Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-11-07
"oh," cried Clara, gleefully, as she

She entered the low-roofed kitchen,
| all aglow with the roaring fire of logs on
the hearth, and further illuminated by
two tallow candles in bright brass candle
| sticks. Aunt Dalmayne had evidently
bestirred herself, for the table was spread
with hot biscuits, baked apples, 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 u
Sam I?n said Clara, coloring and
laughing. " But, aunty, what a glori-
GUS fire you have got, and what darling
old urn, and how nice that tea does
smelli"
| Sit down and have cup, my DEAR"
said Aunt Dalmayne, highly hattered.
Before Clara Wiz tringham 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
lmayne'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 OYER
the stormy earth. Clara was sitting
thoughtfully before the freight, pairing
apples for pudding which was dear to
Aunt Dalmayne's invalid soul, when
Moses came in.
"Miss Clara" said he, ''there'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 nights shell.
ter. | told 'em Mrs. Dalmyane was i'll.
and | wasn't master, but I'd ask the
young woman-Miss Clara"
Clara WINGED little. then laughed
outright at Moses unpublished Ian.
guage.
''Of course they may come in,n she
said. II would not turn even a dog
from the door on such night as this. j"
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,
their noses Redeemed by the wind, their
features rendered unnaturally rigid by
cold. they stood blankly regarding her;
but Clara came forward with the grace
of young duchess.
Good evening, gentlemen. Pray
come little nearer the fire. | hardly
supposed that in the snow-bound stran.
gers who sought shelter here, l was to
welcome old acquaintancesr
'Oh, Miss Wintringham-exce
glad to see you, I'm surel" stammered
Mr.. Gillette, awkwardly allowing his
frog-like hand to touch her own. "But
what can you possibly be doing in such
a place as this?'
Didn't Moses tell your she asked.
demurely. "I'm doing the housework
here"
''Mlss-W' ntrin ghamr'
"Well. why not?n
Mr.. Gillette had no reply ready; he
only rubbed his hands, smiled feebly.
and advanced towards the red blaze:
while Mr.. Hood was exchanging in turn
his greeting with the former heiress.
'It IS surprise, Miss Nottingham,
to see you here" he said frankly, '.but
very agreeable one"
Clara wondered in her own heart
what new mood of gallantry had taken
away all of Frank Hoods awkward
ness.
at is as good as tableau," she thought
gleefully, when Hood had explained to
her that unexpected business had taken
them across the country in the dead of
winter, thus bringing about so entirely
an unantieipated meeting, and she went
into the outer kitchen to get cream for
the table. AS she stood there skim.
ming Oft the golden accumulation which
followed her spoon in thick folds, she
heard Gillette's voice speaking.
''Of course the father has failed and
they've lost everything. A great pity;
for with thatsface she might have mar.
ried well.n
What is to prevent her marrying
we'll now?" Frank Hoods slow delib-
crate tones answered.
my dear fellow, we must all Look
out for the main chance. In fact. was
once little smitten myself, but of
course it is quite out of the question
now
Mr.. Hood did not reply; ard, Clara, as
she stood there, with burnine cheeks,
was glad that he did not.
But when she came back to preside
at the tea table she was as composed as
ever, save that her color was trihe
deeper than usual.
The storm continued in undated yio-
lence for two days, during which time
Mr.. Gillette yawned over the week-old
newspapers, smoked his cigar beside the
fire, and Systematically ignored Miss
Wintringham's presence.
"a fellow mustn't let himself get en-.
tangledl' was his mental reflection.
Frank Hood, however, reasoned 9TH
erwise. He haunted Clara's footsteps
with lover-ike persistency; he helped
clean the windows, wipe the dishes.
even essayed to sweep the floors, thereby
creating confusion. And Clara, though
she declared he was more of hindrance
than help, seemed to like it.
On the third dow +ba moo ~ -. II