her for a moment, half humorously, half seriously, and
her eyes drooped before his. You will know better what to expect next time,
was his comment. When is next time? Any and every time which
gives me a chance to see you? Who should know that better than you?
Are you never going to give up? She asked, with averted face,
Not till you become engaged. Hush, They are all in the parlor.
Well. They ought to know as much. By this time also,
she thought it was astonishing how he made himself at home in the family circle.
In half an hour, there was scarcely any restraint left because a visitor
was present, Yet, as if impelled by some mysterious influence, one after
another slipped out, and Carrie saw with strange little thrills of dismay that she
would soon be alone with that indomitable lawyer. She signaled to her mother,
but the old lady's eyes were glued to her knitting. At last they were
alone, and she expected a prompt and powerful appeal from the plaintiff. But
Marston drew his chair to the opposite side of the hearth and chatted so easily,
naturally and kindly, that her trepidation passed utterly. It began to grow
late, and a heavier gust than usual shook the house. It appeared to
waken him to the dire necessity of breasting the gale, and he rose and
said, I feel as if I could sit here forever, Carrie. It's
just the impression I had a year ago. Tonight, You sitting there by
the fire, gave then, and give now to this place the irresistible charm
of home. I think I had then the decided beginning of the divine gravitation.
Wasn't that what you called it? Which has been growing so strong ever
since? You thought then that the ice water I waited was in my veins?
Do you think so? Now? If you do, I shall have
to take another year to prove the contrary. Neither am I convinced of the
absurdity of my course, as you put it. Then, I studied you
coolly and deliberately before I began to love you, and reason and judgment have
had no chance to jeer at my love. But Hedley, she began with
a slight tremor in her tones. You are idealizing me as certainly as the
blindest. I've plenty of faults. I haven't denied that. So have I
plenty of faults. What right have I to demand a perfection I can't offer.
I have known people to marry who imagined each other perfect, and then
come to court for a separation on the ground of incompatibility of temperament. They
learned the meaning of that long word too late, and were scarcely longer about
it than the word itself. Now I'm satisfied that I could cordially agree with
you on some points, unlovingly disagree with you on others. Chief of all,
it's your instinct to make a home. You appear better at your own
fireside than when in full dress at a reception. You see here, you've
got to give up this suit at last. I'm engaged, and she looked
away as if she could not meet his eyes. Engaged, he said,
slowly, looking at her with startled eyes. Well about the same as engaged.
My heart has certainly gone from me beyond recall. He drew a long
breath. I was foolish enough to begin to hope. He faltered, You
must dismiss hope to night. Then she said, her face still averted.
He was silent, and she slowly turned toward him. He had sunk into
a chair and buried his face in his hands, the picture of dejected defeat.
There was a sudden flash of mirth through tear jimmed eyes, a glance
at the clock, then noiseless steps, and she was on her knees beside
him, her arms around his neck, her blushing face near his wondering eyes,
as she breathed, Happy Christmas, Hedley, how do you like your
first gift? And what room is there now for hope? End of a
Christmas Eve? Suit by Edward P. Rowe,