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

son- HE lsdy mother deIened Der bue
The most distant nod Il By chance they
met II town. Gossip had blown 70 her
ears--ah! fatally easy u = for gossip %
connect By n invisible telephone with
her v;ctims.--the lady sisters supercil-
ious remark: ssOf course II Frank had
not already gone 20 far. II be did not
feel III honor bound. there could Be
nothing more between them Why!
they've had % sell everything. posi-
lively ever thing. my dear. down 70
their sleigh-bcIIs. But. q Il il. Frank
being the soul % honor. It's very lucky
for her. certainly. and doubtless she
will take every pains - hold him fast "
Unlucky stamp Of his masters pet
horse that Kathleen herself in other
days had named Pride! Frank Cola
more drove him last and far that day. .
disappointed. wralhful man. ltgoaded
him 10 hear the sweet toned bells, and
am afraid that both 20 him and TO
Kathleen Christmas that year meant 90
little goodwill that they took very
mcager pains 70 have il afford 70 those
about them peace.
JINGLE THIRD.
"There is more sleighing this winter
than usual. How the sleigh bells riot
to-day said the blind girl Her face
was g serene and pure As ever. only
paler and thinner. In spite Of al that
had come and gone since she had told
20 Dick and Kathleen. years ago. that
dream Of sleigh-bells." she looked
like one who had always kept the Joy
she had spoken Of then-.sone deep.
perfect. sure joy. underneath the con-
fused. conflicting. changing over
current" The thinking bells Of laughter
and pleasance were indeed little heard
in this narrow city home; even friends
voices were grown few, and. shielded
BY her blindness though she was. there
were many times when discordant cir
cumstances or painful anxieties re-
minded her how old delights had grown
rusty, and with what weight her
heart beat new The three lonely
women could not sreak even to each
other Of that whif was their worst
dread. as this addef. year waned to its
close. There had been long delay in
letters and remittances from Dick.
Letters sent 10 him At the old address.
letters sent to Uncle Lane. had been
returned unopened. What could il
mean? Helplessly they looked at each
other. and silently plodded on. Even
Kathleen. self-contident Kathleen. be-
gan TO doubt herself At last. Perhaps
she had made dreadful mistake in try
ing TO manage herself. and to hide all
from Dick Her mother had long ago
insisted on sharing kathleen's work.
until her health had begun TO fail. The
feeble step. the slight cough. were q
constant rcproach to Kathleen. Her
own roses we're faded. and many q
night Of weary toll, many seli-sacri-
ice for the sake Of the one who could
not see the strategy. had dimmed the
fire that still could flash sometimes in
her eyes
As her sister spoke. she looked up.
Something in the transparent face. an
increased delicacy and sharpness, was
brought out by the slant OF the light
through the window near, and with q
sharp pang she thought: She looks
too ike an angel. Am going to lose
them all Is this the punishment Of
nv self-will?'
For moment she could not speak in
reply TO Showf'ake's remark about the
bells, but she did not need. for her sis
ter presently asked. going on placidly
with her knitting. which eked out their
scanty income:
"What bells are those ! hear now?
They CRATE and clank- They are like
doors turning on disused hinges"
Kathleen glanced ont 70 see, and
rose. flushing little.
Our landlord is coming in. dear. l
will receive him. and would you sit
with mother while he stays? You shall
not Be teascd with our badgering about
money matters" Despite her utmost
efforts the months rent now due was
not ready; Snowflake need not know
that
But what could be the badgering
about money matters that kept Mr..
Lawrence 80 long the sister began 70
wonder with her mother. BY and BY.
She tried not to hear the voices. that
sounded - though some one were en-
treating. persuading, arguing. and -
though kathleen's answers were agitat-
ed and brief. Still more TO prevent
that quick and sensitive listening
which was her habit from gathering
aught that Kathleen would rather not
have overheard. the blind girl gave
herself up to thoughts which al day
had been depressing her. and all day
had been withstood. This was Dicks
birthday; one week before Christmas.
All! the old holiday frolcs; the old
Christmas cheer. the merrV-makin0s
that. in the dear. square house." used
to mark this date! And now and then
oh. dear Dick! where can Won beP
And II you only knew whispered the
blind girl 70 herself, crying softly. ~
she thought and thought.
Meanwhile Kathleen was sore besct.
Was Mr.. Lawrence rightP Once she
hod hol;ovod kor own informant infalii-