Nebraska Newspapers

    MONDAY. DECEMBER 29. 1913.
PAGE 4.
PLATTSKIOUTH SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL,
Copyright, 1912, by Moffat,
The Story by Chapters.
Chapter I. What Betty Revere
Wrote to Anny d Peyeter.
Chapter II. Her Woman's
Will; His Man's Way.
Chapter III When the Birds
Came Home.
Chapter IV When the Violin
Man Came.
Chapter V. Where Betty
Went.
Chapter VI What Peter Did.
Chapter VII. When the West
Called to the East.
Chapter VIII. Betty's Carto
de Visite.
Chapter I X What Peter Saw
Passing His Door.
Chapter X Where Little Pe
ter Found the Key.
Chapter XI What Peter Van
Zandt Saw.
Chapter XII Vhen the Lit
tle Master Unlocked "the Door."
Chapter XIII. Little Peter's
Mistake.
Chapter XIV- Peter and the
Little Marquis Make a Secret.
Chapter XV Two Days Be
fore Christmas.
Chapter XVI "And a Little
Child Shall Lead Them."
CHAPTER XIII.
Little Peter's Mistake.
Ms
wa
R. VAN ZANDT bad come up
town early that afternoon;
jst before Christmas there
was not much law business
to be attended to. lie bad gone, as
usual, into the library to read his Even
ing Post. He sat beside the fireplace
where the Liverpool coal burned cheer
ily, opposite to him the pier mirror,
some of its silvery lining worn away,
behind him the curtained arch. There
were leather chairs and the leather
lounge: bookcases on all four sides:
the large table in the middle of the
room had on it the violin case, the
Godey's Lady's Book. Detty's last note
to him. and the carte de visite he had
taken from under her pillow, now in
a crimson velvet passe partout By
and by he laid down his paper, lighted
a cigar and drew nearer to the fender;
there was not a sound in the house;
nor yet without for the snowfall had
been heavy, and it had begun again
to come down; not a sound save the
cricket that chirped on his hearth. lie
heard it and smiled as he called It a
lonely man's comrade; there had al
ways been a cricket singing on that
hearth in winter time, as long as he
could remember. Presently sleighbells
Jingled In the street: the hearty laugh
ter of youth reached his ears; a voice
called out to the horses "Whoa, there,
steady!" and then silence once more.
Ills eyes traveled to the table to the
carte de visite in the velvet frame.
Betty would not use the new straw
berry roans. Each morning the coach
man waited for orders: each morning
Shaddle or Bridget told him there were
none.
But Betty had come home. lie him
self had seen her. Why had she come?
There was but one wall between them;
should he break it down and march
In and repossess his own?
But how could he do that? ' Nothing
might be further from her desires than
that be should show himself to her.
She kept aloof. Well, but a woman
could not put out her band to a man
unless the man first extended bis.
Should he write to her? lie took op
his pen. Absurd! To write to Betty
when merely a wall divided him from
her.
. But that wall! Who had built it?
lie. Peter Van Zandt. What a fool he
was! Ql ConrseBettl won Id not stir
ah inch toward the man who bad built
a wall up between her and him. He
would have the wall torn down tomor
row. That was It, tomorrow. He got
tip and begrfn pacing the floor restless
ly, smoking all this while, so that by
' then the place was In a haze of filmy
blue. Through ' it the fire shadows
flickering and playing on the and
irons, the Indian rug. the impoverished
mirror, bis own face.
If be could but tear down that wall
now. with his fists and fingers. They
had 'had harder work to do and had
done it, over In the African mines.
Yes. he would do it now. Do it him
self, here were the window bars,
heavy, quite fit anil able to batter
plaster, inortar and bricks to a rnln.
Then the Image of her standing you
der under the bare trees in the park,
exnectant. eager, watchful for some;
Yard and Company.
one else, smote him to the heart," and
he laughed a little, put down the tool
he had seized, sat In his chair with his
back entirely to the arch with its
brocatelle curtains that had never once
in all the years been displaced or
touched by band of his. He lighted a
fresh cigar, and the smoke wreaths
grew thicker, and the mist over all
things more dense, and the cricket
sang on. and the rest of It was silence
and his hunger for Betty.
There may have been. Indeed there
were, other sounds there the creak ol
rusty hinges, the sweep of brocatelle.
the careful tread of two little feet lost
almost In a pair of cavalry boots that
reached to a childish waist, the soft
purring of three pussy cats and the
swish of their tails against the Turk
ish ottomans near the arch. The little
boy. by no means abashed or fright
ened, saw the figure of the man
through the haze, but not his face, for
that was not toward him. He made a
further noise with his gigantic heels.
but the man did not hear. His mind
was with the woman he loved. He
smoked on.
Then Pierre de la Quereau made a
more intentional sound with his boots.
Still the man was oblivious. Finally
the melodious voice of the child ex
claimed. "Pardon, monsieur, but are
you happiness or where Is it, if you
please?"
Then, to be sure, Peter Van Zandt
started up from his dream chair and
turned to behold the tiny figure emerg
ing from the cavalry boots and the
head roofed by the old army cap.
This, to be sure, the little boy had
lifted as he had spoken. When be
succeeded In handling it be saw the
stranger against whom his grand
mother had so carefully warned him.
"Monsieur!" cried the astounded
child.
"Monsieur le Marquis!" exclaimed
the equally astonished man. Then cer
tainly Mr. Van Zandt recovered him
self, pleased in a sense to think that
his small acquaintance bad come to
call on him. Admitted doubtless by
Bridget or Sbaddle,- he had entered the
room while the host had been unob
servant, lost in thoughts of Betty. "I
am glad to see you, sir." Van Zandt
went on. "I did not hear the bell ring
nor your entrance. Sit down." He
wheeled a chair nearer the fire, which
the three pussies evidently accepted
as a note of welcome, for they began
to bestow themselves in warm corners
without further circumlocution.
But the little boy did not take the
offered seat; be stood with his un
wieldly cap In his bands and said: "No.
I thank you. monsieur; 1 did not know
this would be your house. I thought
It was our house," he glanced back
Intuitively toward the curtained arch
Mr. Van Zandt, not exactly compre
hending, smiled amusedly; so this little
man was doubtless a visitor with his
grandmother, at Betty's house, and by
some whim of childhood he had coma
around by the area way very likely, and
walked in.
"And how is that, sir?" be neverthe
less inquired.
"I did not come to visit you. mon
sieur; not In the least. I ask your
pardon. I came to find happiness
and" he looked around. "Please,
monsieur, tell me. Is it really here?"
"No. sir." Van Zandt answered slow
ly, "it is not"
"But" little Peter was about to say.
"Brigitte told me It was here," when
bis instincts forbade the use of any
one's name as yet.
"But I am mtst happy to have yon
here." the host repeated.
"Monsieur, It i3 not that. Grand
mamma.' then he paused, searching
all his Inexperienced soul for the right
road-' "Grandmamma, monsieur, is not
happy. I am sure of it And Bri I
mean some one told me that happiness
was on the other side of the arch, and
I promised to myself, monsieur, to
come through and find it. and have it
for her when she gets home from
Bloomingdale tonight, tomorrow." The
little boy gave a deep breath of relief
at the conclusion of his long speech.
The man stared at blm in open be
wilderment: then a light dawned
Betty's visitors, of course, the little
boy and his green brocade grandmam
ma. and some fairy tale, all mixed up
In his curly hair.
Well, children and fairy tales were
alike the unknown quantity to Peter
Van Zandt. but this charming little
guest of Betty's! Ah. yes. perhaps.
certainly be could be led to talk of his
hostess.
4T am glad you came," Van . Zandt
again repeated somewhat lamely.
"Now. sit down."
"No, monsieur, I thank you. It Is not
the visit I could not I promised
grandmamma never to visit the stran
ger. I will go back. Come." he said to
the three pussies. "Strad. Ole Bull.
Paganini. come home. Monsieur will
excuse us all for entering; it was a
asll
"I came to find happiness. Is it really
here?"
mistake." Little Peter recalled his
grandmother's word aud used It as he
drew himself and his tremendous boots
away from his host.
Van ZaniTt watched him as if spell
bound as he retreated toward the bro
catelle curtains: watched him arduous
ly push them aside: beheld through
the haze the arch, open as of old: the
dust of years, the mahogany door ajar,
the glimrse beyond of the staircase,
the hat rack, the newel post of Mrs.
Van Zandt's half of the double house.
He saw the little boy urging his pussy
cats and passing through before he
had collected himself.
CHAPTER XIV.
Peter and the Little Marquis
Make a Secret, Also the
Marquis Beholds the Carte
de Visite.
CHEN Mr. Van Zandt sprang to
the child, and the two, man
and boy, stood together on the
sill of the dividing door.
"Come back!" cried the man. his
firm hold upon the small arm.
"But monsieur. I promised grand
mamma not to visit any stranger.
"I will write and explain . to your
grandmother, sir. She is stopping in
there, is she not?" lie indicated Bet
ty's side of the old house.
"Yes. monsieur of course but"
"You are looking for happiness, little
boy. are you not?"
"Yes. monsieur, to give to grand
mamma.
"Come back; majbe yon can help me
to find it and then I will give some
of It to you."
"You will, monsieur?"
"I will, upon my soul!"
"Then I will come." The three pus
sies had already returned to their
warm corners as Van Zandt taking
the army cap from his little guest
led him back into the library through
the hare of the curling smoke. He
glanced down as be laid the cap on
the table, ne saw his own initials in
side, dimmed but still legible. He
looked at the Goliath boots and recog
nized these, too, as bis own. He stared
at the child.
"Now, sir. will you tell tne how you
came through there?" ne looked over
at the arch. "It will help us, Monsieur
le Marquis, in oar search for happi
ness."
"Monsieur. I play In the garret It
Is there I find the boots and the cap.
I find the keys on a peg as Ole Bull
plays with the string."
"Yes?" Van Zandt assented eagerly
ne remembered banging them there
very distinctly.
"Brigitte, monsieur, it was Brigitte
who is very excellent and true, tell to
me that this large key was the one for
this door, you see? She show to me
the door behind the portieres, and we
make a plan to unlock the door I to
do it. because Brigitte. when I de
mand what is on the other side, she
say she think happiness is; so I un
lock, I come in. I find monsieur."
Van Zandt was in the midst of a rid
dle.
The wall not built; and Brigitte.
who was she? To be sure. Bridget, of
course. But why should or how could
Bridget Supple presume to pshaw!
The little boy. visiting Betty with
his grandmother, doubtless old friends
of hers in France, was a charming lit
tle romanclst He had heard, be be
lieved. somewhere, of Just such, fanci
ful children.
But the open arch?
-The little boy meantime had been
looking around, speculating according
to bis years as to whence happiness
might come or in which article of fur
niture it might now be hidden. Then
presently be caught sight of the carte
de visite in the crimson velvet passe
partout. and he cried out softly, "Oh.
monsieur, monsieur, where, then, did
yon get this?" The little boy fetched a
big slgli and knelt down by the table,
his two arms trying to fold themselves
on top of the frame, bis large eyes
fixed on the tiny picture.
'Well, sir," Van Zandt replied. "I'm
afraid I stole it" He was unadept at
dealing with a child and mostly Intent
opon arranging mentally bow to fetch
his guest to speaking of Betty.
"Monsieur!" The little boy-felt this
to be untrue, but before he could add
anything to his exclamation of ' re
proach the man went on with:
"Why?"
"Because,, .monsieur, this," he. put a
reverend little forefinger on the pic
ture, "is madame my grandmamma."
'Are vou not mistaken, sir?" The
child shook his head
'I have the same on my candle
eland, monsieur, by my bed."
'But sir. the name of this lady is
not the same as yours. See, it is writ
ten on the card." He took the picture
from Its frame and held it tip.
'Monsieur, I cannot read the writ
ing."
It says, 'Betty Van Zandt'" the
man read.
'Yes. monsieur," little Peter nodded
slowly; "exactly. My mamma was so,
and my papa was De la Quereau; also
my mamma, too." he explained to the
best of bis limited ability.
Peter Van Zandt stared on. There
were tense thoughts racking his brain.
Betty married to another? How? Im
possible!
Presently his breath came hard as
he spoke. "Your grandmamma, sir.
Would yon tell me her name?"
"But, yes, monsieur. Grandmamma's
name is Betty Van Zandt"
Then the man's whole body shook.
and his hands trembled and his lips,
end his arms ached, and his soul was
scathed, and he lifted the little boy up
and stood him on the table, not letting
him outside his bold, and be asked,
"What is the name, do you know, of
that grandfather of yours who would
not like to have you and your grand
mamma go to Grace church?"
"His name, monsieur. 1 know well.
Is like mine, Peter we say Pierre
Van Zandt I have the middle name."
And the arms of the man enfolded
the little boy very tenderly, very care
fully, very hollly. and he pressed his
cheek to the Jittle boy's cheek, as he
said. "We will, we must find happiness
for your grandmamma, sir; but I will
tell you where it i3."
"Where, monsieur, where?"
Peter pointed to the other side of the
curtains.
"It's over yonder, sir. In your grand
mamma's part of the house."
"But no. monsieur, no. I am sure.
because if It were grandmamma would
not sit always. I have seen it with
her looks this way."
Then for Peter Van Zandt the roof
was lifted and be felt upon his head
zephyrs from heaven. Then be laugh
ed and lifted the little boy from the
table and said. "Pierre."
"Yes, monsieur?"
"You know Christmas is coming;
only three days off now?"
"Yes. monsieur, that is so." he was
stroking Paganlui's ears. Paganini sat.
by bis own selection, on top of the old
violin case.
"And both your grandmamma and
ngree. you say, that it is a sad time
of year?" The little boy nodded as he
cuddled his pussy cat
"But suppose we make It joyful, yon
Tjnd I; suppose we 'believe that hap
piness will be found by doing that:
suppose we make a secret just you
and I. about Christmas; shall we? Will
you?"
"Yes, monsieur. I will; anything for
the happiness of grandmamma." he
drew nearer to Peter. "How shall we
make the secret monsieur?"
For a moment Van Zandt did not
reply; be was as yet a bit in the mists;
but things were making themselves
plain to him; he found himself facing
the singular proposition of that radiant
rose of a woman he had watched in
Washington parade ground, as the
grandmother of a little boy of seven;
it was not easy to adjust it all at once;
so little Peter had to wait There were
a hundred questions Van Zandt would
have liked to ask this little boy; it was
also a dilemma for him whether to dis
close his own identity to the child or
not
But- Peter, with all his ardor of
thirst for Betty, was level headed
Whereas his Impulse was to pick up
thi small boy and rush with bim
straight over to the other side of the
house and there await her homecom
log. he at once saw that this could not
be: that in fact after all, there must
be, he would rather have It so, a sec
ond wooing of his wife.
So for these reasons little Peter had
to wait At last Van Zandt said
"Pierre, what do you say to a Christ
mas tree in your grandmother's draw
ing room? A surprise you know, you
must not tell."
"Yes. monsieur! A Christmas tree!
Oh. that will be beantifnl!"
"I will go shopping and get all sorts
of things that I think your grand
mamma would like, eh?"
"Yes. monsieur." the chllds eyes
widened. The magnitude of all this
robbed him of any lengthy speech.
"It can be done without letting your
grandmamma know, can it not?"
This brought little Peter to his lan
guage. "Ah. monsieur: I don't know.
It is for me always to tell grandmam
ma everything and you see! Now 1
must go home." ne became suddenly
terrified with his own position.
"Pierre, look at me."
"Yes. monsieur, I look."
T promise yon to make It all right
with madame your grandmamma, on
the word of a gentleman, how Is that?"
"Monsieur!" the gallant little boy's
Intonation was nerfect. but it was
painfully evident that he had reserva
tions.
Van Zandt felt this. He said. "Well
sir. what is the trouble, won't you tell
me?"
"Monsieur." the little boy answered
deprecatingly. seeming to sink farther
down in his huge boots, "if you please
I do not know who you are. the name
of you. monsieur." ' - . . '
. Van Zandt felt the thrust acknowl
edged its Justice. He &ad wanted to
hold his name, but couid he now? Jm
possible.
"Mt name. Monsieur le Marquis. is
Peter Van Zandt"
The little boy gave a sigh of relief
"Monsieur,, then. istheiaaie-name a
my grandpapa, one of them?" "
"The same."
"The grandpapa for which we pray.
grandmamma and I. every night, on
our knees."
Do you?" The man's features quiv
ered
But, yes. monsieur, and grandmam
ma also cries a little, very often at this
prayer. I don't love that grandpapa !"
nis red lips tightened.
Don't you? Well, never mind about
him Just now. Tomorrow morning I
will meet you when you go to SIgnor
Pratl's and we will plan the rest"
"Monsieur. Is it this that will make
the secret?"
Yes. The secret Is the Christmas
tree: remember."
I "Yes, monsieur. I salute you, mon
sieur. I go The little boy once
more collected his pussy cats and.
through the smoky atmosphere, the
army boots much Impeding, the army
f.m n,or h !2 onm Pifnr w.sfehofl film
tass back whence he came; heard the
knob turn, heard the cats mew; pres
ently heard the cricket sing.
j Then he took up the carte de visite
kind pressed it to his heart, then he
(crossed over and was glad to find
ithat the little boy had forgotten to
turn or to fetch off the key.
CHAPTER XV.
:Ht Two Days Before Christmas. .
ITTLE TETEII was awake very
I early the next morning. For
LS the first time in his whole
seven years ue uau
thing on his mind." as other roius
phrase it: something weighing where
not even a feather had ever weighed
before his promise to bis grandmother
to tell her what the "something" be
tween Bridget and himself was when
she should be homo from her dinner at
the Ogdens.
Betty recollected Pierre's rromise
very well, but it was no part of her
simple scheme of education to remind
her boy of that which he should not
forget a promise. She was pulling on
fcer cuffs preparatory to going shop
ping. Stradivarius was playing witn
her muff cord; little Peter was put
ting on her overshoes; be was also puz
zling out his own tangled skein.
Finally, with a great last pull at the
second overshoe, be said. Grand
mamma!"
"Yes. dear?"
"That between Brigitte and me, I
cannot tell to you today."
Very well, dear." In Betty's mind
it was undoubtedly a Christmas gift
which Miss Supple had led the path to
buying. "Be sure not to go off the
block with your sled after you come
from Signor Pratl's." - - -
"I will, grandmamma."
"Kiss me. darling." Betty kissed
him: she was down the stairs; little
reter lingered at the landing, then he
dashed impetuously after her.
"Grandmamma!"
"Yes?"
"I made the visit to the stranger!"
"Pierre!" Betty stood still, letting go
of the doorknob.
"Mme. Grandmere. it was wicked,
but so very pleasant; oh, yes. I did
it"
"But Tierre, dear, you promised?"
She sat down on the ball chair and
drew him to her.
He nodded. "I did. but I did not
know how pleasant how easy, it was."
"It is generally easy to be naughty,
dear. What now shall grandmamma
do with the little boy she cannot
trust?"
"But you can trust. It was not the
real visit," the little boy halted, "not
the visit prepared. I did not know.
It was as when Ole Bull jumps out of
a dark corner. You don't know it un
til be does the jumps."
Betty's heart also jumped. Where
had the child been lured to?
"Pierre, what stranger's house have
you been iu, tell me?" Her tone was
as severe as she knew of.
"Grandmamma, it is now that I
know the name of him. He told me.
ne Is exactly a gentleman. I am sure."
"Well, what is his name?"
"Feter Van Zandt the same as the
grandpapa for which we pray."
Betty sat still, very still, and the
rose flood died from her cheeks, and
her fingers trembled as she tried to be
nonchalant and button her gloves.
"Now it is that I have made the
visit as Ole Bull jumps you will not be
angry or sorry with me, grandmam
ma?" She drew the little boy closer. "No,
dear; you have told me. That makes
things right and"
"But grandmamma, I have not told
you all," he interrupted loyally. "That
I cannot"
She scented the Christmas present
nd Miss Supple's injunctions, doubt
less, not to reveal; so she laughed and
answered, "No matter, by and by. per
haps at Christmas, eh, you will tell
me all?"
"Exactly. Yes, grandmamma, at
Christmas," be pushed up her glove
and pressed his lips to her wrist:
"Goodby! goodby!" The roans and the
coupe were at the curb, but Mrs. Van
Zandt with a smile shook her head to
the coachman, and walked over to
Broadway.
Then a rush for cap and coat mit
tens, sled and violin case. Bridget and
Shaddle both helping him. and off
around the corner to see the stranger
and to go to his lesson. v
The butler and Miss Supple taw them
meet from the window on the area.
"Maybe, come Christmas. Shad, the
Juaster and mistress '11 j-ou know!"
The faithful woman jerked her band
toward Mr. Vou Zandt and Hie httlt.
boy. '
"Maybe, come Christmas." remarked
2ir Shaddle In a wipe but, restrained
tone, "other things '11 come round, too.
'Biddy."
. When Van Zandt and the little hoy
met that morning they plotted their
'secret without difficulty.
Van Zandt bad seen Ned Pavles; he
already knew that Anny de Peyster
bad at-Jast given in. and that after
nearly thirty years or serving, the tire
less Ned was to be rewarded; that on
Christmas eve at 8 o'clock In the rec
tory of St. Michael's. Bloomingdale.
Ned and Anny were to be married. Ned
bad confided to blm in a curions mat
ter of fact curt fashion, that "no one
was to be present except Anny's life
iong best frieul Betty and Anny's
brother Nicholas."
So Feter kuew that Betty would le
away from the double house on Christ
mas eve up to a reasonably late hour
nt least lie did not, of course, know
what the little boy had to tell blm
further, anil this was that be was to go
ufter ail to the Ogdens' party, having
overcome his scruples as to Mr. Law
fence, and that Shaddle was to fetch
fcim home at half past 9.
All this suited Mr. Van Zandt per
fectly. He said so to the little boy.
"Yes. monsieur." The child leaned
thoughtfully against the railing. "M.
Van Zandt!" with sudden determina
tion. Conscience and duty worked
strangely in this little lad's composi
tion. "Yes, sir."
"It is that I tc!d grandmamma, a
little."
"You did. sir? What did you tell
ier?"
"Oli, monsieur, not the secret we
make, no. but the name of you, that
was all."
"I sea And madame your grand
mamma said what did she say. Mon
sieur le Marquis?"
"I don't recollect monsieur. I for
get, but she did not complain."
"Nor forbid you to talk to me any
more?"
"No, monsieur."
"That is good. Now you get on the
sled, aud I will pull you as far as Si
gnor Pratl's."
"Oh, monsieur! Would you? Oh!"
The little boy was soon ensconced on
"Oh, monsieur, not the secret we
make, no."
the sled, clasping the violin case, and
Van Zandt was pulling him rapidly
along through the snow.
"Monsieur!" Pierre exclaimed after a
silence as they were crossing Bleecker
street. "Are you sure about finding
the happiness for grandmamma?"
The man stopped short and answer
ed, "Yes; I am sure."
The little boy sighed with content
ment and confidence.
"Peter!"
"Yes. monsieur?"
"When you come home from the
party tomorrow evening I think that
happiness will very soon after come
home also, and I will be waiting for
you. sir. when you arrive."
"Where, monsieur, will you be?"
"Very near to happiness. Kir, and
very near to that Christmas tree. Here
wo are at No. 12 "
CHAPTER XVI.
"And a
Little Child
Shall
Lead Them.'
ETTY went up to Blooiningdal,
and Anny and Ned were mar
ried. Little Peter went to the
party, and beneath the smiles
or Miss Folly Manierre entirely for
got both his grand mother and tb
Christnias'tree. Pillows and keys, oats
peas, beans and barley grows. Little
Sally Waters, a Snuta Claus with a
bag full of toys and comfits all served
to distract the little boy's thoughts.
But when word came In at half nas
9 that the butler had called for Master
de la Quereau the whole of the secret
rushed back into the boy's brain, and
nil the way down in the omnibus from
Fifty-second street his energies were
taken up with wondering as to what
and how it all would be when lie
reached home that Is. almost all the
way. for by the time the stag was
jolting over Fifth avenue, lu ami out
of the ruts and gullies of the big now
fall, little Peter had fallen fitst asleep
In Shaddle s arms, nor did he waken
when they got out. and he laid him on
the leather lounge In the dining room.
"The Lord love him. lot him sloop!"
Bridget adjured as she slipped ofT his
coat and cap and pulled his velvet tult
I straight and s a oo thed hi P r : s . cove
Ing him wlt'i ah afshan. "StireT It!! be
better entirely for th two of tbern t'
meet alone by themselves!"
Shaddle nodded emphatically a the
both tiptoed out of the room, timing
the pas down to a point and leaving
the door on the cra'k. They went lnt
the pantry and waited.
Peter Van Zandt waited too.
He was in the drawing room. II
stood quite In the middle of the velvet
carpet with the medallion of rose an"
the blue border. Hi eye went vrr
tlw blue and gold brocatelle sofas and
ctalrs, the etagere with its burden of
Bohemian glass, alabaster Clares.
Wedgewaod p!arqu: the whatnots In
the corners, the papier niahe tab.es in
laid with mother of pear!, the easel
with the vivid Cropsfj on It and. In
the space letween the two marble col
umns dividing the long room, stvl the
Enest Christmas tree that Jefferson
market could nfTord.
Teter Van Zandt had been shorping
tndeed. There were toys for a Ktt
boy of all sorts and kind. Lags full of
fJail'ard's lionlx-n. many par!- Li
beled for Bridget and Shnddie. the
coachman, the charwoman, the wash
woman, ti e chimney sweeper, the post
man, the lamp lighter, the milkman,
the choir loys of Grace church, the
newsman, the policeman, the dustman;
Mr. Van Zandt Lad not forgotten any
ne.
And there were loves of si"i acd
laces and furs and Jewels for Betty
Van Zandt Book and flowers sr.d an
Indian shawl; rare carving from the
newly opened ports of Japan and
China; all the prettiest thing he rouid
find; the whole tree decked cut. too.
with yards of tinsel fringes nr I ball,
sparkling In the gleam nt dozens of
tiny candles In their metal ronr.
He had ordered the biggest l'r to
be piled on the hearth. Already the
pusy cats had found this ont and wre
basking In th t larp; nor had they
been neglected by tlie master; three
Fplendld collars with Inge Lows of red
ribbon hung on a branch marked "For
Stradivarius. Ole Ball and P.tranir.l:"
three fine painted saucers, too. for
their milk.
For Van Zar.dt had taken the bntlr
nnd Bridget somewhat into his con
fidence, fK-rforce.
At twenty minutes rast 10 he rrr
ed the hall to g!ane at the :-ep5ri:r
lad. thtn be returned to the drawlr.j
room, his watch in hi hand.
She niut be coming soon.
Far off sleighbell: nennr. nearer
still; a full stop lefore the door: he
recognized De Fevster's voice speak
ing. althor:ch he had not heard It In
fears. Shaddle had heard the cutter
top, f-o. and yet neither h nor
Bridget moved In their pantry.
Peter Van Zandt himself stepped oit
snd opened the front door, then re
treated. nneen. to the drawing room,
r-loing that after bim.
Betty must not be forced Into a meet
ing. Betty must come bere!f.
Betty entered the tin!!; she had
haken hands with Nick and evctiansI
all sorts of merry wishes with him in
the vestibule, for his hor--e was restive
nnd he dared not leave it out cf sicht
Nick had shnt the dor hime'f and
the bells had set up their music as
Betty idepped Insido.
What confronted her?
The open arch, the curtains gone,
the wall she had believed built np
there vanished. The vista clear of the
library on the other side.
Her, heart beating to burst, she wer.t
over to the sill: she saw the mahogany
door wide swung, a rusty key la !i
lock. Fhe paused to look aMnt her
No one was to be seen, nothing hear
save the cricket on Peter's hearth.
She went into the room ye, shedli.
On the table lay the violin case, th
Godey's Lady's Book." her own Ii?t
last note to Peter and an empty velTt
passe partout.
Betty stood still and stared artind st
It alL The room was the forlorn, hand
somely furnished, of conrse. bnt the
forlorn, disappointed place of the lone
ly man.
Where was Peter?
Where was the wall?
How desolate it wss! Jnt the
cricket singing to himself on Christ
mas eve.
Where wa the little boy?
Where were Sh.irtdV and Pridret?
Who had opened the front dor f r
her?
Why was everything so still?
She set the cl'ck rizht it was ha'f
an hour slow she took np the i;tt
hair broom and brushed the heart?i
clean, put the andiron cUser and the
poker and tong and shovel nfTl-ht.
placed the dmpMcht over the center of
the tabic; and then, with a I'ttre s'gh.
half of cotnpla'-rney. half of poirr.ar.t.
unreasoning espe-taney. Betty tamed
to go back whence she came.
Some one met her at the siil.
Some one who had said tJ h!xeif.
"She must come."
Instead be had gone to find her.
He did not speak. II? took her Icto
his arms, to hi heart, hi k!s-es up?i
her lip, all the pent ip. lovz restrain
ed passion of a whole man tnr5.M:
In his veins for her.
While they stood there lookirg lnf
each other's ejes In the silence that I
more than any word In ar.r language
the little boy bad wai.enet f r h:
nap ami, having got a giimp.-e of t!.e
tree, came running to look t r I'-ctty.
"Grand ma m mar be caIIeL halting
at the foot of the stairs, "Hare joa
some home?"
"Yes," Feter Van Zandt answered
for her. "
"Where are you and Is it that jo-i
have found C i happiness. mouieur.
aj you promised, and tan I give it t
grandmamma tonight?"
Then the little boy espied them a I
ran cp to them, and IVfer Van 7..n't
said: "Yes; I have found lurri'
and given it I thln'i. to your gra-d
mannna. Ask her "