Three Little Women's Success: A Story for Girls

alled Constance from the terrace, where a group

rispness which set one's blood a-tingle. The world wore her white robes of the season, bedecked with a thousand sparkling jewels. The river was frozen nearly acro

ad been thirty years since such heavy ice had formed, and those who recalled that time predicted that the present cold sna

's voice had been the first one to cry "Christmas gif'" to her children, as she went from bed to bed in the chill Christmas dawn. Try as they might in bygone years, none of the other servants on the old plantation had been able to creep up to the bedchambers before her, and now in the newer life of the Northern world, to which she had followed those she loved, she had never missed her greeting.

equal to Constance's. Eleanor's spending money was derived from the source which, prior to her entrance in college, had caused Mammy such deep concern. Elea

nse for Eleanor to so burden herself, since the candy kitchen was mo

ience to be off, Forbes talking to one of Eleanor's friends, and the others all chatting at once, Eleanor came h

eyes began to twinkle, and he quick

inter madness?" he as

at the soft little wraith-like clouds beginning to gather overhead meant wind, and perhaps more snow also, within twenty-four hours, to be aware of Eleanor's unusual departure

rbes and said, as though

this umbrella. I can always trust Mammy's 'bones,' she ended as she held forth the broom

eanor w

ught-why, how

thought. Let's take it along to clear away the light snow which fell last night. Come on, people! If we expect to get up an appetite for Mammy's luncheon at

, which glistened and sparkled in the clear sunshine, or swirled up in fantastic spirals as the skaters whirled away through it. The boathouse at the river's edge served as a shelter for the chilled ones, and, far-sighted woman! Mammy had sent Charles

more than once, and the manner in which the

acquired the art during a winter spent in Northern Europe, and at a date not so remote as to have lessened the novelty of the experience. He had brought with him from Holland a pair

ndly believed to be a perfect imitation of the Dutch peasants' graceful poise and motion, bore down upon the party, his long, u

anor was almost hurled into his arms, Forbes' momentum

ond his hearers, whose eyes followed his wild evolutions with more or less apprehension for "what next?" since it seeme

this skated "Ichabod Crane" bore down upon them, hair blown on end, arms flying, legs cutting capers l

er man, as the light snow lying upon the

ere certainly was the fall both actual and figurative. As the enthusiast came within ten feet of his spellbound audience, a pair of very long legs came up, and a very loosely-hung body came down with dispatch. The legs flew apart until the figure resembled an ice-boat under full headway, nor did its momentum perceptibly lessen as it sped past its audience, the ligh

e bent over to raise the prone one. "You-yo

ments? Quick, before all those people get wise. Is your long cape in the boathouse? Yes? Thanks, I'll take it, and I don't ca

s added to it, or, at least, arrived upon the scene with a very fir

the occasion, in a costume altogether irresistible, and w

tch tweed suit, a sweater of g

came up to the group, and with a most impressive bow to Co

t? May I compliment you on your skating? You ain

man, then she recalled his visit to her Candy Arch

ers with her were too amazed to come to her rescue. Indeed, they did not know t

o the man's eyes, her own ominous with indignation,

upon which you called at the Arcade was settled then and there, for I had alread

a holiday once in so often just like you do, and this is one of 'em. Great day for a holiday. But, by the way, did you get a nice girl for y

ory, thank you, and goo

e just one turn? Never see a

ty, and until that moment had not been aware of Sniffins' intrusion. At sight of Constance's face his own changed, and he gave a quick glance at the man, who seemed undecided as to whether it would be

ut she ain't any better'n others who are m

ttle girl?" asked Hadyn, as he and

nd the only time we have ever had any intercourse whatsoever with him was when the house burned. But I did not see him even then. Mother or Mammy were the only ones who had any dealings with him at that time, though o

listened attentively, seeing far more in it than the girl

age his sister, afte

ls,' which this idiot seems to think a requisite qualification. Ugh! How I loathe the very sight of that man! It's mighty lucky I did not engage hi

yn's was the very personifica

rst time since she had known him sent an odd little thrill to the girl's heart, which caused it to be

asset to womanhood. And now we must get back home,