The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-12-08

H-AAAAtu CitdI "A lOSS the
kitchen. And she had stood inst .baro
IA 'front.' OF 1t, she and Caleb Pike, quar-
reiing rldIculously, all about village
drug clerk Caleb was jealous of. for
"hom Cllndy really cared not a straw
ana VINO had married some one else long
ago. But 1t had all been sufficient tie
make Cilndy return Caleb's betrothal
ring, abruptly and rudely, and to make
hlm cast 1t angrily into the ashes. after
winch he had departed, and never re-
tured. de was coming at last. and
CilndY dreaded the meeting.
rs more'n likely he has found some
one else to love, as Seliny saws" she
sighed; land am most an old maid y
que sighed again, as she began taking
up the ashes-they seemed 80 like the
ashes OF dead hopes to her. She dropped
I one shovel suddenly, with quick breath.
1here was the ring II little band of gold
nesting In the ridge of cold gray ashes.
one took 1t out, tenderly brushing away
the powdery white ashes that chung to it.
ana slipped 1t on her finger; it was q
| painfully sweet comfort.
| Dolly's rose leaf face appeared at the
kitchen door.
| :" Clndy," she said, coaxingIy. "you
don't want To go to church to.morrow
do YOU %
Clndy looked down at her Newport
ornamented with great darn across the
top.
81 couldn't go if 1 did want to, she
answ red
;, NV nice, said Dolly, with frank
self less; u do SO like to have din
ner reSdy when | come home from
chu and the rest never'n stay home.
Tree cousin Caleb'll lie with Us, too.
II lie { come tonight. / wrote to
nm Didn't come till Thursday to
COM It 10 church from the train, I
wan, ann to see me in my new white
plush hat and velvet cloak. | know
he'll fall IN love right off. Cousin Ca
leb used to like you, when you was
young, didn't he ?"
| =" Good enough, / reckon" said Gin
| dy, starting her fire with a shovel full
| of hot Goals from the cooking stove.
g was too little then, or it would
have been me, said Dolly, placidly,
tasting a spoonful of ounce preserves;
: L amt bit vain, but 1 don't freckle
like you used to, Cindy"
| They were all off at last, and quiet
relgned iu the big farm house. CIndy
| had watched the deep red wagon as it
| Jolted up the lane, until even Dolly's
| conspicuous white hat and training
| plume had melted into the soft. blue.
gray atmosphere; she had brushed and
| busted toe sitting groom, and heaped
| fresh-sceDted oak sticks on the fireplace
until 1t was attractive as cleanliness and
warmth could nake it; and now stood in
| the kitchen, bright with the red fire.
light on the hearth, the tall boxes of
| yellow and purple chrysanthemums in
| the windows, and the substantial ey-
idence of royal Thanksgiving cheer In
| saVory array upon table and cupboard.
There was comfortable sizzling in the
oven, suggestive of browning gravy and
seethiug sage dressing. great pot
hung upon the hook IN the fireplace,
radllng with gentle, steaming lullaby
the gem and prince of plum buildings,
ud various covered pans and skillets
reposed amidst the ruddy Goals in cor
iers of the fireplace, musical with
| low bubbling as OF fruit Juice simmer
ing down to sugary syrup IN the hearts
IF rich crusted cobblers and shortcakes.
Cndy stood for a few minutes, idly,
beside the fireplace, gazing down at
little cluster of blue and yellow fame
-hafts, twisting together with serpent
ike grace. But her thoughts were SUD
| denly disturbed 1t was hardly time
for the folks to return from church, vet
here was a sound of footsteps ringing
along the hard path leading to the kltch-
| en-. There WAS a hasty knock, followed
oy an impatient twisting of the door
| knob, and then tall form, In rough,
black coat, plunged into the kitchen,
and before Cindy knew where she was
she found both her hands being enerpet-
i"ally shaken, and Caleb Pyke smiling
Town at her startled face with twinkling
brown eyes.
=" jest thought I'd find you here, he
declared, Ia loud, brisk, CHEEKY voice,
land [ shot right over-let them freight
fellers apanllrg my baggage around
IKE smoke-di, MT keer fer anything
.o's / got to see you, Clndy. I've
wanted to cone ever since | heard you
wasn't marrird To that quinine Teller, an
cever got to TIL now, cause. you see, |
wouldn't come no better off'n when
eft. I've be worried terrible, too, for
ear you wonldn't make up when I did
..Jme, But you've got the ripg-I seen
that first thing when / came in. An
QUILL keep 1t, won't you, honey. You
won't pitch 1t at me like you did that
Ine?"
No, sa d Clndy, 81 recon you'd shy
III The fire eff l did, an there amt no
Sc wastiu' good ring, as l see. But,
Gtleh, kin you really an truly love me
1t? I'm olden than what [ used to
|
Au' heap better lookin," respond
i Caleb, "you used to hev freckles,
.ud yer hlr was kinder red. It's or
ourn now, an you're as pretty as red
apple. You was always pretty enough
'er me, but ef | loved you then, love
sou twenty times better now"
They stood there upon the hearth,
Just as they had stood that night so long
ago, IN the mellow freight. Yet how
different it seemed now.
Cindy," said Caleb, with solem,
one IN his hearty voice, "we've AWAY
lot heap 10 be thankful for-moreI.
we've got gratitude enough to pay for
half the time, Ireckon. | feel like Ptc
always III debt to the Lord; but this
time I'm deeper in than common. I've
got you extry."
Better be extry thankful then, ef
sou thiuk I'm worth it." said Cindy,
siGh low laugh. "Pm shore I'm ~
thankful rs L kin be. There now, you've
made me forget tHat red raspberry shor,
.ake; 'twould have scorched in another
| minute"
Reckon 'twouldn't hev spilled our
| Chanksglvin' eff it had, answered Caleb.
!
1
Heroic sacrifices.
From the st. James Gazette
MmIle. Dudley, of the Theatre Fran
| cas- mnak love her art nnnsiAnra Ill u LOT