The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-05


 knowd Ye had % many geatlemen tends we might thought ye didn't sand in no pEessin' need of us a com in,."
 'eentlemen friends, as you phrase il, :" .s,d the widow quietly.
 . Well, we met three men here in the Bsmis road, anyway. said Mrs Gro sfut @iNf thay hadn't been to call on you l dunno where thay could have been, there haint no other house on this road | l known on"
 Did these gentlemen recognize you, ladies ?" asked Mrs R)sebuSh.
 sWe hid-re hel" giggled Miriam.
 Mrs. Rosebush smiled again, as her eyes me. those of Miriam, and she rose and asked Mrs. Toles if sne should re- heve her of the basket.
 "'Taint likely lugged it up here this time O night just tor the fun of lu. gin' il hack again, said Mrs Toles
 So the widow took the basket into the pantry, and quickly placing its contents beside the row of baskets left by the three deacons returned to her honibl, uogracious benefActors, who had all risen and were evidently in haste to be gone.
 Accept my sincere thanks, ladies. !" said Mrs Rosebush. "I have very few friends, and your kindness is indeed un- expected"
 The elder ladies stood grimly erect, but Mriam's emotional eyes filled in an in stant at these words, and she put out her pudgy bare hand with its visibly neg lected 6ager nails and sii, o, Mus Rosebush, I'm sure every one who knows you must like you"
 The little widow took Miriam's hand in hers and gave it an affection ate :que. [. as she sa,d, Thank you tor your good opin ion Miss Pyncheon-bus have already learned that one must be very good in- deed to have the approval of all the world"
 Miriam was quite overcome at this, and her htle eyes swam in tears, and she blushed brick red as she thought of the many ill-natured things she had said ot Mrs. Rosebush her bosom heaved tu multuously, and she gave ut.erance to a convulsive giggle, which made the widow smile again as she gave Miriam's warm but dingy hand another pressure and re- leased it, and bade her lady callers good night.
 Whe the door was closed the widow sat down again in the little arm. chair by the stove, and fell into reveris more sad than pleasing, if one might judge from the droop of the corners of her dear little mouth, an the half up,urned hands that lay idly before her. She sat long time thus, then she picked up the guitar, and touched the strings carlessly for a moment, and fell into a reverie again which lasted until the clock struck eleven
 The the widow rose, put fresh coal in the stove, raised the curtai of the fror window halt way, and drew the table close to the wall beneath, and placed the lamp on it, so the light streamed along the front walk; then she leaned against the casing and looked out into the night As she stood there snoN fl .kes began to tall through the bars of light cast by the lamp, and in few moments the ground was white with them. "Ah, how easy i, is to make all this stony hillside far and white and pure" she said half aloud, "and how hard 1t is to clear away or cover up one stain OF lie one suspi. oon born of a chance word of idle gossipl"
 The widow stood long time at the window, watching the large soft flakes as they dallied through the air and sank gently to rest upon the earth. Then she returned to her favorite chair, and sat down, waiting now and glaA cing often at the clock whose hands approached the twelve. Presently tbe long whistle Of ,he midniRh' train sounded over R ,ckhamp- ton, mt fl ed by tho falling snow, and at this the widow resumed her post at the window; she could see but a few yards from her door, yet there she sto od and tched-unw,lllDg to miss by the small space of six paces time the moment of arrival for which she lopged.
 Her reward came at last. Two figures white as m owing snow mounds, came in- to the light with a suddenness that startled her. She flew to the door, threw it open wide, and flung herself on the snow-covered breast of the taller of the i've new corners, and said: Both 2: you both of youl Thank Heaven it is all nght at lasti"
 The individual thus warmly received did not return the embrace, but he kissed the widows cheek, while his arms hung limp at his sides, and the melting sno~ ID his mustache made tears on Mrs kosebush's face and he said, "Yes darling All right now Was not that the coldest, dampest kiss? ?-I do not dare to put my arms around you-you would be vet through"
 Then Mrs Rosebush laid fervent hands on her other visitor, saying, "Oh. hos glad, glad am to have you again I- Are you hungry as bears, both of you ? I've we'll stocked larder assure you she continued "Oh, there have been such comical calls made here at this house tonight How you will be amused when l tell you all that has passed
 Thanksgiving morning broke clear aud cold over the white expanse of sno~- Covered Rockh ampton. The roads were dotted even full, and the snow was a.- most DID to the XindoH sills of the lo4