The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-06-06

Gus fire you've got, and what a dar-
ling old urn, and how good that tea
does smell T.
"Set by and have cup, my DEAR
said Aunt Daimayne, highly flatteretl.
And before Glare Wintringham
slept that night, she had taken Mrs
Dalmaynes heart by storm.
She had been an inmate OF the farm.
house about q week. when ono of
those grand anti Christmas snow
storms came on, which veil the whole
country side; in spotless whito, and
hang the woods in royal robes OF err
mine. Aunt Dalmayne's rheumatism
grew worse, and she kept her room !;
but Clare weut about rs slight-hearted
as ever, doing the whole work Of the
house, with such assistance as Moses
Peekman, the hired hand, was able TO
render her. e
The snow had fallen steadily all
day, blown into drifts by the wind
that howled lugubriously through the
gorges OF the hills, and at last tho
twilight deepcned over the stormy
earth.
Glare was sitting thoughtfully be-
fore the tireligh,, peeling apples for a
pudding which was dear to Aunt
Dalinayncs soul, when Moses entered.
Miss Glare" said he, ''there's two
gentlemen got storm.bound outside,
and they We missed the way, and their
horses is clean tired out; they wanted
TO know it we'd give 'em n night y
shelter. told 7cm Mrs. Dalmayne
was sick, and wasn't boss, but I'd
ask tho young woman who does the
work"
Clare WINGED n little, and then
laughed outright at Moses unpublished
language.
"Of course they may come in" she
said. Il wouldn't turn even dog
from the door OH such a night as
this"
And she threw fresh log on the
fire. aud lighted the candles, as she
spoke.
But what was her amazemeBt, on
turning To welcome the strangers, To
behold in them no strangers at all.
but Mr. Harvey Galicttc and bis
friend Frank Hood
| Powdered literally with snow, their
noses reddeucd by the wind, their
features rendered unusually rigid
by cold. they stood blansiy regard
ing her, but Clare came forward with
the grace oil a young duchess.
Good evening, gentlemen. Pray
come a little nearer TO the fire. |
hardly supposed that in the storm.
boand strangers who snbght shelter
here, / was 10 welcome old acqnaint-
ances.
| But, Miss Win,rlngiam-exceed-
ingly glad TO see you, I'm sure p
s,arnmered Dir. Gallette. awkwar,lly,
allowing his frog ike hand TO touch
her own; but what can yog possibly
be doing in such a place as this Z"
didn't Moses tell you. Z" asked,
demureIy. Il am doing the mouse.
work here"
/ Miss Winirinham I"
We'll, why not?'
Dir. Gaifettc had no reply ready;
he only rnbbed his hands. smiled
freely, aud advanced toward the red
blaze, while Mr.. Hood was exchang-
ing IN turn his greeting with the for
mer heiress.
II, is a surprise, Miss Wintringham,
to see you here" he said, frankly, "bui
very agreeable one"
And Clare wondered i'm her heart
what new mode of gallantry had Ia.
ken away all Frank Hoods awkard.
ness.
i Its as good as a tableau," she
thought gleeiully, when Hood had ex.
planned 10 her that unexpected bust
hess had taken them across the coun.
try in the dead Of winter, thus bring.
ing about so entirely nnanticipated q
meeting. She had gone into the
outer kitchen to get cream for the tn
Bile, and as she stood there skim
ming off the golden accumulation
which followed her spoon in thick
leathery folds she heard Gallctte,.
voice speaking.
"Of course the father has failed
and they've lost everything. A great
pity, for with that face she might have
, married we'll"
] "And what is TO prevent her mar
rying well now!" Frank Hoods slow
deliberate tones answered.
"My dear fellow, we must all lool
out for the main chance. In fact, ]
was once a little smitten myself, bu
!, OF course it's quite out OF the question
now" -'s
i Mr.. Hood did not reply; and Glare
, as she stood there with burning
cheeks, was glad that he did not.
|, But when she came back to presid,
at the tea-table, with Moses Peckhan
, democratically seated at the lowe
J end, she was as composed as ever
save that her color was a trifie deepe
, than usual.
The storm continued in unabatee
/ violence for two days, during whicl
/ time Mr.. GaIlette yawned over th
!. old newspapers, smoked his cigar be
/ side The fire, and systematically ig
nored Miss Wintringham's presence
! "A fellow mustn't let himself get en-
: tapgledp was his mental reflection
. Frank Hood, however, reasone'
4 otherwise. He haunted Clare's foot
steps with love like persistence; b
n helped her to clean the windows
4 wiped the dishes, even essayed L
sweep the floors, thereby creating cor
i fusion. And Clare, though she de
clared he was more of hindranc
3 than help, seemed to like it.
s On the third day the weathe
cleared gloriously, and Moses Peck
d ham brought round the stranger
~ horses 40 EsFif ssI ts