LITMIR.BIZ

      December 23rd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

      The spectators were silent as the curtain fell and the last chord from the orchestra faded away. A grand performance had the people spellbound. Then one man began to clap and suddenly the entire room was filled with applause as the people rose for a standing ovation.

      A young man pointed toward the orchestra pit and said, “Weren’t they something, Lucretia! Bravo! Bravo!”

      In awe, she replied, “The play was wonderful but the music, I’ve never heard anything so beautiful before. The trumpets, violins and all those other instruments.”

      “Here take my hand. It will take a while to fight through this crowd,” Robert Townsley, Lucretia’s escort for the evening said. “Nothing like this in the country.”

      Lucretia had been to church musicals and school plays but none was like the entertainment she had savored that evening. Taking his hand and following closely behind, she couldn’t help but admire him. Robert was dressed in a black tuxedo, closely shaven and there was not a hair out of place. Although he was somewhat on the thin side, he carried himself in a dignified manner and had a slight air to him. There was no doubt that someday this young man with his confidence would be an exceptional doctor.

      Finally reaching the lobby, Robert told Lucretia to wait for him a moment while he collected their wraps. Returning, he helped her with her coat and said, “I told you that Christmas in the city was something to behold. Let’s hurry on and beat this crowd to the hotel restaurant for a late dinner.”

      As Robert was helping Lucretia with her coat a voice out front called out, “That you, Robert Townsley? Didn’t know you were back in town.”

      Turning, he recognized Alex Hillman, a college classmate and friend making his way through the crowd toward them.

      “Alex, you ole rascal, I thought you were in New York. What are you doing here in Philadelphia?” Robert exclaimed, reaching out to shake his hand.

      “I’m here visiting an uncle for the holidays and he said that I shouldn’t miss the show,” Alex replied.

      Glancing at the young woman clasping Robert’s arm, he was immediately astonished by her beauty. Speechless for a moment, he blurted out, “Robert, where in the world did you meet this young lady. Is she from Philadelphia?”

      Laughing, Robert turned to Lucretia. “Lucretia Caulder, this is Alex Hillman, a friend of mine.”

      “Where in the world did you two meet?” Alex asked, still spellbound by the young woman.

      Jokingly Robert pushed him away. “Just back off ole friend; she’s taken for the evening and hopefully a lot of evenings to come.”

      Quickly reaching out to Alex to keep him from bumping into a couple edging by, Robert continued, “Seriously, her father is the doctor I’ve been studying under for the past year. We met in Gettysburg.”

      “Well, Robert, I think I might have to start venturing out a little more into the country. We just don’t have women like this around here.”

      “Alex, your remarks are too kind,” Lucretia said. “I’m sure there are plenty of pretty girls here in Philadelphia. See that young lady over there, I bet she’d like to meet you. You want me to call her over,” Lucretia joked.

      Being more bashful than was apparent, Alex blushed and whispered, “Lucretia, don’t do that. She’s probably got an escort for the evening or she might even be married.”

      Robert began to laugh. “Alex, you haven’t changed a bit. How in the world are you going to meet women if you can’t stand the introduction process?”

      “Shh,” whispered Alex. “How about us getting out of here?”

      “That’s exactly what we had in mind. You want to join us?”

      “You sure?” Alex asked, with a sheepish grin forming on his face.

      “Sure. We’re staying down the street a couple of blocks with my parents at the Grand Hotel. They have an excellent restaurant there.”

      The city at this time of year was beautiful with each lamp pole wrapped in season greenery and the store windows alive with Christmas decorations. As they hurried along in the evening cold, a few snowflakes began to flutter about, giving them a warm sense of holiday spirit. In a few moments they reached the hotel and soon were seated in the restaurant next to a large window overlooking the city.

      Tugging on Robert’s sleeve, Lucretia said with a smile, “We’ve got the best table here. You must have paid the waiter well.”

      “I’d say very well, young lady, but I figured you’re certainly worth the cost,” Robert admitted.

      After a delicious meal, the three sat there watching the people outside hurrying to get out of the snow. In a few moments Alex turned to Lucretia. “Well, Miss Caulder, what do you think about the city? Have you ever been here before?”

      Teasingly she answered, “You must think I’m just an ignorant backwoods girl that’s never left her parents’ side. Do I look the part?”

      Taking her seriously, Alex blushed and apologized, “I didn’t mean that, at all. Since you seemed to be so fascinated with Philadelphia and its attractions, I just assumed this was your first trip.”

      Robert slapped him on the back and laughed. “Alex, this woman has traveled all over the east coast with her parents and even spent some time in Europe. In fact, she is teaching school and making quite an excellent reputation for a first year teacher.”

      Seeing how uncomfortable Robert’s remarks had made Alex, Lucretia leaned over and gave him light kiss on the cheek. “We’re treating you horribly, Alex. This teasing has got to stop. Robert and I only tease people we like and I do think you are a charming young man.”

      Satisfied that he had been accepted and forgiven by Lucretia, Alex smiled.

      “To answer your question, Alex, I have been to a lot of places but I’ve never had the pleasure of attending an opera and I’ve never been to Philadelphia during Christmas. This has all been fascinating to me. I’ve never had so much fun,” Lucretia said.

      “If you stay with me, this will be only the beginning of things to come,” Robert said, taking Lucretia’s hand and giving it a gentle kiss.

      For a moment the trio was silent as they watched the snow outside flutter down in large flakes. Then a solemn expression came over Alex. “I guess you heard about my father.”

      “What are you talking about?” Robert asked.

      Alex cleared his throat and in a low voice replied, “He was killed during the war. Somewhere down in Georgia. Somewhere called Kennesaw.”

      Lucretia reached over and clasped his hand. “I’m sorry, Alex. That war was a dreadful thing. It should have never happened. Too many fathers and sons were sacrificed.”

      “I had no idea, Alex,” Robert said. “How’s the family holding up?”

      “We’re doing fine. My mother already knew more about the family business than Dad. But the reason I didn’t go to New York was because we couldn’t afford the expense of college.”

      “What are you doing now?” Robert asked.

      “I’m working in the business and maybe one day I’ll be able to go back to school.”

      Robert was quiet for a moment, then exclaimed, “I wish they’d shot Davis, Lee and the whole damned Rebel army after the surrender. Those people down there with their slave holdings aren’t nothing but animals. They should have killed them all.”

      An older man at the next table who was obviously intoxicated replied, “Young man, I tried my best and I killed more than

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