The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-04-25

and his friend Frank Hood
Powdered beralIy with snow, their noses
reddenel by the wind. their features render
, ed unnaurally rigid by cold, they stood
blankly regarding her; but Glare came for
ward with the grace of young duchess.
Good evening, gentlemen. Pray come
little nearer to the fire. | hardly supposed
, that in the storm. bound strangers who sought
shelter here, was to welcome old acqualnt
ances."
But Miss Nottingham exceedingly glad
to see you, I'm surew stammered MIR. Gel
lctte, awkwardly allowing his froglike hand to
..Itouch her own "but what can you possibly
be doing in such place as this.
Didn't Moses tell you 2" she asked demure
Is. II am doing the homework here
Observation-Disclosures"
"Well, why not!"
/, Mr.. Gillette had no reply ready; he only
rubbed his hands, smiled feebly, and advanc
ed toward the red bla3 b; while Mr.. Hood was
exchanging in turn hA9reeting with the for
: 1T is a surprise, Miss Wlstringham, to see
you here he said frankly, "busa very agree
able onc''
And Clare wondered in her heart what new
mood of gallantry had taken away all Frank
Woods awkwardness.
| at is as good AS tableau," she thought
glceiully, 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 unanticipatcd a
meeting, and she had gone into the outer
| kitchen to get cream for the table. And as
she stood there, skimming off the golden &C
formulation which followed her spoon in
thick lcathery folds, she heard Gellette's
voice speaking.
"Of course the father has failed, and they
have lost everything. A great pity; for with
that face she might have married we'll"
And what is to prevent her marrying well
now" Frank Hoods slow, deliberate tones
answered.
MY dear fellow, we must all look on, for
the main chance. In fact | was once little
smttcn myself, but of course it's quite out of
the question now"
Mr.. Hood did not reply; and Glare, as she
stood there wish burning cheeks, was glad
that he did not.
But when she came back to preside at the
teatable, with Moses Peckham dcmocratical.
ly seated at the lower end, she was rs com,
posed as ever, save that her color was tritlc
deeper than usual
The storm continued in undated violence
for two days, during which time Mr.. Gelotte
Jawned over the weeks old newspapers,
smoked his cigar beside the fire, and sys,
tematicaly ignored Miss Wlntringham's
presence.
a fellow mustn't let hImselfg get entangled."
was his mental reflection.
Frank Hood however, reasoned otherwise
He haunted Clarc's footsteps with lover.like
pcrsistency; lac helped her clean the win.
dows, wiped the dishes, even essayed to sweep
the floors, thereby creating great confusion.
And Glare, though she declared ne was more
a hindrance than "a help, seemed to like it,
On the third day the weather cleared glor-
ously, and Moses Peckham brought round
the strangers horses.
"Come, lIoodm said Gillette impatiently
"arc you going to stay there all day, making
adlcus 2"
"Be off as quick as you like" said Hood
calmly. IL am not going"
Not going! But business"
"liang busncssn' was the unaccountable
reply. What do | care for business? Miss
Nottingham has promised to be my wife,
and my business Is here just at present."
MIR, Gellettc muttered a few incoherent
congratulations and rode away, calculating
BENEATH his breath:
saw such fool in all my lifew
'>AEd when Harvey Gillette was gone Glare
told her lover the truth, and and the whole
truth AT first Frank was half inclined to be
veXed.
81 didn't want an heiress." said he, biting
his lips.
But you want me, Frank, don't youg" said !
Glare, with the prettiest coaxing way in the
world.
"Of course l do" said Frank. "Bu,, dar.
ling, l had such bright little dream of love
in II cottage!'
"And it shall all come true" SAID Glare,
in spite of the twelve hundred year"
The two young lovers travelled back, trte-a.
ete, to New York, as soon as Moses Peck
hams sister could be induced to come and
lake Clare's place IN Aunt Dalmayne's house
hold, And what Mr. Harvey Geettc's feel
ngs were, when he learned the true state of
he case, we leave the imaginative reader to
conjecture; for the best of taticians may out.
general himself at times.