The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-11-08

under the caves, casting, as II might ps
jsvelin of brightness athwart the road
in front of the door.
III think she'sexpectin' of you," said
the rough charioteer who had been sent
to the station to meet Mrs. Dalmaynes
neice shut I'm afeared you'll find il
very lonesome"
"Oh," cried Clara, gleefully, as she
sprang out of the vehicle, /" | think il
is Splendid
She entered the low-roofed kitchen,
all aglow with the roaring fire of logs on
the hearth, and further illuminated by
two ,allow candles in bright brass candle
sticks. Aunt Dalmayne had evidently
bestirred herself, for the table was spread
with hot biscuits, bakedapples, custards,
and preserves, and the old lady herself
hobbled forward on crutch to welcome
her niece.
"Why, my DEAR" cried Aunt Dali
mayne, stepping back to take second
survey, "you're as pretty as picture"
Am II" said Clara, coloring and
laughing. " But, aunty, what a glori.
Gus fire you have got, and what a darling
old urn, and how nice that tea does
smell -
"Sit down and have a cup, my DEAR"
said Aunt Dalmayne, highly hattered.
Before Clara Wintringham slept that
night she had taken Mrs. Dalmayne's
heart fairly by storm.
She had been an inmate of the old.
fashioned farmhouse for about week,
when one of those grand snow storms
came on which vail the whole country.
side in spotless white, and hang the
.ods in royal robes of ermine. Aunt
Dalmayne's rheumatism grew worse,
and she kept her room but Clara went
about as light hearted as ever, doing the
whole work of the house, with such as.
sistance as Moses, the handyman, was
able to render her.
The snow had fallen all day, blown
into drifts by the wind that howled
lugubriously through the clefts of the
hills, and at last twilight deepened over
the stormy earth. Clara was sitting
thoughtfully before the freight, pairing
apples for a pudding which was dear to
Aunt Dalmayne's invalid soul, when
Moses came in.
"Miss Clara said he, sthere's two
gentlemen got storm. bound outside. |
They've missed their way, their horses
are clean tired out, and they wanted
to know if we'd give 'em a nights shell |
ter. told 'em Mrs. Dalmyane was i'll,
and / wasn't master, Tut I'd ask the |
young woman-Miss Clara"
Clara WINGED a little, then laughed |
outright at Moses unpublished Ian.
guage.
''Of course they may come in she
said. 81 would not turn even a dog
from the door on such night as this"
She threw fresh log on the fire and
lighted the candle as she spoke.
But what was her amazement, on
turning to welcome the strangers, to
behold in them no strangers at all, but
Mr.. Harvey Gillette and his friend
Frank Hood.
Powdered literally with the snow,
heir noses Redeemed by the wind, their
eatures rendered unnaturally rigid by
old, they stood blankly regarding her;
,ut Clara came forward with the grace
# young duchess. l.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Pray
,ome little nearer the fire. l hardly
that in the snow.bound stran.
,ers who sought shelter here, l was to
Welcome old acquaintances!"
"Oh, Miss Wintringham-exce
lad to see you, I'm sure'' stammered
ir. Gillette, awkwardly allowing his
rog.like hand to touch her own. "But
What can you possibly be doing in such
place as this?"
"Didn't Moses tell your she asked,
|emurely. "I'm doing the housework
lere."
"Miss-Wintrinehamr'
"Weli, why not?" II
Mr.. Gillette had no reply ready; he
My rubbed his hands, smiled feebly,
nd advanced towards the red blaze; I
lille Mr.. Hood was exchanging in turn s
is greeting with the former heiress.
at is surprise, Miss Wintyingham,
D see you here" he said frankly, "but Z
very agreeable one" /;
Clara wondered in her own heart =
hat new mood of gallantry had taken a
way all of Frank Hoods awkward
ess.
1T is as good as a tableau, she thought r
|eefully, when Hood had explained to Il
er that unexpected business had taken O
lem across the country in the dead of :
inter, thus bringing about 80 entirely o
a unanticipated meeting, and she went
ito the outer kitchen to get cream for !,
le table. As she stood there skim =
ling Oft the golden accumulation which I,
Flowed her spoon in thick folds, she :
card Gillettes voice speaking. d
"Of course the father has failed and n
ley've lost every thing. A great pity; j
# with that face she might have mar. q
ed WELL"
"What is to prevent her marrying a
ell now?" Frank Hoods slow DELHI il
ate tones answered. +
"My dear fellow, we must all look Il