The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-01

~ don't believe they'll come tonight"
said Joe when dark began TO fall.
Wont they, Chhly|
oh, Cbarly, wont emf"
DO YOU s'pose a wolf chased lbther an
mother asked ice, with dismal qaiver,
bietking in upon the narrative OF the Tiny
"A wolf couldn't catch our Dolly" said
Dean, quickly. She's too smart--and Big"
Charly laughed. For the world she wonl
not have acknowledged that such posi-.
bility had occurred 10 her own mind.
Its the storm that keeps them" she
SAID, cheerily. ITS dreadful storm, You
know They'll be here tomorrow Il know
they will.n
Bat tomorrow came aud went--a long
dreary, freezing day, and the fifth morning
dnwned How bitterly cold IL was; and how
tho wind whstled through and through the
house The storm had ceased but Of this
the children could not be sure, since the
windows were banked high With snow, aud
wien ice tried TO open the outer door n
white wall repealed him. Their store of pro-
visions. too, WIS nearly exhausted, and that
seemed worse than all the rest, until Joe
came In from tho entry with his arms full Of
wood and his eyes full OF tears.
That's every bit there 49," ne quayered.
"Oh, Cbarly, Why don't father Gomez
He will, cad Charly, with a brave,
Now, Well be real saving OF this wood aud
only put on one stick AZ time
on, how cold the room grew l--colder and
co der while time dragged On, and those
lest sticks we're burning slowly away. They
ate their last bits OF bread then, and %.
cause Chsrly said che could not eat, there
wae very little more for Emmy and Dean
and Joe.
But Joe, though he looked wistfully AT the
frozen m0isels, wss struck with a sudden
| recollection. You didn't eat any break fast,
| Charly, nor any last night, because 9lT
head aohed. Amt you hungry"
Never mind" said Charly, cheerily. III
ca enough when they come home"
The bread disappeared then TO the last
cIumb
nm swiully hungry yet" said Joe.
$50 am ~ echoed Dean, with pitlIul
pucker, and I'm awful Geld"
Charly Rugged Emmy tighter and looked
around.
There were the chairs stout oaken ones.
'Csn't you beak upa chair, Joey2" she
aakpd.
But he couldn't, though he tried manfully
poor little Joe-with tears standing on his
| cheeks.
Never mind" said Charly again And
| then the forlorn little group huddled 10
getl er over the dying fire. How cold II was
and how the wind rocked the old house aud
blew it's freezing breath in through every
chinkl
Pm s'eepy," murmurtd Emmy, drowslly
Cbaily looked at her In sudden terror. Sac
had been iobbiug with cold and hunger, aud
now her baby face looked pinchsd aud hei
hands blue with cold. Bat the golden head
dropped heavily AGAINST chsrly's armand
Emmy never went 90 sleep al this time in
the day. dull red coal winked among
the ashes. Charly saw IL, and slraighten ed
Emmy M with o little shade.
Well have funny FIRE" said che, With
a calch in her voice. Bring the-,he box,
joey"
oh, Charly. no!'
YES, taid Chary. 81 eau make plenty
more. Wake up. Emmy"
Add il q minute Emmy was wide awake
enough 10 see q tiny bright blaze upon the
hearth. They burned the box first, aud then
the pretty carvings one by one. All to1
soon they were gone, aud there only re
Pm Just rs cold, whimpered Dean. "pn
sleepy 100 CharlY."
"Wtll, You shall 20 TO Sleep" said Chsrly
"snd when you wake up know they'll be
here. But we'll have some nice iuh first
Who wants a doughnut?p
"Oh, Charly Grace, You haven't got one ~
"Yes, have" returned Chsrly. with q
triumphant little laugh. i saved these on
OF mine.n She stood Emmy on the hearth
and hobbleu az briskly rs could be across the
floor, placing two chairs, one at each end e
the room. Now you run n race arouA,
those till say It's enough, and I'll give yor
one apiece. Run inst as fact as you can"
At FIRST the children demurred, they were
so crsmped ana tired and drowsy; bat tn,
sight OF three brown, delicious looking oakei
which Charly produced from her pocket
nerved them 10 action. Around and arounC
the chairs they ran. Joe ahead, Emmy II
the rear, breathing out little clouds of stsam
And Chsriy laughed and ciapped her hand
and chtered them on, until at last they stop
ped from sheer fatigue, pufiiDg like three
small locomotives, and with their pulse
beating in lively way.
Charly hobbied over 10 the bed. Get IN
all OF you she said; "then I'll give yof
your cakes know they'll be here wheI
you wake up."
She tucked them in warmly, and then sh
went back 10 her chair. She put the end oil
Der crutchee upon two or three live Goals an,
blew them into tiny blaze. Pretty soon
when she had warmed herself little sh
would creep in beside Emmy. She listene'
the deep, regular breathing from the bed.
They are going to s.eep," she murmured
I've done the best l could--the best
could"
The word echoed eror the walls of the col,
little room, and ianF themselves over an'
over in her brain. How warm the place wa
fiowir &, and how how dark She though
with Emmy and Dean and joe But she di
not stir.
She sat there still, white little figure
with Tair OF half.burned cTutchss at be
feet. when less than an hour later n ma
with frosty beard and hair forced himsel
through the snow.bsnk at the door. II va
Mr.. Grace. alone, for the etorm had rendsre'
the roads impossible, and he had trampe'
the whole distance from Dunbar Corns
upon snow-shoes. IL was long wearyinl
walk, no doubt, and he bad been about IL go
days Bot when he opened the door OF hi
home he forgot ii all. Ia less than minute
be bad made kindling wood of one OF Cd.
chairs. and in another one or two brisl
hre was roaring on the hearth, and Mr.
Grace, In terrible fear, was rubbing Charlyi
hands and forcing some brandy from th'
little flask he he carried down her throat
She opened her eyes presently and looked NJ
into the kind face above her in bewilderec
way.
Emmy-Dean-Joe-a
All right-all right" yelled Mr.. Grace
nearly beside himself with delight; and ther
he went down upon his knees before Charll
and cried. We're all right, my dear"
And so. indeed. they were. / haven
space TO tell YOU all that happened wha
Mrs. Grace said aud did when she came,
lew days later, With the welcome news tina
gIandmsmma was better, and heard wha
MI. Grace had ali eady heard from Joe sns
| - h. rrrA AL.