Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-20

entered and blessed with abundance.
She realized what home it had been
and what had been Miss Channing's
goodness through all these years. A
goodness not to be set aside or forgot
ten through any cause on earth. Come
what might, she would be grateful and
honest.
But first she must see him. Come
tomorrow! Come tomorrow, quickly,
when she should see him-on Christ
mas eve!
But how to meet him? She had
not thought of this. The visitors were
expected in the morning. Robert
would not suffer from any embarrassing
encounter unless Uncle Rowland
should chance to arrive also by the
same train-that of early evening. She
hoped the old gentleman would come
as heretofore-on Christmas day She
had no great love for Uncle Rowland.
His fierce little eyes would ferret
Robert out; his sharp, sarcastic tongue
make note of it to all the visitors. He
might even point his remarks to bring
confusion upon her. She did not fancy
he liked her well.
After another restless night, dawned
another day of dazzling sunshine. The
carriage, sent down to meet the guests,
returned with a merry crowd of six,
one OF the gentlemen riding outside
Clarice was sincere in her welcome OF
dainty-blonde Myra, and rosy-cheeked
Nettie and Nell, fresh from the life and
light of the great city She had
pleasant words and cordial for the
young men. Lunch was waiting with
all they liked best. There was good
skating on the river, and sleigh-rides in
prospect. There was new billiard
table to be tried, In the evening there
would be singing and dancing, and so
she thought, said Clariee, they might
manage little sport.
"We miss Elmer" said Myra, slipping
her coffee with dainty grace.
And Bob Mcclure, put in Charley
Fielding.
Isn't Bob coming?" asked DIR.
Keene, glancing up from his salad
NO." said Miss Charming, serenely,
Il have not asked him."
In the interval of silence, Myra
glanced furtively at Clarice, but the
girls face was utterly placid, even
smiling without a flush or culver.
Il was mistaken" thought Myra.
"She does not care for him."
Clarice was thinking very hard
thinking how she could manage to see
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, il
she walked miles to do so. An hour later
she had written note and dispatched
it to Cattling by the stable-boy, for
whom she arranged other errands.
After that she found herself joyous al
heart and keen as the others for skat-
ing on the river.
At dusk the train from the city came
laundering into Cattling, and a young
man alighted, passing quickly through
the station and crossing the road to the
depot hotel
Having engaged room, with fire,
he discovered letter awaiting him.
1t was from Clarice and contained but
a few words. He took it up into his
room and there sat reading by the cyl
inder stove. God bless her," he said,
as he reached the signature, "she must
care little"
And what had Clarice written?
want to see you so much; but the com.
pany has arrived, and / scarcely know what
to do. Clearly, | cannot come to town tc.
night, nor do l know how long you can re-
main, You remember the little school-house
half mile below my house? Could you
drive out there at $50? | will run down and
wait in the porch.
1t did not seem to her she had written
boldly, unwomanly. She felt so limo
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 herl" 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
tho crimson rose, her favorite bios
som? The luscious crimson rose that
he had always treasured, even when il
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 O
horse and clumsy cutter, in which tc
drive to the school-house.
Not bad horse, he said to himself,
though little skittish at moments.
He wished there were bridge this
side of the railroad trestle-work, sc
that he need not cross the track in
town and recross mile beyond the
river. However, he enjoyed the crisI
air and the pure, delicious moon-rise
The lights of the town twinkled family
behind him; the distance widened. He
was soon out ON the open road beyond
the river. He had reached the railroad
and was sweeping swiftly onward, wher
the horse SHE'D at an empty freight
car upon a siding, and, breaking from
control, dashed into a snow-bank. But
the boorish little cutter did not over
turn, and, Robert, clutching tightly the
reins, brought the animal, after {
moment, into moderate pace. They
went on so, and slackened by and by
at the school house, where in the little
, | ,,oroh stood xvaittnry a frraoaF-,1 town,