The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-20
THE RED LIGHT.

But Is was Christmas eve, all the same,
and Bertha Hooper's cheek were as red as
the bitter-sweet berries in the woods as she
sat, all wrapped up, in tie train that was
steaming northward, on her way to spend
Christmas with her Aunt AlmiTa Higgins.
Christmas in the country To Bertha,
who had lived all her life in the brick walls
and stone pavements OF a city, the very
worGs seemed to convey somewhat OF cheer
and Joy business And Bertha, as she sat
with her eyes closed, and her little gloyed
hands safely nestled into q gray squirrel
muh, beheld in her minds eye great fires of
iogs roaring up wide-throsted chimneys
walls fsstooned with hemlook bough aud
black green tufts o: nistietoe; and she had
at composed O poem on Christmas and Its
cherished associations when the ruthless
conductor came along for her ticket.
How FAR sre we from Mountcourt Sta
tion2' she inquired ss she gave up the bit OF
Iaste-board.
Next nut one, Miss" said the man, as he
hurried on with bis lantern under his arm,
Hall an hour yet"
She bad never been go far from New York
IL all her life before. The driving rain
in which she had left her home had changed
as they progressed n0rthwsrd into the steady
fall Of snow, which fiuttered around them
ike a white waving shr0uc. Bot Bertha
Hooper cared little for this. Had not Aunt
AlmiTa promised to send Zsbedee, eher
youngest son, 20 the station with the pony 70
meet her on the arrival of the $40 traiu
from New York; And /ebedee TO have
isnteIn with red glass door TO it, 80 81
uld identity him at once2 She was very
pretty as she sat in her little black velvet
ioqDe. with ito curling plume of cardinal red
sDd the viuered ribbon bow at her throat
pretty with the bloom aud freshness OF
eighteen. She was dark, with large hazel
eyes, almond.shsped long-lashed, a clear
rosy bloom on either cheek. and wavy dark
hair hanging in silken fringe ever her broad,
low forehead.
''Mont-court-stationl :" bswTed the brake
man, putting in powdered fur cap,
and Withdrawing 1t again IS quickly as If ne
had been a magnihed edition OF the Jack in
the-bOx which children much rejoice &C IN
holiday time. And Bertha Hooper knew
that che had reached her destination. Stiff
and cramped from the length OF time in
which she had been sitting IL one position,
she rose up, with little steel css ped travel
ing rag IN one hand and dainty silk
umb Ella in the other. and made her way to
the 1ooT.
All she could see when she stepped out
upon the wet and slippery platform was a
blur OF driving snow, through which the
lights of the solitary little country depot
cleaned htfully; bat the next instant some
t-lnS U-sDcu dtuWtIt utr NtaiO1 lkeG Irte0Q-
ly red eye. and beneath the reflector over the
station cOor she ERW a tall, fneloOking
Young man IL 3 ur-trimmed OYercOat, q
'eslskin cap sat iauntily on one side of
crop OF chestnut cuTls, and red lighted ian
tern swinging from bis left hand as be stood
sIrsiniDg his eyes into the stormy darkness,
IS il TO catch sight OF some familiar face in
The little crowd.
Cousin Zebedeer cried Bertha, aloud,
snd she made q spring into The arms OF this
blonde whiskered young giant For had not
Ehe and Iebedee PLAYED dominoes and fox
and geeie together in the days when she
wore blUe-rbbon tasbes, and his hair was
closely -shoIn mat OF carrOty red? Oh.
Cousin Zsbe0ee. L N so glad 10 see you; and
hadn'i any idea you had grown so hand
some"
And she gave him great hug, at the
sene time holding up her rosebud lips for a
kiss
But to Der infinite amazement the hero
OF the seelskin cap seemed a little back
ward in responding to her cousiDly advances.
IL beg your pardon" said he, slightly
Teceding," "bG: Pm afraid there is some
mistake. Ny name is not Zsbedee. and the
lady for whom / am looking Is some years
older than you"
Bertha Hooper started back, coloring and
confused, and as she did so a fat, comfort
the platform In an India shawl and q boa
of Russian sable worth its weight in green
backs.
Charley she cried, ''I thought neye /.
-should find you. Is the carriage here9'
All here and waiting, Aunt Effie," re.
sponced the young man; but he still hest
;sted second as Bertha Hooper stood, with
.ayeTted face and motionless figure, in the
shadow of the building.
Can / be of any service to you2' he asked.
IF you are expecting friends who failed to
meet you"
uArrhodv hero nv tic mama NJ Ra-tba
HcoIer?" shouted q stentorian voice, and q
tall raw looking lad with q l8ntern-als so
lighted with red glass--rushed shufiiing
around the corner.
Zebedee HIMSELF Zsbedee ed-haired and
shambiing and awkward as he had been In
the old fox and geese days.
"Ohr' said he, catching M his lantern sc
that the scarlet birds wing flashed out like g
spit of fame-scarcely more scarlet, alas
than BeTtha's own face, Here you be. I'm
a little late, for the roads is al red bad, and
/ couldn't start the pony out OF walk.
Come on. How ee do? Be You very cold2'
"Iebedee." said Bertha, cinging almost
hysieTicslly to her cousins arm, ''whoss tha'
young gentlemen with-with the other Ian
tsTn?"
En-" said Zsbedee THAT ffller with th,
old lsdy n patch work shawl
Yes
us Charley Hsrcourt. TIE Squirs's sou,
said Zebsdee. Just come from furrir
parts"
"Zebs dee" sid Bertha, with a curious lit
tie SOUL between a laugh and sob, 'pu
me into the cutter. quick, and drive nj
somewhere. don't care where BE
.csUse-'
.'Eb." said Zebedee. s'arug hard eft hi
cousin, as he packed TIA bofalo robe behin'
Ter heioIs touching Do the iaggard old pony
''Recsuse," added Berths ia species o
desperation. Il took &r Hagcourt for you
and hUfged him, aud kisss bin "
Is ,hst oil? said philosophical ZsbedeC
8 Be won care"
Nc. A" said Bertha, hut shslIl'
"You sin't crying, be y01?' said Is0edeC
noting the culver in his cousins voice