The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-24

ny OCHAOlA1 MIelCuGu II ne IdlleQ, or
seemed to fail; for often when | was
proudest of him and loved him best, I
treated him worst, at the promptings of
the veriest selfishness that ever ruled
human breast.
Eyes, the seasons came and went
springs of never-to-be-forgotten green
ness; summers of unrivaled blossOming;
gorgeous-skyed, leaf-dropping autumns,
and white-robed winters came and
went, until my eighteenth birthday
looked me in the face.
''It was the oath of December; nv
birthday awaited me on the 2Sth. There
had been little snow previously; but
early that morning the dull, gray light
revealed a steady downfall. Rodger
rode over before dinner, declaring
laughlngly that if he was to be buried
alive he wanted to be with me. He
promised me fairy palace when it was
over; and the time ran along in trifling
chat-l being in my best mood-until
about two o'clock in the afternoon.
Mother and had been in town the
day before, and, after visiting the store
where we traded our farm produce for
such articles as were needed in the fam
lily, took ride up the main street. We
wanted to see the latest wonder of the
place-an establishment where nothing
but dry-goods were sold We saw it,
and l saw this collar. Nothing so beau
tiful had ever before found its way to
our little country village, and | was
wild to possess it. There were others in
the window, with the small pins, show
ing how they were to be fastened; but
this was the neatest and sweetest.
Mother had nothing either to give or
offer in trade, and l was wretched be-
yond description, until she suggested
my telling Rodger about 1t, and making
him understand / would like to have il
for Christmas. He always gave me
something; this year l might as well do
my own choosing. So, when all of
sudden he asked, calling me by my pet
name, 'Miri, what do you want for
Christmas@ / instantly mentioned
this collar, intimating that the pin |
would not come amiss. ] should have
them both, he said.
To wear tomorrow {?
"'Yes; I'll go over the first thing
"'And be gone half the day-and |
your father and mother to be here to |
dinner / answered, poutingly.
"'Well, then you shall have it for
your birthday. Pve something for
Christmas
mo; didn't want it my birthday.
Ii l could not have il to wear at dinner
next day declared he need not get il at
all. Surely didn't want him to 90 over
that night, he said, in panied surprise.
Ordinarily the coming and going con-
sumed four hours. 1t would take twice
that time in such a storm. Two o'clock
N the afternoon was not night, nor auv
where near it, l answered, and twitted
lim with being afraid of snow. Girls,
got my way; after all these years, it
little matters how.
HE went to the barn, took his Romeo
rom the stall beside my Juliet and
itarted. He was strangely pale and
Iravei never came in to say goodbye,
md scarcely smiled as he passed the
window where l sat. Still 1 knew he
vas not angry. Rodger never got angry
It me.
80, girls, from that day to this the
eve of Christmas never comes without
ny seeing ROdger ride past my window
8 ne rode that day-the snow weaving ]
scarf for his broad shoulders, and
whitening his bonnie brown hair.n !
Miss Zell paused, entirely overcome
y the emotion she had so striyen
gainst. (
~ ny gaze SOuSul I1liud. ! .
ms was white as death, and clutched
be hand that held the ring as though
he never meant to let go. / saw, then. {
DR. the first time, that this was a lesson
warning, if she but kept it at heart.
81 watched him out. of sight,u said {
liss Zell, steadying lip and voice for I
ne continuance of her narrative. "He 7
'as soon hidden by the hurrying snow;
hen sat down to my sewing, while L
utside the wind walled, and the white
axes swirled into the dints Romeo's
,et had left.
Mother came in from the kitchen,
skiing what took Rodger away so early.
When told her, she rebuked me q
larply; said neither man nor beast
lght to brave such storm; and set a
lndle In the window when the wierd, e
hlte darkness fell. I was not in the =
asst concerned. Rodger was Young,
rong, and knew the road. There
ould be no anxiety about him at home, q
he left there with the intention of re- d
Ialnlng at our house all night; so re- I
lived to be quite at ease, and make it
i up to him on his return. Between
ght and nine that night I PLAYED the :
erriest game of Old Maid | ever par
clpated in. Beside myself, there was
ther, mother, our help, and two cous-
IS, Marmaduke and Minerva, come to
'end Christmas. Singularly enough,
lie old maid card almost invariably
aged in my hand. Finally l threw N
er into the fire, and the game ended. R
AT ten we had lights in every win
wv. At eleven father and Marmaduke =,
Ioveled their way to the barn, got the !"
1rses, and undertook a search. At
'elve they returned, almost perished, II
)t having been able to make headway 81
.ainst the storm.
Mother entreated me to 90 TO bed.
ying in all probability ROdger was
re in town, and would be over as early
possible in the morning. Even while
e talked, she seemed listening intently =,
any new sound outside. I noticed, 81
o, that she set fresh candle in the
ndow in place of one that had burned p,
It. F'
II laid my head on the pillow; but
w could l sleep, with Rodger riding ia
ound the house with snow-sown hair
d a white scarf that was winding.
nding in fatal folds about him q? lit
Morning came at last. A red sun cb g
ing on wondrOusly beautiful world:
t had neither eyes nor heart for its
auty. For me it was only mocking,
azen glare.
A party of neighbors dug their wav Ri
town, but did not find him. He had La
en- there the day before, made his pur-
ase, and started home. Others ioined pl
10 knew and vvara fond Of Li,, 80 IN ~