River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21

hint, at least, for these broad though
deep dents in the surface of the snow
drifts could only have been made by
suow-shoes.
When she finally found her way to the
stables, Norma saw that her work there
had all been done for her, and good deal
more, and that even an old wood-sleigh
had been dug out of the snow, as if in
anticipation of future use.
Inside the house the flood question:
was fast becoming an important one, so
closely had the narrow and stinting
policy of old Jan permitted the current
supply to run down; but, for all that,
Norma Ericsson sang all day the quaint
and musical rhymes of her northern an
cestry, which her mother had taught
her years before.
Bitter, bitter cold it was without, but
the bountiful provision of the unknown
friend left little to ask for within, and the
very dancing blaze itself seemed to laugh
in mockery of Norna's curiosity.
The long night came again, of course,
and Norma tried hard not to go to sleep,
so that she might listen.
Youth and health forbade any such
doings, however, and Norma woke in the
morning, not to find her fire alight, but
all preparations made outside, in the
shape OF heaps of fuel.
1t was evident, moreover, that Jan En-
icson's remaining ox-team had been hav-
ing a night of it. Well they might be
jaded and used up, for, not only had
some pitiless driver forced them to help
him break road to the timber through
mile of drifts, but to haul home again a
very respectable load.
All that was later discovery of
Norna's, but the first thing to greet her
eyes, as she swung afhe door open, was
the carcass of goodly deer that hung
against it, and she knew very well how
much better vension steaks are than utter
starvation They are good deal better.
The next day and the next went by,
and the terrible cold seemed to have
griped everything with hand of frozen
steel.
Again and again did Norma Ericsson
shiver and turn pale, as she thought ct
what would surely have been her fate,
but for her unknown helper.
Old Jan was able to sit up now, and
grumble at the sad necessity OF burning
so much good wood, just to keep warm
In reply to Norna's speculations as to
who had sent it, however, he testify re-
piled:
81 knowed Judge Primer would keep
an eye on us. That coffee you say was
left this morning came from Jones's store
at the village. | knowed it soon as
tasted it. It's what the judge always
buys, and it's two cents pound more
than | want to give"
True enough, Judge Primer had by no
means forgotten his client, and at last he
succeeded in stirring up Johns chivalry
and his own, now the roads were becom-
ingIa trif1e better broken, and the mercury
ventured few points higher up In the
glass.
1t was with more than little misgiv-
ing that they started, and they decided
to take some of their neighbors with
them, in case they found anything bad
had happened at old JAMS"
Bitter cold yet, but when the double
team of Judge Primer pulled his COM
Portable, closely packed sleigh in sight of
Jan Ericson's homestead, the curling
smoke from the chimney promptly dis
PEELED all their fears.
"Hurrah for old Janr' exclaimed the
Judge. s'Jack Frost didn't catch him
mapping"
Great was the surprise of both father and
son however, when the old man hobbled our
to meet them, to be greeted with such a
torrent If vi seemed to be genuine graf
itude for tae kind attention they had
shown during his illness, and all they had
i r. y, 4ho of,l1
snap,
Just at that moment man on snow
shoes came plodding down the road, but
nobody thought much about him, and
John Primer mustered self possession
enough to answer:
"Well, of course, we were anxious about
YOU and Norma, and we've come now to see
if there's anything else we can do. Hows
Nornan
'I'm pretty we'll, thank you, said that
young lady herself, from the doorway.
"Father, you should thank Mr.. Primer for
the venison and the coffee"
The man on snow-shoes had half halt
ed within hearing distance, and could not
have lost a word of Jan Ericson's thanks,
or the dubious protesting and yet ac-
knowledging acceptance thereof by the
Primers:
Is that you, Mr.. Jones?' again inter
rupted Norma, addressing the 'store- keep
err" who still sat mufiled up in the sleigh
"I'm glad you've come. | want you to
read something for me-"
GAIL right" exclaimed the gallant mer-
chant, springing out into the snow to take
large Slip of brown paper from Norna's
extended hand. Where did that come
from?"
"Rcad tread itm said Norma.
paul Woodl That's plain enough
and it's IN my own hardwrighting. Oh, l
remember, | did up whole lot of things
that day for one and another, and / put
the names on 'eln, SOS not to git EN-
mixed
"Ob, that's it, is it," said the beauty
~ see now. Father, John Primer got
Paul Wood to buy the coffee for him and
bring it out. Mr.. Primer, how much did
you pay Paul for working all night in the
storm? Did you tell him not to forget
about the vension and the rest? 1t was
real good of you. Twas good OF him,
too, to give up his counting in the village
all through the cold snap"
What's thatE suddenly exclaimed
the man on snow-shoes, untwisting huge
fur muller from his head as he spoke
"what's thai about counting in the vii
lager
John Primer was evidently chilly, judg-
ing by the way his teeth chartered, and
it was really very cold day; but Norma
Ericson's face was all in bright warm
glow. !,
"Paul" she exclaimed !" Paul Wood
Come right in nowl Come and warm
yourself by the fire that would have been
out for ever if 1t hadn't been for you.
Father, John Primer and the judge would
have let us freeze and starye. 1t was
Paul that saved us. Come in Paul. Mr..
Jones, you come too, and the judge and
John may come if they want to"
"John," dryly remarked the storekeep-
er. don't you think we'd better 60 home