The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-12-27


him that night. He must not be kept
waiting until the morning-he, who
had come so far at her merest calling
No, she must and would see him, if
she walked miles to do so. An hour later
she had written a note and dispatched
it to Cattling by the stable-boy, for
whom she arranged other errands.
After that she found herself joyous at
heart and keen as the others for skat-
ing on the river.
At dusk the train from the city came
laundering into Cattling, and young
man alighted, passing quickly through
the station and crossing the road to the
depot hotel.
Having engaged room, with fire,
he discovered a letter awaiting him.
1t was from Clarice and contained but
few words. He took it up into his
room and there sat reading by the cyl
inder stove. God blcs her." he said,
as he reached the signature, "she must
care little"
And what had Clarice written?
want to see you so much; hut the COM
pany has arrived, and scarcely know what
to do. Clearly, / cannot come 10 town to-
night nor do l know how long you can re-
main, You remember the little school-house
half a mile below my house? Could you
drive out there at G:3Ol | will run down and
wait in the porch.
1t did not seem to her she had written
boldly, unwomanly. She felt so inno-
cent, so earnest at heart, that she
had no thought of possible misconstruc
tiou.
Mcclure looked at his watch-it was
not yet 6. He still held the letter with
fond, firm clasp. God bless her. he
repeated, and wondered if the Christ
mas past were half as much to her as
to himself; if it were possible she re-
membered the flower she had given him
the crimson rose, her favorite bios
som? The luscious crimson rose that
he had always treasured, even when it
was ashes Ashes of roses" he said,
tenderly, and his hand sought the
pocket next his heart, where the little
package lay, of rose-dust.
He went down after little and took
a cup of coffee; then he obtained a
horse and clumsy cutter, in which to
drive to the school-house.
Not bad horse, he said to himself,
though little skittish at moments.
He wished there were "A bridge this
side of the railroad trestle-work, so
that he need not cross the track in
town and recross mile beyond the
river. However, he enjoyed the crisp
air and the pure, delicious moon-rise.
The lights of the town twinklcd family
! behind him; the distance widcncd. He
was soon out on the open road beyond
the river. He had reached the railroad
and was sweeping swiftly onward, when
the horse SHE'D at an empty freight
car upon siding, and, breaking from
control, dashed into II snowbank. But
the booIish little cutter did not over
turn and, Robert, clutching tightly the
rcins, brought the animal, after a
moment, into moderate pace. They
went on so, and slackened 10y and by
at the school house, where in the little
porch stood waiting Il graceful form,
warm wrapped in a long seal cloak,
with n wide bonnet framing her
bcauteous face.
He sprang to the ground with one
glad cry, one word-more he could not
utter
"Clarice!'
Il knew You would come" she said,
in voice that thrilled him through
and through.
He tied the horse and stepped within
the shadow of the porch.
1T was so good of you," he said, so
unspeakably good. 1 cannot thank you
! enough.
1T was you who were good" she an
swered gently, "to come as YOU have
done"
81 was glad to come, more glad than
L can tell, to find that YOU were my
friend; that though all else were
changed, You were still the same
II want you to believe that" she put
in, eagerly.
II do, do" His voice trembled. In
all my toll, my disheartening luck, my
failures, l have thought of you as true,
steadfast. 1t has helped me-"
Tears glistened in her eyes. Il am
glad if have been of any little help"
she said, softly, cor comfort. And that
is what wanted to say to you tonight
-to-night-Christmas eve it is, you
know; that 1 longed to help you in
word or deed, or both. That / should