1921-12-17 — Page 18

18

A CHRISTMAS STORY.

(Continued from Page 16.)

рить

"I wonder you could come away, Mr. Craggs," said his wife.

"Hush! He has been with me," said Snitchey," for three hours and more. He went over everything. He looked into all our arrangements for him, and was very particular indeed. He Humph!"

The dance was finished. Marion

THE CHINA MAIL.”

is something honest in that, at all events.”....

"My dear," urged Mr. Craggs, your good, opinion is invaluable. but I never avowed that the office was the enemy of your peace."

thick and thin, against all facts, and reason, and experience ? :

Mr. Craggs is fortunate, I'm passèri close, before him as he perfect peal upon the little bells. ed at about the same time as a

Sure!" said Mrs. Snitchey,

That office so engrosses em,"

said Mrs. Craggs.

"A person with an office has no

business to be married at all," said

Mrs. Snitchey.

Then Mrs. Snitchey said, within herself, that that Jonk of hers had pierced to Craggs's soul, and he knew ; and Mrs. Craggs observed, to Craggs, that "his Snitcheys" were deceiving him behind his back, and he would find it out when it was tro late.

Still, Mr. Craggs, without much footed heeding these remarks. uneasily about him until his eye he tesled on Grace, to whom immediately presented himself.

"Good evening, ma'am," said Craggs "You luk charmingly. Your -Miss-your sister, Miss Marion, is sha"

"Oh. she's quite well, Mr Craggs" "Yes--is she bere?" asked Criegs.

"Here! Don't you see her yonder? Guing to dance?" said tirzce.

Mr. Craggs put on his spectacles to see the better; locked at her through

them, for some time coughed; and put them, with an air of satisfaction. in their sheath again, and in his pocket

spoke. She did not observe him, or his partner; but looked over, her shoulder towards her sister in the distance, as she slowly made hetway into the crowd, and passed out, of

their view.

"You see! All safe and well" said Mr. Craggs. He didn't recur to that subject, I suppose ? "

"Not a word" /

"No," said Mrs. Cragga, ringing a "Not you, indeed. You wouldn't be worthy of the office, if you had the candour to."

"As to my having been away to night, my dear," said M. Saitchey, giving her, his arm, "the deprivation has been mine, I'm sure; but, as Mr. Craggs knows"

BATURDAY, DECEMBER

Now, too, the lively air that fan- he would be among them, in an innocent and blameless choice ned it grew less gentle, as the music Instant:

entreats that we will forgive her He dismounted from the chaise-prays that we will not forget Neither Saltchey nor Craggs open quickened and the dance proceeded

telling. the driver her and is gone." ly attempted to stem the current with new spirit; and a breeze arose and

that made the leaves and berries even that was which had thus set in, but both were

not easy in his "With whom? Where?" dance upon the wall, as they had agitation to remain behind for a He started up, as if to follow in content to be carried gently along it, until its force abated. This happen breeza rustled in the room as if an slowly, ran on with exceeding swift-to let him pass, looked wildly round often done upon the trees; and the few minutes, and then to follow pursuit but, when they gave way general movement for a country invisible company of fairies, treading ness, tried the gate, scaled the wall upon them, staggered back, and sank dance; when Mr. Snitchey proposed in the footsteps of the good sub jumped down on the other side, and down in his former attitude, clasping one of Grace's cold hands in his own. hiniself, as a partner to Mr. Craggs, stantial revellers, were whitling stood panting in the old orchard.

There was a frosty rime upon the There was a hurried running to and Mr. Crages gallantly offered after them. Now, ton, no feature of himself to Mrs. Snitchey; and after the doctor's face could be distinguish trees, which, in the faint light of the and fro, confusion, noise, disorder. some such alight evasions as Why ed as he spun and spun and now clouded moon, hung unan the smaller and no purpose. Some proceeded to don't you ask somebody else?" and there seemed a dozen birds of para- branches like dead garlands. Wither disperse themselves about the roads, "You'll be glad, Fitnow, if I decline, dise in fitful night; and now there ed leaves crackled and snapped and some took horse, and some got and ""I wonder you can dance out of were a thousand little bells at work; beneath his feet, as he crept softly lights, and some conversed together, on towards the house. The desolation urging that there was no trace or each lady graciously accepted, and ruffled by a little tempest, when the

track to follow. Some approached music gave in, and the dance was

him kindly, with the view of offering consolation; some, admonished him took her place.

that Grace must be removed into the house, and that he prevented it. He never heard them, and he never moved.

"And is he really gone? Is he safe very short by hitching her husband the office (but this jocósely now), and now a fleet of fiving skirts was

away?"

"He keeps to his word. He drops down the river with the tide in that shell of a boat of his, and so goes out to sea on this dark night --a dare- devil he is-before the wind. There's no such lonely road anywhere else. That's one thing. The tide flows, he says, an hour before midnight-about this time. I'm glad it's over." Mr. Snitchey wiped his forehead, which looked hot and anxious.

4

What do you think," said Mr. Craggs, "about"?

cautious "Hush!" replied his partner, looking straight before him, Don't mention "I understand you. names, and don't let us seem to ha talking secrets. I don't know what to think; and to tell you the truth, I don't care now. It's a great relief. His self-love deceived him. I suppose. Perhaps the young lady coquetted a little. The evidence would seem to point that way.. Alfred not arrived?" "Not yet." said Mr. Craggs. "Expected every minute."

Now the music struck up, and the dance commenced. The bright fire crackled and sparkled, rose and fell, as

"Good" Mr. Snitchey wiped his lough it joined the dance itself, in. right good-llowship. Sometimes, it forehead again. "It's a great relief foared as if it would make music too. I haven't been so nervous since we've Sometimes, it flashed and beamed as if been in partnership. I intend to it were the eye of the ald room: it spend the evening now, Mr. Craggs" winked ton, sometimes, like a know. Mrs. Craggs and Mrs. Snitchey ing patriarch, upon the youthful whi-joined them as he announced this perersin corners. Sometimes, it sported intention. The bird of paradise was with the holly boughs; and, shining in a state of extreme vibration, and en the leaves by fits and starts, made the line bells were ringing quite them look as if they were in the cold audibly. winter night again, and flottering in! the wind, Sametimes its genial humour grew obstreperous, and passed all bounds; and then it cast into the room, among the twinkling feer, with a loud burst, a shower of harmless little sparks, and in its exultation leaped and bounded, like a mad thing, up the broad old chimney. Another dance was near its close, when Mr. Snitchey touched his partner, who was looking on, upon the arm,

Mr. Craggs started, as if his familiar

had been a spectre.

Is be gone?" he asked.

"It has been the theme of general comment, Mr. Snitchey." said Mrs. Snitchey "I hope the office is satisfied."

"Satisfied with what, my dear?" asked Mr. Snitchey,

Mra, Snitchey cut this peference to a distance, and asking him to look at that man. To do her the favour to look at him!

39

over,

Hot and breathless as the doctor was, 1: only made him the more im patient for Alfred's coming.

"Anything been seen, Britain? Anything been heard?"

Toc dark to see far, sir. Too much noise inside the house to hear,"

"That's right! The gayer wel come for him. How goes the time?" "Just twelve, sir. He can't be long. sir."

It was an old custom among them, "At which man, my dear?" said indeed, to do so, and to pair off, in Mr. Shitch-y.

like manner, at dinners and stippers "Your chosen companion; I'm no, for they were excellent friends, and combaton to you, Mr. Snitcher." on a footing of easy familiarity. "Yes, yes. you are, my dear," he Perhaps the false Craggs and the interposed.

wicked Snitchey were a recognised

wives, "No, no, I'm not," said Mra. Suit-fiction with the two chey, with a majestic smile. "I know Doe and Roe, incessantly running bailiwicks, down Will you look at your up. and. my station. chosen companion, Mr. Shitchey; were with the two husbanda: or, at your referce, at the keeper of your perhaps the ladies had instituted, secrets, at the man you trust; af and taken upon themselves, these "Stir up the fire, and throw another two shares in the business, rathering upon it," said the doctor. "Let your other self, in short,"

The habitual association of self than be left out of it altogether. But, him see his welcome blazing out upon with Craggs, asioned Mr. Saitchey certain it is, that each wife went as the night-good boy as he comes

gravely and steadily to work in her along!" to look in that direction.

vocation as her busband did in his, and would have considered it almost impossible for the firm to maintain a successful and respectable existence, without her laudable exertions,

If you can look that man in the eye this night," sait Mrs. Snitchey, and not know that you are deluded, practised upon, made the victim of his arts, and beat down prostrate to his will by some unaccountable fascination which it is impossible to explain, and against which no warn ing of mine is of the least avail; all I can say is-I pity you !'”

At the very same moment, Mrs, on the cross Craggs was oracular subject. Was it possible, she said, that Craggs could so blind himself to his Snitcheys, as not to feel his true Did he mean to say that position. he had seen his Snitcheys come into that room, and didn't plainly see that there was reservation, cunning, trea. chery, in the man? Would he tell her that his very action, when he. wiped his forehead and looked so stealthily about him, didn't show that there was adm thing weighing on the con science of his precious Snitcheys (if he had a conscience), that wouldn't bear, the light? Did anybody but his Snitcheys come to festive entertain ments like a burglar?-which, by the

With the exposure of a defence less woman to ridicule and remark," returned his wife. "That is quite in the way of the office, that is."

I really. myself." said Mrs.way, was hardly a clear illustration have been so long of the case, as he walked in very Craggs, accustomed to connect the office with mildly at the door. And would he everything opposed to domesticity, still assert to her at noonday (it be that I am glad to know it as the ing nearly midnight,) that his Snit avowed enemy of my peace. There cheys were to be justified through

But, now, the bird of paradise was seen to flutter down the middle and the little bells began to bounce and jingle in poussette; and the doctor's rosy face spun round and round. like an expressive pagtop highly

and breathless Mr.. varnished; Craggs began to doubt already, whether country dancing had been made too easy," like the rest of life; and Mr. Saitchey, with his nimble cuts and capers, footed it for if and Craggs, and half a dozen more.

ię

Now, ton, the fire took fresh cour- age. favoured by the lively wind the dance awakened, and burned clear and high. It was the genius of the room, and present everywhere. It shone in people's eyes, it sparkled in the jewels on the snowy necks of girls, it twinkled at their ears as if it whispered to them stily, it flashed about their waists, it flickered on the ground and made it rosy for their feet, it bloomed upon the ceiling that it's glow might set off their bright faces, and it kindled up a general illumination in Mrs. Cragga's little belfry.

He saw it. Yes! From the chaise he caught the light, as he

He knew the room from which it turned the corner by the old church. shone. He saw the wintry, branches of the old trees between the light and him. He knew that one of those trees rusted musically in tire summer time at the window of Marion's chamber.

The tears were in his eyes. His heart throbbed so violently that? he could hardly bear bis hap piness. How often he had thought of this time-pictured it under all circumstances-feared that it might never come-yearned, and wearied for it-far away!

Again the light! Distinct and ruddy; kindled, he knew, to give him welcome, and to speed him home. He beckoned with his hand, and waved his hat, and cheered out, loud, as if the light werethey, and they could see and hear him, as he dashed towards them through the mud and mire triumphantly..

Stop! He knew the doctor, and understood what he had done. He would not let it be a surprise to them. But he could make it one yet, by going forward on foot. If the orchard gate were open, he could enter there: if not, the wall was easily climbed, as he knew of old; and

of a winter night sat brooding on the earth, and in the sky. But the red light came cheerily towards him from the windows figures passed and repassed there; and the hum and murmur of voices greeted his ear, sweetly.

Listening for hers: attempting, as he crept on, to detach it from the rest, and half believing that he heard it he had nearly reached the door, when it was abruptly opened, and figure coming out encountered his. It instantly recoiled with a half- suppressed cry.

don't you

The snow fell fast and thick.. He lonked up for a moment in the air. and thought that those white ashes strewn upon his hopes and misery were suited to them well. He looked round on the whitening ground, and thought how Marion's footprints would be hushed and covered up, as soon as made, and even that remem- brance of her blotted out. But he never felt the weather, and he never

'Clemency." he said, know me ?"

"Don't come in!" she answered, pushing him back. Go away. Don'cstirred. ask me why. Don't come in.”

PART THE THIRD.

"What is the matter?" he exclaimed. "I don't know, I am afraid to

There was a sudden tumult in the

The world has grown six years think. Go back. Hark!" house. She put her hands upon her older since that night of the return. ears. A wild scream, such as no It was a warm autumn afternoon, hands could shut out, was heard; and and there bad been heavy rain. The sun burst suddenly. from among the Gráce-distraction in her looks and

clouds; and the old battle-ground, manner-rushed out at the door.

"Grace!" He caught her in his sparkling brilliantly and cheerfully at arms. "What is it! Is she dead" sight of it in one green place, flashed She disengaged, herself, as if tua responsive welcome there, which joyful beacon had been lighted up. recognise his face, and fell down at spread along the country-side as if a thousand his feet.

and answered from a stations.

A crowd of figures came about them from the house. Among them was her father, with a paper in his hand..

How beautiful the landscape kind- ling in the light, and that luxuriant "What is it'1" cried Alfred, grasp. influence passing on like a celestial ing his hair with his hands, and presence, brightening everything! looking in an agoay from face to The wood, a sombre mass before, face, as he bent upon his knee beside revealed its varied tints of yellow, the insensible girl. "Will no one green, brown, red; its different forms look at me? Will no one speak to of trees, with raindrops glittering on me? Does no one know me? Is their leaves and twinkling as they The verdant meadowland, there no voice among you all, to tell fell. me what it is!"

bright and glowing, seemed as if it had been blind, a minute since, and now had found a sense of sight wherewith to look up at the shining sky. Cornfields, hedge-rows, fences, homesteads, the clustered roofs, the steeple of the church, the stream, the water-mill, all sprang out of the

*(Continued on Page 20)

There was a murmur among them She is gone."

Gone!" he echoed. "Fled, my dear Alfred!" said the doctor, in a broken voice, and with his hands before his, face. "Gone from her home and us. To night! She writes that she has made her

CARBURETTER DIFFICULTIES ARE OFTEN PETROL DIFFICULTIES.

running fitful

seems

the

Don't blame the carburetter if your engine is

to be

be losing power or holds you up altogether-perhaps in most aggravating circumstances and under the worst conditions.

Carburetter difficulties are often nothing but petrol difficulties

arising from impure or inferior motor spirit.

Use only "SHELL" and you will then avoid all such carburetter troubles and will get the greatest possible mileage per gallon and

exceptional power on hills.

CC

SHELL"