St. Landry democrat., 1881-12-24
.Dar}inr. what is it?' and Kathleen

ran to her, frightened ana my aIi!ica'
Nearer. nearer! Kathleen, don't
YOU hear them? How fast they are
coming! How they chime and clash:
Kathleen did hear at last the ola sll-
yer music OF the string Of slcigh-beIls.
at is no wonder, Snowr;ake,' she
tried to say calmly. Il presume the
Colamores have them still, and l know
the family is back from Europe Prob
ably some of them are driving past.
But louder in more frantic glee rang
the familiar bells, and stopped; stopped |
at their gate.
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 Yes to Mr.. Lawrence; indeed,
he had quietly disappeared.
| How did they tell everything? How
did everything get found out' AT last
| there were no secrets. Between Smiles
tears, silence and speech all was eH-
planned. On Kathleen s part, why she
had deceived Dick so, and why, after
disyracing herself by q talnting-ht IKE
any common, weak-ncrved gr!, desti-
tute of will and energy, she hal to lie
still, utterly weak and nerVe!ess from
the relaxation OF the long Oyer-straln.
On Dick part. how certain ruTnors had
reached him which made him both IN
dignant and alarmed.
IL could not believe At first that YOU
could have misied me so. kath Gen.
said Dick, but finally could endure
Il no LONGER. When Uncle Lane found
. that return I would, even though my
fortune was as vet only a small fortune,
he dec AIRED that he would come, too
will own, Kathleen, that J. was 100
, anory with YOU to write home then. l
: said I would surprise you. and, II you
: suffered any suspense meanwhile II
, would serve YOU ri.ht. lwasa brute.
p Dick interrupted himself to interpoate
, oratuitously. Then he resumed: Poor
! Uncle Lane, At his age the nardships II
t was our ill-luck to encounter were toC
$ much for him. He grew very Ill, anc
n at the very first European port we were
. nut ashore and l turned nurse. 1t was
!, a peculiar malady; we both hopee
n eyerv week that the next would see h'n
It rallyinc, so that we might 60 on
h Don't write; wen surprise them yet,
n he would say. But death, alas! sur
! prised him first Then for a long WIN
"a [ remember nothing. suppose wa
= very ill: know I was months gettln
II well. months in caring whether L eve
q came home or not. So you see m
: surprise is q very belated surprise, IL
,e deed" said Dick, drawing Snowfak
closer.
er "But a genuine one in the end re
a instance only imagine my sensations,
j. laughed Frank Collamore, lat havln
Id this bearded stranger grip my horse
ne bit in the middle of the street, and e.
in anime those sleish-bells as if he were
mailman =,
n. lit was a mad proceeding, a
an swered Dick. ''but had only just lam
a. ed. and was feeling my way to tn
hit street and number when l sudden
a heard the dear old bells. knew the
ks in an instant; never dreamed that al
,se but some of you could be driving Q
of hind them, and suppose did lose
wits. Certainly, l never felt SO trar
in fixed with amazement as to see Fran
he whom knew on second glance, glo
is erino at me over the bells where h
lly found SnowHake's initials engraVe
cir lust as they always were
"Thev shall go back to their rig
W? full owner.n said Mr.. Collamore, gent
ike Snowflake won't refuse that gift tr'
me on Christmas Day know, partl'
md larly if take Kathleea's'-
ooh. hush, hush!'' said warm
I voice from Kathleen's sofa, and :!
sit then no one minded the interrupts
lall for Dick was speaking.
out II believe, little Snowflake, that
ost boyish boast has come true; n.
vas brought you behind the sleigh-bell
ow fortune. or almost fortune, at last,
Uncle Lane has left his all TO
ING But" and Dicks voice shook. 1T
MIR. cost me dear, for l have lost IN hi
, to second father. And to you all thre
by. almost came. fear, too late.
hat Not quite! They kept their Chr
en- mas of week later with chaste
as gladness, indeed, but good care
tat freedom from anxiety in time brou
,ent health, assured though never robust
ing the invalid mother, peace unru1he'
ing the blind girl, and the old warm g
not to Kathleen's face. the old sparkle
ave her dark eyes. -,
day "But now know, sue sa.t
dav Snowflake on her Wedolhg-uay' t.' -
ck's stood once more IN the parlors VI
mas. SQUARE House," 'that your proph
old out of the sleigh-bells was reality;
ings all dream, as I thought then; l X
lsed that even the marsh anu uisool ~.
then clashing. which seemed such Or
be? chaos, has not been in vain. "-Sp7
the field (Mass.) Republican.
7, as ..e CO.,
,set. M uon;+o, ;ntond keenins
she INC honn ~ L,.n ~ ;ntontioI
s.