6
THE BATTALION.
table and his chin in his hands, said: “Come,
now, tell me all about yer Christmas story.”
“Well, replied Arthur, moving so he
would sit sideways to the table, comfortably
crossing one leg over the knee of the other
and resting one arm on the table, began:
“’Twas this way, Claud. You remember
the Christmas week you left home and
came out here to California to dig your
fortune in the gold fields ; that’s been just
two years ago. You remember I went to
Carrollton with Clarence Howe to visit his
uncle’s great plantation for the Holida} 7 s ;
and I tell you we had a grand time. We
got in late ; the visitors had all arrived and
were at the depot in a tallyho to meet us.
There were seven girls and four of us boj'S,
to-wit: The four Misses Wayne, Ethel
Marigold, Anna Wheeler and Frances
Potter. The boys were Will Hampton,
Jean Phillips, Clarence and myself. It is
useless to say that they were all kin except
ing myself. I was the stranger. Well, we
had a great time, and I particularly grew
to admire Miss Marigold. We were fast
friends before the week ended and my visit
was over. She returned to her home and I
to mine. We corresponded, ’tis true, and
our letters grew very warm and fervent.
But let me tell you, Claud, that fellow
Hampton loved her, and I am compelled to
say, with broken hopes—won. Our relation
was cold. Hampton only spoke to me to
suppress his thorough contempt. Every
time Miss Marigold and I were together
and Hampton should chance to see us he
would look daggers at me and smilingly
would bow to her, saying, ‘Miss Ethel, may
I see you presently. ’ So passed my week
at Colonel Wayne’s. Well, when summer
came Miss Marigold and her cousin, one of
the Misses Wayne—Louisa, by the way—
came to B to visit their aunt, Mrs.
Howe, Clarence’s mother. I was in a
paradise for a little over a week, when I
guess that cold-hearted girl wrote my rival,
Hampton, saying I was winning her af
fections ; for she made many avowals to
me. Gads ! but some girls are cruel and
rash. Anyhow, who should appear on the
scene but that accursed Hampton, just as
we were getting ready to drive over to the
Springs for a day’s outing; and, of course,
at his arrival our trip was knocked into a
cocked hat. No, she couldn’t go now—
Will had come. ‘But really, Mr. W ,
don’t be disappointed. You all go and
have a gay time while I stay at home with
Will and show him your pretty town.’
Already betrothed to him, flirting with me
and pledging her constant faith forever.
Oh, I know the women folks now. It was
a severe lesson. It cost me my heart. I
have learned to put no confidence in them.”
“Ha ! ha ! ha 1 ha ! ha ! ha ! ha ! ha !”
laughed Claud. “I knew there was another
sensible man in this world. Here, pledge
with me that we’ll never put our trust in
womankind again. You promise?”
“I—promise.”
“But go on with the story; I’m much
interested. Don’t let me interrupt you.”
“Well, as I was saying, the presence of
that wretch broke up all my fun, and after
a few days, and I had seen the idol of my
heart fewer times, she returned to her
home, accompanied by Hampton. Gads !
but how my heart bled. I could almost
see them starting on their wedding tour.
How I suffered. How I wept bitter tears.