The Little Colonel's Chum: Mary Ware

"for this morning when I looked out of the window everything was white with snow. It has been so long since I have seen s

e had to stay up a little while longer to meet them. By the time Joyce had turned the davenport in the studio

te tiling and shining nickel-plate, as easy to keep clean as a china dish, and just a delight to work in. I never thought so before, but now it seems to me that it is just as nice to know how to serve a delicious meal as

home,' He was so charmed with everything about the flat that he said he wanted to move into one right away, and make biscuits himself o

as a darling little lace fan all spangled, like a cobweb with dew-drops caught in its meshes. We opened everything then and there, as we ha

order for a frontispiece for a child's magazine. She was so happy she could hardly finish her breakfast, and said now she could give me the present she had planned to give me in the beginning. She had been disappointed about some other work she had counte

dy so smiling and happy and good-natured, no matter how much they were bumped into. I felt Christmasey down to my

at Warwick Hall. I've always wanted furs like them. They look so opulent and luxurious. And maybe I wasn't proud and happy when I saw myself in the mirror! They just make my costume, and they made a world of difference in my comfort when we went out into the icy air again. I certainly would have squeal

gay and lively that I kept getting more and more excited every moment. Finally, while we were waiting for our orders to be filled, Betty said, 'It is so festive, I believe I'll give Mary my present now, instead of waitin

nutes she will be ready, and then we will turn the key in the door and be off for Eugenia's. Mrs. Boyd a

til the first few stations were past. Then Betty and Joyce found seats together, and a fat old lady good-naturedly

so," she wheezed apologetically. "But young people don't feel draught

bonnet bobbing an energetic accompaniment to her remarks. "She's always picking up acquaintances on the trai

have no idea how popular she is, just because she i

t was not at the snowy fields she was smiling with that happy light in her eyes, nor at the gleaming river. She was only dimly conscious of them and had forgotten entirely that it was the famous Hudson whose shore-line they were following. For once she was finding her

orner. 'Peared like, that first Christmas that Silas and me spent together in our own house couldn't be happier, but it didn't hold a candle to them that came afterwards, when there was little Si and Emm

basket on the floor at her feet, a wooden monkey on a stick. "I'm just looking

er readiness to put herself into another's place, smiled with her, sharing sympathetically the anticipation of her return. Straightway in her

smoothed the soft fur of her boa with a caressing hand, and slipped back her glove to delight her eyes with the sight of her bloodstone ring, while her

pend together would be happier than this. Jack had always said that she would have her "innings" when she was a grandmother. All

Phil was at the station to meet them with a

beside Betty. "I haven't been behind any since I left Plainsville. I wish we ha

the house, but I told Eugenia I'd bring you home the roundabout way

ans!" cried Joyce and B

rossed her face at the prospect of a longer drive. "They are shining like two stars," he went on mischievously, amused to see th

eside him as contented and happy as a kitten in those becoming furs, and he thought with satisfaction that the little

amed a welcoming light, and the front door, flung open at their approach, showed that the wide reception hall had been transformed int

wife were noted for their lavish hospitality, but the welcome accorded her new friends and neighbours was nothing to the one reserved for these old friends of her girlhood. She

w words which they had not dreamed she could say. Eliot had orders to bring her in the moment that she awakened, so they could soon see the most remarkable child in the world. Yes, Eliot was still with her,

between the two rooms, turning first one way and then the other to answer the questions rapidly propounded. Mary, thankful that h

s of the boys whom she had loved so dearly in spite of her inability to understand them. Father Tremont had been so touched and pleased when she proposed it. No, he could not be with them this Christmas. He had taken Elsie to the south of Fra

TNO

o" for an account of Phil

leasure in looking around for them now, and recognizing them among the handsome furnishings of the different rooms. Heretofore the

s she had had, as she stood with the bridal party between the Rose-gate and the flower crowned altar, listening to the solemn vow: "I, Eugenia,-tak

all afternoon. Mary caught a glimpse of his meeting with Eugenia, in the hall, and when he came in, cordial as a boy in his welcome, and by numberles

G LITTLE CREATURE, AL

icia's name for him, as near as she can say it. Wouldn't you know that sh

e the year she was threatened with blindness. His hair was grayer now than then, and the years had added a few lines to his kind face, but he was not nearly so grave. He smiled oftener, and she noticed

g in the great chimney corner. Even after she was carried away it was plain to be seen how the interest of the house centred around her. There was a tender glow in Eugenia's eyes every time she looked at the tiny white stocking hanging from the holly wreathed mantel. And it was also plain to be seen

gravely, surveying his own lavish contributions.

not grow up to be the selfish child that I was before Betty came along with her Tusitala story and her Road of the Loving Heart. She is to begin to build one now, even before she is old enough to understand. This is her firs

xplained Stuart. "So you see she is in

ers early in the morning, after the maid had been in to turn on the heat in the radiator, and close the windows. She wondered how it could have been placed there without her knowledge, for the slightest motion set the tiny bells on heel and toe a-jingli

m "Cousin Carl" and a long box that she opened with breathless interest because Phil's card

d, and then drew a long rapturous breath, exclaiming, "Roses! American B

nd half blown flower to examine it separately, revelling in the sweetness and colour. Then the uncomfortable thought occurred to her th

dn't seem such a big thing. But this is the first time. Of course it doesn't mean anything as

lipped out of bed and ran across the room to thrust the long stems into the water pitcher. She would ask th

mas service at St. Boniface, the little stone church in the village, a mile away. Eugenia had suggested their going. She said it would be such a picture with the snow on its ivy-covered belfry, and the icicles hanging from the eaves. Some noted singer wa

tree, which kept Eugenia at home to make some alteration in her plans. So when the time came to start only the four guests set out across the snowy lawn, down th

not bear to have its lovely petals take on a dark purplish tinge at the edges where the frost curled them. In the church the steam-heated atmosphere brought out its fragrance till i

hey all fade I'll save the leaves and make a potpourri of them like we made of Eugeni

nced, and Mary, remembering the bright new quarter in her purse, was glad that she had earned that bit of silver herself. It made it so much more of a personal offering than if

her muff. She had never seen such a rubicund portly gentleman, with two double chins and expansive bald spot on his crown. She held the coin between her fingers awaiting his slow appr

d in front of her, she fumbled desperately in her purse to regain the dropped quarter. The instant the coin left her fingers she saw the mistake she had made, and reached out her hand as if to snatch it back. But it was too late, eve

towards the plate after it passed. She glanced at her curiously, wondering at her agitatio

alked off with her shilling. Down the central aisle went the pompous gentleman at last in company with two others, and the three plates were received by the rector and bl

she had lost her mind if they should see her do such a thing, unless she explained to them. Somehow she shrank from letting anybody know how highly she valued that shilling. All at once she had grown self-conscious. She had not known herself, just how much she ca

loitered as long as possible, even going back for her handkerchief, which she had purposely dropped in the pew to give her an

s. "Dudley Eames, Rector," he read in a low tone. "Strange I never can remember that man's name, when Stuart is always quoting him. They are both great golf

y's face. It held a suggestion which she resolved to act upon as soon a