r
IgfKll alii fwff
X .now. m mti kmfi yMk-ml-: ;t?MIfI Mk- .,r 8io ,h. i
whew In drivlnn E'RB done, sir!" said the chauffeur. "The JVJ iV; Mt t ."iX W I i'tt$3 ' 4 & .' . ". t.1? ' ; n: tyMstyF.lf sti U'-.-?
h.rro.,l,, Mo.4 T ,ow'. coming down thicker than ever. W, Ct f kVf lIP-W? I Ufi W 'Mil i J f ,V ' ' V ' ' VftW
Njf,at evidently AT and I'm afraid of running Into the sea." i mMMMV "jMUif ! I I f?' VV V.U V;VfeB feB Mgffli A iVOTMf MV-U'
Nrlcde, were V " I alway. thought you were fond of a tMwW I ft"-' 1 ., ,'. - -S AVlMffflf
i's,rir . life HiMWBttt) fc? ?', -; mmmmMmMWz:,t:
kE'RE done, sir:" said the chauffeur. "The
enow's coming down thicker than ever,
and I'm afraid of running Into the se."
" I always thought you were fond of a
tight place, Alec," his master answered,
good humoredly. " But there's no denying
that we are In a fix!"
A efeat east of wind carried a shower
qPt"'! spray lnio int'ir mcen, uiiu mo uinia
der f ilmost at their feet.
" 9a see, sir, I'm on strange ground," Alec grumbled.
" AnS I haven't been to llurstlecs tince I was a mere
boy. I know that we used to riue aiong me sea roau
for tert or twelve miles. There snouia oe a
omewluVe near."
The ni tomoblle bumped Into the first of a series of
snowdrift k that ribbed the way, and finally came to a
dead stop.
Gerald Armltage got down and floundered to a low
stone wall which ran parallel with the rond.
" Rrlng the lnntern, Alec."
lie Inspected the way. blinked at his man through Ihe
whirling enow and growled:
"The wall ends here, so that we're left Ihe mill a
good mile behind us. 1 haven t forgotten the old land
marks. Now what's to be done?"
"I haven't a notion, sir. We shall bo snowed up In
an hour. If we aln t drowned. If the tide's still coming
In the waves will be over us before long!"
Armltage laughed heartily. " Poor old Alec! This Is
going to be a remarkable Christmas eve, and f like
something out of the common at the festive season. At
iny other time 1 should feel like kicking myself!"
He reflected fur a minute, then said: "We're left thd
village of Rrlghtdnle a full mile and a half away, and,
there's nothing between us and Hurstlees but an old
mansion called the Orange. The grounds used to begin
where this wall ends, so that we should be within a
couple of hundred yards of the house. Follow me. Alec."
Alee east a despairing glance at the half-hurled motor
car, and trudged after his young master. lie had been
anticipating a rnysterlng Christmas eve at Hurstlees,
and this was the result!
However. Oerald Armltage was not at fault this time.
Flashing the lnntern before him, he turned Into an ave
nue of stunted trees, and was soon standing at the front
door of a big rambling house.
"There ain't a glimmer of light anywhere." gasped
Alec, wiping the snow from his smarting eyes. ,
Armltage grasped the door knocker and struck half a
iloiert fierce blows with it, remarking: "If the house
is unoccupied. Alec, we must break Into It!"
I!ut the door was cautiously opened about an Inch,
and a man's gruff voice demanded their business.
" If It's Madame Hell you wish to see. she's gone away
for the holidays, arid won't be back for weeks. And
what are you doing with that lantern? O. get away!"
Hut Armltage pushed past him. and Alee was a close
Hecond. fallowed by a oloud of whirling snowftakes.
"Iwm'l be alnrmed, sir." Armltage said. "This Is the
worst night I ever etperlenced. My motor Is stuck Jn
the snow, and we merely want shelter until Ihe morn
ing." The man spluttered something, looked at the Intruders
from head to toe, and motioned them to follow him. He
led the way Into a large, old fashioned kitchen, wherein
the leaping flames of a huge fire were making music In
the cavernous chimney.
"Take off your overcoats," he said, sur'lly. " Ton' re
running pools of water everywhere! "
"I'm sorry!" Armltage's blue eyes twinkled mis
chievously. You'll be sorry when Ihe matron finds you here! "
"Then let us hof.e that Ihe she-dragon will not de
acend upon us until we are fortified with a goo
draft of your warrri tea. It smells uncommonly filoe.
Well shake the snow off our things In yonder porch.
Alec, and If the gentleman will provide ns with a mop
you can clean up Ihe mess. Nothing like an Old sailor In
emergencies." 1
" Tea re welcome In the lea. bul please remember lhat
my wife Is ho whe-dragon? "
Just then there were sounds of girlish laughter and
Inconsequent little squeals In the hall, and a rush of
pattering feet, then the kitchen door was unceremoni
ously thrown open, and Armltage retreated to the
porch with Alee. A good looking and reproachful
young woman had Invaded the kitchen, with five
younger girls at her heels'.
"81 o'clock. CurtU, and no lights! We want to put
up the holly now."
Curtis looked conscience stricken. "The lamps are
trimmed. Miss Fane, but 1 de.-lare I forgot all about
the holly. It'll have bi wall till morning now. as there's
two foot of snow on the ground, and a regular bliziard
raging. Hark! You can hear It!"
Yes. I can hear It," answered the young lady. In
dignantly; "and I am angry with you. But these chil
dren shall not be disappointed, even If I have to cut the
holly myself! "
"Impossible. Miss Fane!" Then he endeavored to
make mysterious signs, and approaching the girl whis
pered: "I've got some visitors, and "
"Yes. I quite understand." was the scornful rejoinder.
lleer drinking old sailors from the village, like your
self! Of all men I think sailors are the most disreputa
ble! The idea of Christmas eve without holly la un-
- "AnH I havent been to Hurst.ees W,,. Iwa.a mere . ; ft JEPffffftf 1 V
'i e,w- - Wmf lit VA-i
H3M
bearable,
we are determined
have
girls? "
With this. Miss Fane took up one of the tall lamps
ranged on a long labje set against the wall, and bore It
lo a Sitting room.
Armltage emerged from the darkness with mixed
feelings. He had no douht that he had beheld the most
perfect example of youthful womanhood that the uni
verse held and he was equally certain that Curtis was
a villain. Alec, however, was smarting under the lash
of the young woman's tongue. Hoth he and his master
Were sailors; Indeed, Oerald Armltage had a right to the
title of captain,- but, having resigned from the service,
he preferred to drop It.
" liook here,. Curtis." he said, severely, "I want to
know ahnut things. My man and I have served under
Ihe naval ensign, and We have heard our railing Im
pugned, i am Capl. Armltage and this It Petty Officer
Aleo Frasef, both late of the Tiger."
Curtis fose from his chair and saluted.
"This being Christmas time, sir." he said, "I've had
too much lo do. There's only one servant left In the
place. Perhaps you know that it is a ladies' school, the
Orange school, principal, Madame Bell. My wife is the
matron, and I'm the man that's kicked from pillar to
post by a parcel of Women. Your health, captain." Ho
raised the glass to his lips, and nodded to Alec."
And the handsome young lady?" questioned Armlt
age, his heart Jumping.
" O, that's only Miss Fane, the head teacher, and the
kids I beg pardon the young girls are the children of
army and navy officers on foreign service. Miss Fane
always remains at the school through the holidays be
cause she has nowhere else to go to." Then he added:
"I fhlnk her father was killed in the Philippines.'
Armltage was Interested, and his electric energy Im
mediately manifested Itself.
" Oet your overalls, Curtis, a couple of storm lan
terns, and a saw. The holly must be got, a cartload of
It! The girls shall not be disappointed."
His Inspiration appeared to give him infinite pleasure.
He and Alee put on their overcoats again and were soon
following Curtis through the howling wind and the
blinding snow to a patch of woodland. Vigorous hands
cut the holly and piled It up In the outhouse. Then
several Journeys were made to the automobile, and
trunks and packages removed therefrom; and Curtis
finally assisted In covering the machine with a sheet of
tarpaulin.
" This mens," Armltage explained, as Curtis sur
veyed the heterogeneous heap in the kitchen, that I am
going lo spend Christmas at the Orange school! You
know that we can't go a yard farther. I was on my way
lo Oen. Wild's place, at Hurstlees. The general is my
uncle, and most of these panels contain presents for my
young cousins. As fhey will be too late to be of use at
Hurstlees, there are children here! "
Curtis grasped the humor of the situation, and went
In quest of the matron. The fact of Armltage being i
nephew of Oen. Wild's set all scruples at rest, for two of
the generals daughters were pupils at the Gran-jo
school. Rooms were prepared, and within half an hour
Armitage was making himself presentable, his thoughts
full of M!ss Fane. Then he sighed and muttered:
" I certainly am In a dreadful pickle! "
When he went down to the drawing room Miss Fane
was waiting to receive him, and he discovered that both
Curtis and his wife had minutely detai'ed h's Mury
This s:ved further explanations, and h"" were soon
laughing and talking l'ke old friends.
"This must be a great disappointment lo you, Mr.
Armltage?" she said.
"On the other hand, it la a delightful surprise. Miss
Fane."
She flushed before his ardent gw. and thoi'ght what
a fine big fellow he was.
" O. I think you are disposed to talk nonsense now."
she said, bluntly. "But I haven't thanked you for the
holly yet."
"No; hadn't we better begin the decorations And
as I shall he obliged to stay here for a day or two there
are the presents to adjudicate upon when the girls have
gone to bed. There are books and dolls, bonbons and
crackers and the usual thing for girls.
the collection."
"Poor little cousins!" laughed the governess. "Mahcl
and Bertha Wild are pupils of mine, and I am sure that
I have heard them speak of you, Mr. Armltage."
His face grew hot. " She knows all about It," he
thought, savagely.
"I haven't seen my cousins for years," he assured
her, "and was obeying a command from the general
when this fortunate accident befell me."
As the girls were waiting In an agony of suspense In
another room, Armitage hastened matters by Introduc
ing himself as the deputy of Father Christmas, and was
soon upon excellent terms with them. For a full hour
they were busy with the holly and the evergr.-ens. and
the merriment was fast and furious. The final treat
was a late supper, Including mlnc pie, and then to bed
to dream of the delights of a real Christmas.
In the seclusion of his own room Gerald Arrnltage
took a letter from his pocketbook, and appeared to bo
mtich perturbed while reading It. He flung it upon the
lalile, snatched It up aealn, and read:
"My Dear Oerald I must Insist that you pay Alice a
fittle more attention: Indeed, I should like to see you
married at no distant date. You have both, I should
Imagine, reached the age of discretion. I wish you 10
spend Christmas with us, when this matter can be final
ly settled. Alice Is most anxious, too. and Is writing.
Your affectionate uncle, George Wild."
" i obeyed willingly enough." Armitage reflected. " up
to a certain point. I cannot marry Alice Wild since I
have met Miss Fane. O! Why did I drift Into this Idiot
ic engagement? I had no belief in love until now!"
Next morning he rose early. He had had a dreadful
dream. He drew the window curtain aside, and eagerly
looked out. No, tht-re had not been a rapid thaw. Indeed,
It was still snowing! It was not yet 6 o'clock, but he
heard stealthy steps In the passages, and laughter and
Joyful little shouts. The girls were finding his Christ
mas gifts!
He remembered that he had an engagement ring In
his pocket for Alice Wild. He had come fully prepared
to have matters settled out of hand, but now He
shivered and wondered If he were a dishonorable
villain!
He was the first in the breakfast room, and was
rather dismayed to see a pile of letters, most of which
were addressed to Miss Iesley Fane. Letters meant a
postman, and a postman meant a clear road. He
learned afterwards that Curtis had fetched the mall
from the postoltlee, but Could not have done so had not
the heavy seas partly melted the snow during the night.
A merry party assembled at the breakfast tahle, and
later Miss Fane appeared dressed for church. To Armlt
age she seemed absolutely perfect, attired In plain
black dress, and a jacket trimmed with cheap fur. She
wore a bunch of red berries at her throat, ami there was
a bit of the same color In her hat. At least, that was
all that he could make of It. Her dark eyes were
dancing with health, pleasure, and mischief as she held
out her hand to him, saying:
" You are going on to Hurstlees now, I suppose. Mr.
Armitage? We may not meet aga' -, and you have been
so kind! "
He took the hand and pressed It warmly, and It
seemed to give him an electric shock.
" As the road to Krightdale is the only one open, Miss
Fane, 1 should like lo accompany you to church. I must
send a telegram to the general. My motor won't t
usable for about er a week. I am going to spend my
Christmas here unless you prefer otherwise."
" It Is a matter of Indifference to me, Mr. Armltage.
What nonsense you do talk!"
She turned away, and he followed.
"Do you mind if I walk with you?" he asked present
ly. " I can't help myself, It seems! "
"There is my automobile," Armitage next remarked.
"I must have it removed to a place? of safety."
The sky was clear and blue, hut the dazzling run give
no warmtlt. An Ideal Christmas day, over body said,
and the bells were telling the old, sweet story. Armit
age seemed to be living In a new and beautiful world.
My elster made f r i ' V
He listened to the preacher's voice like a man In s
dream; he heard the stnglng of the choir, al.d himself
joined In the adoration. Once or twice he glanced trtho
girl beside him, and the magnetism of his eyes com
pelled her to meet his gase, each time with a flush and
a smile. Armltage knew thai he was hopelessly In love.
"I haven't sent my wire yet." he said, when the serv
ice was over. f
Miss Fane directed him to a telegraph oflice, and
waited In the church porch while he dispatched the
message. When he came back she was talking to two
girls and a tall, fair young man. The young fellow
was named Harry Infield, and the girls were his sis
ters. They blushed when Introduced to Arrnltage, but
were decidedly pretty and well bred.
Young Infield was talking about a little skating
party. They lived at the Mill house, and had a fine
pond, so It was arranged that they should meet there
the next morning. Armltage hover forgo! the walk
home, nor the Christmas dinner, nor the romps with
the schoolgirls; and the end of the day was only
spoiled by the nppearan6e of Infield, who, endeavored
to monopolize Miss Fane.
Next morning Alec Fraser gravely Informed his mas
ter that there was no further excuse for staying ut the
Grange. He had overhauled the automobile, and if the
sea road was blocked the other roads were not
"Quite out of the question, Aleo. We dare not upset
the general. Walt until tomorrow."
Alec looked grave. "He's smitten with that bit of a
school miss," he reflected, "and has clean forgot his
cousin."
The skating purty was not a success. Roth the
weather and the Ice were splendid, but Armitage found
no pleasure In the exclusive society of the Infield girls,
pretty and charming ns they were. Their brother was
professing to teach Miss Fane some sort of grotesque
figure skating, and in the end succeeded In hurting her
ankle. Fhe had to be taken back to the Orange, and
there was general confusion and dismay. Armltage
had spoken sharply to Harry Infleld. and the latter
demanded to krow b what right he Interfered. When
he answered "Every rlghtr' the young fellow's face be
came almost livid, and he responded savagely: "We
shall see about that!"
This passage of arms wa overheard by Miss Fane,
and. while her face reddened, a look of distress crept
Into her dirk eyes.
In the evening she was helped downstairs lo a couch
In the sitting room, and Armltage arranged her pillows
and drew the couch nearer to the fire.
"Now what shsll I do to amuse you?" he said. "I
can play the violin, and sing after a fashion. Most
sailors can sing, yon know."
"I would rather be quiet, thank you. MY. Armltage."
"Would you rather be alone?" he asked, quickly.
"Yes. I would rather be alone"
" But this must be my lust evening' here. I can make
no more excuses." H spoke almost despairingly.
"You oughtn't to have.tnade any at all. You are not
acting as a gentleman should."
" Oood heavens! What do you mean. Miss Fane?" he
cried.
" I am only a girl, but I can understand. You are
beginning to care for me In a way, and you are trying
to make me care for you. I have heard that it is a
common form of amusement a-rong sailors. But I con
sider It cowardly In the extreme! "
She spoke with spirit, but there were tears of anger
and mortification in her eyes.
For a moment Armitage was dumfounded; then he
knelt at her feet
"Please go ,jav." she pleaded, "or I shall break
down. What would Madame Hell say If she knew of
your conduct and of mine? And she Is sure to hear
The matron has told me not halt
am not acting discreetly."
"Miss Fane Lesley darling, can t you see that I am
madly In love with you?" Armitage said. "I have
known you just two days, ami yet you are dearer to me
than anything else In the wide world."
8he covered her eyes with her hands. "I cannot I
will not listen. How dare you say such things you, an
engaged man! I did not know It until this morning.
Harry Infleld told me his slstefs are friendly with
Miss Alice Wild, to whom you have been engaged for
years." She turned upon him wrathfully. "Now, the
best thing that you can do Is to go. Surely you should
be satisfied with the ruin you have wrought! "
Gerald Armltage was staggered. He paced to and fro,
his arms folded across his chest.
"I could thrash that young Infleld puppy," he thought.
"And yet he may have believed himself Justified In ex
posing me."
He came to a halt again, and said determinedly:
"The engagement was none of my making. Miss Fane,
and you may understand how much I care for Alice
Wild when I assure you that I haven't seen her for
three years. 1 hardly know how the affair came about.
It was. I think, suggested ,y the general to my mother
as being a good Irlea, ami I offered no opposition. Until
now all women were pretty much nllke to me."
There w:s a short silence. "Are you aware that you
are intruding In this house" that you are presuming
upon the absence of Its mistress, and Insulting me?"
the girl said, tearfully.
" I'm doing nothing of the kind. Lesley," ho retorted.
" I love you I worship you. and want you to be my
wife. Tomorrow I will explain the situation to my
uncle and cousin; and In any event I cannot marry
Alice now."
"Miss Wild has a voice In the matter. Man like, you
utterly Ignore that. Your coolness Is blood curdling.
You would throw off the girl who hrts been engaged to
you for years Just to suit the fancy of a moment! How
do you know that she Is not as fond of you as "
" As you are," he supplemented
"I said nothing of the kind; In fact, I doubt you
now."
" You appear to believe every evil thing of me Imag
inable. Young Infleld has been poisoning your mind
against me because he fancies himself In love with you."
Miss Fane's face grew hot again. "That overgrown
boy!" she exclaimed, scornfully; wherent Armltage
laughed, albeit he fell rather dismal
"Well," he said at Inst, "I will say goodnight, and 1
promise not to speak to you again until I can do so as a
free man. My conduct floes look bad from the point of
view of one who doesn't know the real facts. And when
I come back, !,esey you don't mind me calling you
Lesley, do you?"
" You seem lo do as you please without asking my
permission! "
"And when 1 come back, will you be a little kinder
to me? " tie persisted.
" Perhaps! "
Armltage gared at her rapturously for a spell, and
was just turrlng awiy when there came a thunderous
knocking on the door, and he heard the bellowing voice
of Gen. Wild
He had negotiated many difficult problems In his day,
and he had been In a good many light places, but this
"My uncle!" he explained In Miss Fnne, and be saw
her facf pa'o and her eyes dilate This nerved hltu.
lie nodded reassuringly to her and went out.
"So," roared the Irate general, "this Is the specimen
of honorable gentleman you are! I suppose that the
other woman Is In there?" he Indicated the door of the
sitting room with his stick. "Broken down motor car
storms snowdrifts lies! I've had the whole story
from a gentleman, sir. and you haven't the grace to look
a.hamed."
" A gentleman!" sneered Armltage; "a boy named In
tield. I can see his monkey faee peeping through yon
der doorway now. No, I am not ashamed. My engage
ment to Alice was a cut-and-drled affair of your manu
facture and yon can go hang, sir! If Alice "
Hut the general flung a note In his face. "This I
from my daughter, sir. and when you have read It. 1
shall know how to act."
With these words, and a threatening look, he stumped
ont of ho house.
Armltage opened the letter, and read the following In
the light of the hall lamp:
"My dear Gerald I am so glad that you have kicked
over the traces. Whatever could children know about
the responsibilities of an engagement ami marriage? I
was preparing to face the general and you. because I
am In love with somebody, and somebody is In love with
me, but you hulped me out of a difficulty just In the nick
of time. I am sure that Miss Lesley Fane and I shall
be great chums. Your affectionate cousin.
" Alice Wild."
Gefald nearly shouted "Hurrah!" He ran back to
Ihe sitting room, and read the precious letter aloud;
then he handed It to Miss Fane, so that she could read it
for herself.
"Are your satisfied now, darling?" he asked.
Her eyes grew misty, and her face softened. "You
may kiss me," she whispered, turning rosy red. " I
have been unjust towards you. Gerald, but it was only
because I had lost my heart to you."
He dived Into his pocket and produced the engagement
ring he had bought for Alice Wild.
"The last of my Christmas presents, proof of the
truth and sacredness of a real Christmas Idyl!"