The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-01-15

THE room looked cozy in the twi-
light, though the furniture Wasshabbv,,
old and plain. An open wood-tire,
burning brightly on Sbr&ss Sandirons,
polished till you coulC. see your face in
them. was not the suggestion of fashion
or high art, but a necessity, resulting
from stormy night in October and
further from the fact that wood was
cheap in that locality. Brass andirons
were an everyday affair, and had been
for fifty years, never having been dis
placed by modern heating monstrosities,
or consigned to the garret as a relic of
barbarism, and brought from thence as
an evidence of culture. The old lounge.
even though it was just the place to
dream in, and the chintz-cushioned
chair in the corner, with the white
haired granddame in it. limited in some
mysterious way of welcome for all
who entered.
Busy fingers had been at work, for
spotless hearthstones are not the result
of chance, -nof-ao tes-tsbles, covered
with snowy drapery, and glittering
with glass and china. arQp from The.
clouds. The supply WIS United, it is
true, but the old blue chin In inherit
ance from the forehaniSd ancestors,
would have beens& Godssend to ascons
noisseur, with even crack or two to
advertise its antiquity. But our grand
mothers, as q rule, washed their own
tea things, and cracks and inches were
not in vogue. The storm beat against
the window pane, ana Che wind scame
whistling down the chimney III an agt
gressive fashion that caused the hickorY
logs to blink with ssmazenient sSnd tho
well-bred Tabby to elevate her back in
with shawl drawn over the bright curls,
and blue eyes peeying into darkness,
stood Maggie. the household fairy,
SWby don't Uharliel .comeer sshe
sighed to herself, and turning, went
into the fire-lighted room thatamwered
so many purposes in that small House.
hold. She. knelt. by the CHEEKY blaze,
shivering more from the chill within
than the cold without.
Grandma,s eyes Enclosed, and the
placid face bent over the girl, almost a
child in years, woman in capacity for
suffering. "What is it, Maggie?" and
the withered hands gently smoothed the
curls that the wind had beenrtal8ng
such liberties WITH SssA y 4
90! Grandma! Charlie hasn't come
yet and it's almost nine o clodS He
promised so faithfully to be at home at
i've. and now-I'm afraid, A m affaid 4r
and the words died away ii shiferihee
moan.
"Afraid of what, Maggie?" - Is
She crouched still lower. till the
little head lay in grapdma's. lap, and
whispered. That he's not HIMSELF
What does that seurences coined Ont
of love 9 vocabulary mean tossman3 a
hearth Tnue6nite expressien, shafp-
iv defined as the lightning's track in the
misery that uis~brings, it is the watchr
word of despair to wrecked lives and
blighted homes. Grandma knew now;
there was no need Of words. But
grandma also knew What Masgie had
not yet learned@that through the con-
ilict cometh, victory q sFN & w~s 81
Poor .chiidr' she softly sad, and
bending, kissed her. for one. of the
charms that made her almost sacred in
Maggie's ewes was the knowing when
to be silent. The old fashioned clock
licked on; the winds h0wled yet more
tiercelv and Charlie still delayed his
coming. Mrs: Duncan drank the cup
of tea that Maggie gently forced upon
her, and ate a morsel of the dainty
toast that the little housewife was so
skilled in making. The table, with the
cloth upon it, was pushed aside, and
ho Not
they knew too well. Ten-eleyen-
and still they moved not, listening,
as if beating hearts - batRd Area
would hasten lootyfeH of "a wai
derer. gkh > ~ =
At last he -Charlie-but mo-
nseit-as Maggie phrased it: StrPgt
eyes looked fipt4 hefb 4dyyhNe d9l
thick tones were surely not the one.
that said "good-by'' so gaily, in tn,
morning, and warned her notsto grow
old and gray with fretting. No -neet
to bring the table near the fire., b.
could not eat. but throwing himself
upon the chintz-cushioned lounge, la,
in dreamless slumber, while Maggi,
wept the night away. e = '3'sif'tIS0s
Her only brother her haadsom,
Charne! when both father and mothe
died and left them alone in the world
with only grandma to look to, the mem
Dry of that dying mothers words
while you live, Maggie. care 70
Charlie, night and day in the year
that had come and gohe, Had bedu tn
motive power for action in the yoYn
girls heart. To live for and with him
embodied all of Joy that earth ceul
give. And Charlie, kind-hearfed, hand
some Charlie loved her in return, BIT
not as sisters love. Not alone to Maggi
was he the hero of the hour, for Tia
strange fascination which often prove
the bane of its possessor, winning th
hearts Of old and young alike, was hi