The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-12-20
ROSE BELLS CHRISTMAS.

ROSE BELLS CHRISTMAS.
Daintypace hangings, rivalingthe FROST
work that would be on the window bv
morning, framed in the fair face Of a
girl, who stood tapping drearily on the
window pane and looking at the storm
and the people hurrying by outside.
Her face was clouded, and her gray ewes
had growna shade darker with trouble,
There was snow everywhere-under
foot, overhead and all around, hurryine
and scurrying into peoples faces and
lodging in the folds of every garment.
The traditional old woman must have
been plucking an extra quantity. of
geese-for the 1eathery flakes were t1y-
ing hither and tither, hiding all the
ugliness of tue street under their dainty
coverings: making beds of down Of the
freshly raked piles of dirt still on the
street; Speeding snowy sheet over
sidewalk and giving ermine.like edges
to door-frames and window lodges;
pattering softly against the glass in the
prettiest and most provoking way to the
girl looking through them. It was q
sudden storm, stealing swiftly at the
heels of 1ndian-summer-like weather
that had made every one quote the old
saw: "A green Christmas makes full
graveyard" and no one was ready for it.
With thoughts miles away, the girl stood
looking sadly and dreamingly on, noting
everything, from the old woman bend
ing under load of wood on her back
which she had literally fshed out of
the lake, and which caused the girl. en-
shrined amid comfort and plenty. to
SILVER and whisper, "God pity the poor
this wretched night" The poor old
creature With the burden on her weary
back, and burden in her weary heart
that would never in this life grow bright
or, passed!out of sight. Alportly, warmly
clad business man briskly followed
wrapped in fur coat and gloves, his heart.
perchance colder than the shiverinp
form of the tiny blue veined child that
jostled his footsteps as it was hurryirg
through the binding snow yainly draw.
ing the threadbare shawl closer. Weary
eyed working women, tired business
men, sleek.looking young America, and
naughty danes, hurried along in the
gathering dusk; nilk-men whipped their
horses, glad that the days work was
over, and snow-covered police left the
city to take care of itself and sought the
warmth Ola barroom fire. Night'closed
in, the lamplighter was running about
with his ladder, and presently the lights
began to CLEAN like stars in the dark
ness. 1t was growing colder, bur still
Rose Bell stood looking out on the night,
Presently couple under an umbrella
sauntered slowly along, and as they
passed in the light Of the lamp she saw
the tall form of q man with beard 80 full
OF snow that he looked veritable
Santa Claus bent toward the girl leaning
on his arm, and though the girls face was
merry, and her answer a merry one, Rose
knew that they were lovers, scarce con-
sclous OF the snow or cold, or ofanything
but that they were together, hidden as
1t were by the storm. and ali the nearer
forit. The.sight made Rose draw the chr
tains and sigh as she turned away, shiv-
ering, to the fire throwing herself down
on the rug and burying her face in her
arms.
Out on the lake the storm was fercer
than on the land, and cold, cutting
wind was blowing. The cold water Of
the lake heaved dark and merciless. az
a disabled schooner drifted helpless ,ly
about, every now and then the floating
ice grating against her hull and making
the tainting hearts Of her crew quake
with tear. Every hour the cold became
more intense, and the ice was getting
closer and thicker near the shore. The
crew freezing almost in sight of home.
What dreams of warm firesides, of low
ing, faithful hearts waiting their com.
ing, must have filed the hours of the
dreary night-watch. What a night it
was to cling to rigging as the schooner
became wedged and half sank be-
tween the ice the stiled voices will new.
or tell.
The next morning the snow had
ceased to fall, and the helpless schoon-
er, with it's crew still clinging to the rig
ging, could be seen from land. As soon
as poss; Die q sturdy tug was got under
way and went putting fiercely, but slow
~ cutting its way through the ice. In
tense as was the cold, crowd soon
gathered on the shore. watching with
eager interest. No answering shouts
was heard to the cheerful halioo of the
men en- tug. Everything about the
schooner was still and motionless. What
an age it seemed until the tug steamed
slowly back. Then the crowd rushed
toward 1t, and as suddenly fell back.
while the awful whisper passed from one
to another, tits the Merry Bell. and
every one on board stark dead. frozen
to the rigging" The schooner was only
o charnel house, and the people had
been expanding their sympathy upon
creatures who had been Tor hours be.
yond it. Among the crowd waiting on
the shore Rose Bell had stood
closely yelled. There had been
tears and screams from waiting
wives and mothers, but she turned
quietly away: as one in dream, and,
walking blindly, made her way home.
She rang the bell, said nothing, to the
servant who opened the door, but
passed quickly to her own room, utter.
ing no cry, shedding no tears, and threw
herself into chair before the fire. Mrs.
Bell 80 found her when she came in a
few minutes later, and her own shrek
Tor help failed to rouse her daugLt ter.
Unconsciousness is blessing oftentimes,
and so it proved now.
With the return of consciousness came
memory. "Oh, mamma. the schooner
was the Merry Bell, and all on board
dead frozen! He was to come hone on
it. Oh, what shall do?" The blessed
tears came now, and caused the shrewd
doctor to nod his head wisely and whis-
per to Mrs. Bell: She'll be all right
now" and quietly make his exit, When
In his buggy he confided to it or his
horse: "Humphl A lover at the bottom
tips; young Culbertson, too, l.suppoee;
1 19 Is part owner Of the schooner. Good
way of dying, too; and that pretty Girl!
s wei NV we eo,t Get up, there, Dolly; what
; are y9u aoo''tr Then the good doctor
all about il. ' A"'e''
That morning, soon after breakfast.