The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-12-23

"Darling. what y itP'' and Kathleen
ran 70 her. frightened and mystiiied.
Nearer. nearer! Kathleen. don't
you hear them? How fast they are
coming! How they chime and clashr'
Kathleen did hear q Last tho old sill
YER music u the string 81 sleixh-bells.
s.It u no wonder. Snowflake" she
tried 20 say calmly. II presume the
Collnmores have them still. and know
the family u back from Europe. Prob
ably some Of them are driving past.
But louder in more frantic glee rang
the familiar bells. and stopped; stopped
"Dicf-ohl is i DickP" gasped
Snowflake.
Which was Dick. which was Frank
Collamore poor. dazcd Kathleen could
not clearly be sure at first She was
only sure Of one thing: she had not
said Eyes" TO Mr.. Lawrence; indeed,
he had quietly disappeared
How did they tell everything? How
did everything get found outP Al last
there were no secrets. Between smiles.
tears. silence and speech all was ex-
planned. On Kathleen's part, why she
had deceived Dick 50. and why. alter
disgracing herself BY fainting-fit like
any common. weak-nerved girl. desti-
tufe Of will and energy. she had TO lie
still. utterly weak and nerveless from
the relaxation OF the long over-strain.
On Dicks part. how certain rumors had
reached him which made him both in
dignant and alarmed.
-. could not believe at first that you
could have misled me 50. Kathleen. !"
said Dick, ''but finally ! could endure
IL no longer. When Uncle Lane found
that return ! would. even though my
fortune was as yet only a small fortune,
he declared that he would come. too.
will own. Kathleen. that / was too
angry with you to write home then. i
said would surprise yon. and, Il you
suffered any suspense meanwhile, i
would serve you right. Twas brute"
Dick interrupted himself TO interpolate
gratuitously. Then he resumed: Poor
Uncle Lane! At his age the hardships it
was our ill-luck TO encounter wore too
much for him. He grew very III. and
1t the very first European port we we're
put ashore and turned nurse. It was
peculiar malady; we both hoped
every week that the next would see him
rallying. so that we might 20 on.
Don't write; we Il surprise them yet
he would say. But death, alas! sur
prised him first Then for long viii Q
! remember nothing ! suppose / was
very III; know was months getting
well. months in caring whether ever
came home or not So You see my
surprise il q very belated surprise. in
deed" said Dick. drawing Snowflake
closer.
But genuine one in the end. For
instance. only imagine my sensations"
laughed Frank Collamore, Eat having
this bearded stranger grip my horses
bit in the middle Of the street, aud ex-
anime those sleigh-bells as il he were .
mailman"
\. It was q mad proceeding" an
swered Dick. ''but had only just land
ed. and was feeling my way 70 this
street and number when 4 suddenly
heard the dear old bells. knew them
in an instant; never dreamed that any
but some Of you could be driving be-
hind them. and suppose did lose my
wits Certainly. never felt 80 trans
fixed with amazement as TO see Frank,
whom knew on second glance. glow
ering ct me over the bells where / had
found Snowhake's initials engraved.
\ Just as they always were"
They shall 20 back to their right
full owner" said Mr.. Collamore, gently.
Snowflake wont refuse that gift from
me on Christmas Day know, particu-
larly II l take Kathleen So"
"Oh. hush. hush" said q warning
voice from Kathleen's sofa, and Just
then no one minded the interruption.
for Dick was speaking.
~ believe, little Snowflake, that my
boyish boast has come true; / have
brought you behind the sleigh-bells .
fortune. or almost q fortune. a. last. for
Uncle Lane has left his al n me-
But" and Dicks voice shook. IL has
cost me dear. for have lost in him .
second father. And 70 you al three i
almost came. fear. too late"
Not quite! They kept their Christ
mas Of . week later with chastened
gladness, indeed. but good care and
freedom from anxiety IN time brought
health, assured though never robust. 70
the invalid mother, peace unrufIIed TO
the blind girl. and the old warm glow
70 Kathleen's face, the old sparkle TO
her dark eyes.
s.But now I know" she said 70
Snowflake on her wedding-day. g they
stood once more in the parlors Of 1.-THE
Square House, "that your prophecy
out 81 the slcigh-belIs was reality, not
all dream. Is / thought then; / know
that even The harsh and discordant
clashing. which seemed such : dreary
chaos. has not been IN vain. "-Sp1ing-
feld (Mdss. Republican.
A Mennonite Scene.
The Mcnnonites intend keeping TO