LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1226, 7 February 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A CHRISTMAS STORY. ( Concluded .) ‘ No, he didn’t j that is, not at first. He got indignant at having all the disgrace of the operation and none of the pleasure, but I explained to him that he didn’t care a cent for the girl, while I was madly in love with her, and conjuring him by all the ties of friendship, he at last reluctantly consented You see, Demark never cared anything about girls, or such as that; he was all business I have often said to him, jokingly, of course, that I believed that if ’ ‘ Singlemanu—go on with that diabolical plot of yours, and never mind Demark. I know him well enough.’ ‘Of course, you do. Well, all the way down to the store where she worked, Demark was saying what a mean thing it was for two young men to conspire to frighten the life out of a girl on the dark streets of a city. We got there at last, and she was at her desk.’ Ah! John, when I picture how she stood there —but that’s no matter. I thought she would never come out—it seemed ages. I never sould have st' od it, only it kept all my attention getting Demark to stick to his promise, for he wanted to back out, now that we were on the spot. You know Demark is the very soul of honor. Why, when Beat and Embezzle failed, you know, we needn’t have paid a cent, for they held no— ’ ‘ S'nglemann do you remember that I know the whole particulars of that failure.’ * Certainly. That’s a fact, I forgot that; well, Demark wanted to go home again and begged me to release him from his promise, but I wouldn’t, and he stuck to his contract like a man—ho always does you know. Well, just as the City Hall bell struck eleven’— ‘ Oh, oh ! Singlemann—keep straight now. Why, man, the City Hall was not built then.’ ‘ That’s so—l am telling a straight story for all that slip, Some bell struck eleven I had my face pressed close against the pane, but where she could not sec me, and as the hour was tolled she shut the heavy ledger with a bang that made me start, and I heard her say, “ Only an hour till Christmas,” and she smiled. John, she looked divinely—like an angel, only angels don’t keep books, excepting the Recording Angel. But just then Demark began begging off again. She came out, and as before walked rapidly away. ‘Now,’ I whispered to Demark, ‘remember your promise.’ ‘He crossed the street without a word, and I followed the girl. Demark acted his part like a man, or a villain rather. He crossed back again and coming up to her said : ‘ Madam, allow me to see you home,’ and offered his arm. My heirt beat wildly, but I prepared fora rush on Demark, She didn’t scream—she hurriedly looked up and down the road and saw that apparently she was alone with this man I could see by the light of the lamp that her face was deadly pale, but in a Balm voice (the sweetest voice Dover hea r d)Bshe said : ‘ You may wajk beside me if you will,’ ;T: Demark would rather have taken my knock-down than that, and looked exceed ingly sheepish as he walked along with her, and I followed behind not knowing wiat to do, as this was a totally unexpected turn in the affair.

Thus did the strange trio proceed for about a quarter of a mile, when suddenly a policeman and a lantern loomed up from a doorway he was examining Like an arrow she sprang from Demark’s side and grasped the astonished policeman by the arm with both hands. ‘Sir, sir,’ she cried, now in the wildest excitement, which showed how pent up her fear hai been before, ‘that man has insulted me, when he thought no one was near—arrest him,’ and her eyes fairly blazed wdth scorn as she pointed at Demark. ‘ Madam,’ said my unfortunate friend, ‘if you ’ ‘Don’t speak to me, you—you coward,’ she replied contemptuously. Then suddenly aud without a word she turned and walked rapidly away. The policeman placed his hand on Demark’s shoulder, Demark had been standing there transfixed, with his eyes following the retreating figu'e of the girl. He seemed to wake up and flung the hand of the policeman from his shoulder. ‘ Come, my man, none o’ that,’ said the officer. ‘Keep your hand from me,’ cried Demark, The policeman drew his club and grasped Demark again, and I sprang to the rescue of my friend, but somehow 1 ran against that club, and so if you want the details of the scuffle you must ask Demark or hunt up that policeman. Demark' saw Christmas morning dawn through the bars of the lock-up. I had an interview with him, and found him very much depressed He didn’t give a cent, he said, about the arrest, but the meanness of the action was -what hurt him. I proposed to see our employer, and have him go Demark’s bail, or else have the affair hushed up, if possible ; but Demark positively forbade any such proceeding, besides, it would inevitably result iu the discharge of both of us. I left the cell as dejected as Domurk was, aud didn’t know what fo do. I resolved to do an act of justice, however, and accordingly went direct to the residence of the young lady, aud rapped at the door—there was no bell. I had no sooner done so than I remembered that I didn’t even know what name to affi for. However, the young lady herself opened the dooi put an end to my embarrassment on this score, but increased my embarrassment on a thousand other scores, I told the whole story, putting the blame exactly where it belonged. She never said a word during the recital, but sat there with that straight ahcadjlook in her eyes and I half doubted whether she paid any attention tq what i said She bowed mo out without a word and I went home more depressed than ever. After thinking the matter over I resolved to go to

our employer and lay the whole before him in spite of what Demark had said, and by assuming the whole blame, as of course I ought to do, and accepting my discharge, he might get Demark out and keep him in his employ. It was no fnn to loose a good place then, I can tell you; nowa-days people change around more There’s that young Smyth, who kept accounts for us last year. I hear he’s i,i San Francisco, and I guess doing first rate. I told Smyth when he left that if— ’ ‘Never mind Smyth,’ said I; ‘did your employer get Demark out ?’ ‘ As I was saying, I started down to see him when I met Demark himself. ‘ Why, how did ypu get out ?’ I cried joyfully.’ ‘Oh,’ said Demark, glum as an oyster, ‘ Pierce, where that girl keeps books, came down and the complaint was withdrawn.’ That was all,’ said Singlemann]with a sigh. ‘ But the girl,’ said I, ‘did you ever know what her name was ! Did you ever see her again ?’ to. ‘ Well, yes,’ said Singlemann, poking up the now dead fire. ‘ She’s Mrs Demark. I take my Christmas dinner with them tomorrow.’