The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-03-29

"Aye, thou art wet indeed" said th
woman, aud rising again she went to al
old b. K. in which she began To- search
and presently came baek,to TIE fire will
"a perfectly clean checked shirt in1hel
hand. and tolerable good suit Of clothes
There she said, showing them will
no small pride, ''these be my master
Sunday clothes, and if chou witt be very
careful of them, I'll letsthee wear them
till thine be dry She then explained
that she was going to- put her balEn q
bed, and proceeded up a ladder into Che
room above, leaving the boy 70 array -hiul
self IN these respectable and desiFabls
garments. asrsgd l53.o Frs 95 -z1s'
When she had come down Ter guest
had dressed himself 10 sTiaoorer's
clothes; he had time to warm himself,
and he was eating aud drinking viii
much relish. He had thro #n dis mud ;
clothes in a hsap upon the fl 1ors and as
she proceeded to lift them ups she OBJ
served.
/. ''Ah. lad, lad, 1 doubt thy head hal
been under water. thy mother would
have bsen-soFely frightened if she could
have seen the awhile ago.
"Yes,' said the boy, and 10. magma
ton, the cottage dame saw this said
mother, a care worn, hardworking crea-
ture like herself; while the youthful guest
saw in imagination, beautifuland court
~ lady and both saw the sameA1oYe, the
same anxiety, the same terror at sight OF
a lonely boy struggling in the moonlight
through breaking fee. with nobne to helF
him, catching at the frozen reeds, and
then creeping up shivering and sbsnumb-
ed to a co tage door.
But even as she stopped The woman
forgot her Imagination, for she hed taken
a waistcoat into her hands such as had
never passed between them baforsS gold
pencil case dropped from the pocket and
on the floor, among heap of mud that
covered the outer garments, lay 8 white
shirt sleeve, 50 white. indeed, and foe.
that she thought it could hardly be worn
by a squire.
She glanced from the clothes 10 the
owner. He had thrown down bis cap,
and his fair curly hair and broad fore
head convincing her that he was 81 gen.
tie birth but while she hesitateG TO sil
down. he sat chair for her sba sale
with boyish frankness
81 say, what a lonely place this is
if you had not let me in, the uaseF would
have all frozen on me before reached
home. Catch me duck shootit agaiu
by myself - ga rs..f
Its very cold sport that, SIR said
the woman.
The Young gentleman assen!ed most
read ly, ard asked if be might stir the
FIRE, ~
"Aud welcome, sir" said the woman
She felt curiosity TO know who he was,
and he partly satisfied her by saying that,
be was staying at Dean Hall, house
about five miles off, adding that in the
morning he had broken a hole in the ice
very near the decoy. but tina: it had iced
over so fast, that in the dusk he had miss
ed it and fallen in, for 1t would not bear
lin. He had made some landmarks and
taken every preeautiou, but he supposed
the sport had excited him so much that,
in the moonlight he had passed them by.
He then told her of his attempt TO get
shelter in the other cottage.
Sir" said the woman, eff you had
said you were a gentleman-'' ~
The boy laughed, 81 don't think
knew it, my good woman," he replied,
"my senses were so benumbed +; for was
sometime struggling at the waters, edge
among the broken ice, and then | believe
I was nearly an hour creeping up to your
cottage door. remember it all rather
indistinctly, but as soon as / felt the fire,
and drank the warm beer, 1 was differ
ent creature"
While they still talked. the husband
came 10, and while he was eating his sup
per, they agreed he could walk to Dean
Hall, and let the inmates know Of the
gentleman safety and when be was
gone they made up the fire with all the
coal that remained to the poor household ,
and tue woman .crept up to bed and left
her guest to lie down before it.
In the grey dawn the laborer returned,
with servant leading horse, and bring
ing a fresh suite of clothes.
The young gentleman took his leave
with many thanks, slipping three balf-
crowns into the Woman's haHd, probably
all the money be had about him.
Her neghbor from the other cottage
presently stepped in, and when she heard
the tale and saw the money, her heart was
ready to break with envy and jealousy,
ooh, that good luck should have come
to her door, and she bad been SO foolish
as to turn It away. Seven shilFngs and
sixpence for moTsel Of food and nights
shelter it was nearly. aWeek's wages !"
2 So there, as they both supposed the
matter ended, and the next week the frost
was sharper than ever. Sheep were fro
zen in the leRDy fields, and poultry on
their perehes, but the good woman had
walked to the dearest town and bought 9
blanket. Il was a welcome addition to
their bed covering, and it was many 8
long year since they had been so COM
Portable. -sl
But IL chsnced ore day at noon, thas
looking out of Der easement, she spieC
three young gentlemen skating along ths
ice towards her cottage. Trey sprane
on to the bank, took OF their skates, anC
made for the door. The young noblemai
informed her that be had had such a Sc
we're cold that be could not come to visi
her before. He spoke as pleasantly
she observed, il telling the story, ''as i
1 had been a lady, aud no less An,
then he brought q parcel cut Of his pOck
ets 'aGd I've been over TO B., be say
aud bought you a book for keepsake
and hope you will accept it > aud the
all talked 80 rlraffv-se 4r111T he Tor ali m