Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-12-24
am preparatory to beginning her

put in Bess, whom nothing could Ell
tirely subdue, and implying Gertrud
by significant glance.
'Bess, hush! Miss Zell's not pausin
for a reply answered that individual
not trifie vexed. sass
His father was my fathers neares
neighbour continued Miss Zell, with
out noticing 'he interruption. 'Thei
farms adjointd, aid so little heed wa
taken of boundaries, that father uset
10 say he never was quite certain
whether he was harvesting his owl
grain or Nimrod's. If any question
arose, the one would say to the other
Never mind, we'll make it right wheI
Rodger marries Maria We came t,
look upon ourselves as each belonging
to the other, or, rather, ] looked or
him as mine exclusively, my own per
sOnal property, to be taken or left, JUS
as 1t pleased me. L suppose l mus
have been pretty, everybody told me
was, and had bright, merry, exact
ing way that was law al home OF
abroad. There had been other chill.
dren in both families, but only Rodgel
and as far back as we could remem-
ber. We were brother and sister long
before we could understand a dearer
tie.'
How well I remember that time. |
am living in it yet. My real folks are
back in those years. All that has come
afterward has been dim, cold ,shadowy.
Life keen, blood-warmed, zestful life
stopped in that winter of my eigh-
teenth year.
Miss Zell's work was on the floor, her
hands clasped across where it had lain,
her eyes gazing outward on visions we
were not to behold. How unlike her.
selfshe looked. How unlike herself
she talked. Plain, practical, wcrd-
sparing Maria ZelI! Bcss said, after
ward, it was like reading book.
Before that year, thesseasons linked
one in the other, foWery, unbroken
chain, each bringing its full measure of
joy, and l accepting as thankiessly as if
joy were the common lot. NY poor
Rodger knew no such shadowless bliss.
!! gave him little peace with my vary
ing moods and tempers. Often feign-
ing anger merely for the purpose of
tormenting him. A handsome, high
spirited, merry boy, yet he came and
went at my bidding as meek as lamb;
blest if he might in any way minister
to my comfort; wretched if he failed,
or seemed to fail; for often when l was
proudest of him and loved him best, I
treated him worst, at the prom ptings
OF the veriest selfishness that ever ruled
human breast.
Yes, the seasons came and went
springs of never-to-be-forgotten green
ness; summers of unrivalled blossom
ing; gorgeous-skyed, leaf-dropping au-
Iumns, and white-robed winters-came
and went, until my eighteenth birth
lay looked me in the face.
1T was the Oath of December; my
awaited me the 2Sth. There
mad been little snow previously; but
Early that morning the dull, gray light
'evealed steady downfall. ROdger
'ada-eper-z before dinner, declaring
that if he was to be buried
dive he wanted to be with me. He
promised me fairy palace when it
vas over; and the time ran along in
rifling chat-I being in my best mood
until about two O'Clock in the after
lOOn.
Mother and I had been in town the |
lay before, and, after visiting the store
where we traded our farm produce for
uch articles as were needed in the |
amily, took ride up the main street.
We wanted to see the latest wonder of
he place-an establishment where |
lothing but dry goods were sold. We |
aw it, and Isaw this collar. Nothing
o beautiful had ever before found its
way to our little country village, and 1
vas wild to possess it. There were
thers in the window, with the small
'ins, showing how they were to be
astened; but this was the neatest and
Weetest. Mother had nothing either
o give or offer in trade, ana was
beyond description, until she
uggested my telling Rodger about it,
nd making him understand / would
Ike to have it for Christmas. He al
1ays gave me something; this year l
night as well do my own choosing.
o, when all of "A sudden he asked, cali
lg me BY my pet name, 'Miri, what do
on want for Christmas?' [ instantly
1entioned this collar, intimating that
hat the pin would not come amiss. I
hould have them both, he said.
TO wear Tomorrow?
Yes. pll go over the first thing
And be gone half the day-and your
lther and mother to be here to dinner
answered poutingly.
We'll, then you shall have it for
our birthday. I've something for
hristmas.'
No, l didn't want it my birthday.
could not have it to wear at dinner
ext day, declared he need not get it
all. Surely didn want him to go
yer that night, he said, in panied sur
rise. Ordinarily the coming and 60
lg consumed four hours. 1t would .
Ike twice that time in such storm.
wO O'Clock in the afternoon was not
ight, nor anywhere near it, answer
!, and twitted him with being afraid {
snow. Girls, I got my way; after all {
lese years, it little matters bow.
He went to the barn, took his Ro-
leo from the stall beside my Juliet, Z
nd started. He was strangely pale :
nd grave; never came to say goodbye, :
nd scarcely smiled as he passed the !
indow where 1 sat. Still, 1 knew he !
as not angry. Rodger never got an :
" at me. !,
% girls, from that day to this the Eve
Christmas never comes without my !
eng Rodger ride past my window as
2 rode that day-the snow weaving a :
arf for his broad shoulders, and whi- !
ming his bonnie brown hair :
Miss Zell paused, entirely overcome .
the emotions she had so striven :
yainst.
Involuntarily my gaze sought Hilda.
he was white as death, and clutched +
he hand that held the ring as though !
le never meant to let it go. 1 saw !
len, for the first time, that this was !.
ssOn, a warning, if she but kept it at /
cart.
Il watched him out of sight, said !
[iss Zell, steadying lip and voice for :,
le continuance of her narrative. He
as soon hidden by the hurrying
low; then sat down to my sewing,
lille outside the wind.wailed and the :
hite flakes swirled into the dints Ro-
leO's feet had left.
Mother came in from the kitchen.