The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-19


cabined, and confined much longer"
at is hard on you-my red rover"
observes Ronnie, with smile. glanc-
ing up from the piece of coarse ugly
ticking she is embroidering.
mo aspersions on my ruddy locks, if
you please" says Cissy, putting up her
hand to her hair, which is really charm
ing, and of that very rare color where
brown melts into amber and amber in
to still warmer shade. To-day my
spirits are too low to admit of my tax
ing it amiably. What an irritating
thing snow is! So slow and would-be
meek, yet so determined. And how
brown it makes one look! l feel Just
like Zulu or North American Indian
when 1 compare myself with it,"
Certainly it is not becoming" ad-
mits Ronnie, reiectively, gazing pen
sively at her own dear little face in
mirror near her. 1T puts one out of
conceit with ones self"
at is downright spiteful," says Cecil,
vindictively
yet l think one never thoroughly
appreciates a good fire, until the snow
is on the ground" puts in Mrs. Rivers,
sleepily, at which remark both the girls
laugh in concert.
q never saw the day or hour you
didn't enjoy it." says Cecil, saucily,
WhereupOn her mother laughs too.
Silence follows. Mrs. Rivers dozes.
Ronnie stitches. Cecil commences a
low-spiTited and dismal tattoo upon the
window-pane. To say the least of it,
it is a depressing noise. ROnnie bears
it patiently for many minutes, until in
deed her nerves are quite unstrung, and
then she says, meekly:
4 dare say it is musical, dear, and
that my want of taste is objectionable,
but whenever hear that noise l feel 1
I want . die"
Cissy foregoes he melancholy amuse-
/ ment, and mOurns that even TINS DOOR
! consolation is denied her.
4 really think it is charming" she
/ says presently, with some faint show Of
! animation. at looks ever so much
/ brighter, doesn't it, Ronnie2 After all,
it can't hurt much; so I shall put on my
things, and get even one small scamper
before it grows dark"
My dear child, do not dream of such
a thing," eXclaims Mrs. Rivers, sitting
quite upright this time. and looking dis
maved. at is a terrible day, you will
4 wouldn't be guilty of such thing
for worlds returns Cissy, gayly, "and
besides. I shouldn't dream of interfer-
ing with Ronnie's special role. She
catches cold for all the family"-glanc-
/ ing fondly, even regretfully, at her fra
gile sister, who looks younger than her
self, but ii in reality two years her
senior. "The village is only a mile
away; ! shall walk there, and see what
is TO beseen. and if am showed up be-
yond hope Of return, 1 dare say that fat
little woman AT the inn VIII give me
shelter" e5a
You mean the woman who was so
' kind to us. when one of our horses came
to grief the day of our arrival, the day
before yesterday" asks ROnnie. Mrs.
Stilton, they call her. l never forgot
it; she did look so like a cheese"
Yes. Don't look as if this was to be
our final farewell, mammal" cries Cissy.
with an mrepTessible laugh. "Y GU
haven chance of getting rid of me so
easily. viii return; you know me
wellr But in case I shouldn't"-she
has her hand by this time on the handle
of the door, and is looking back mis-
chjevOusIy at her mOther-"if it be my
lot to be discovered stiff and stark and
frozen in some picturesque hollow, re-
member, l leave my debts to Ronnie
and my kittens to you. Don't let them
starve."
81 wish you would not jest on such
hOTrid subjects" says Mrs. Rivers, in 9
nervous tone that fills Miss Cissy with
delight. and l wish too"
But the door is shut before she car
disclose her second wish, and CiSsy Is
beyond reach of eyes and ears. OF
course she carries the day, and present
ly comes downstairs. and starts for hel
walk half-smothered in furs and witt
the daintiest of little otter-s1in caps up
on her head. The whole costume suits
her to perfection. aud. with light
heart and quick step. she runs up tht
avenue through the feathery snowflake;
that fall all around her, and passes the
entrance gate.
Oh, the joy of being in the open ali
again-howeyer c0ld-after two days
confinement 10 the house. And the rapt
ure of having fresh woods and past
urss new before herl All is still un
known. Such a short time has elapsed
since Mrs. Rivers and her daughter
took possession OF this their new home
and as Yet their present world is an un
explored territory. full. 1t may b., O
delightful possibilities and golden treas
ure.
To-day the spirit of adventure is rift
within Cecil'S breast. She moves brisk
", with buoyant air, up the road; pas
the wall that bounds her own place
past a gate that leads no doubt to SOM
near neighbor's dwelling, and straigh
on until she comes to the open highwa
beyond. Here she comes to stand
still. and pCuders a while. \ broa,
road stretches 10 her right q large com
mon to the left; vet she has been ton
that both viii bring her to the village
and that the common is the shortes
route by a fun mile. Which shall sn
take? After a short but severe strug
gle with prudence she pushes 1t int
the background. and decides on spec
and the common. 1t looks Vast-nay
even vague. but. taking the little vel
beaten path chat les through it, sH
walks on brayely. with her head hel
high and delicious sense Of freedom
light air youth. pervading her Who'll
being. As She goes. and as the Toa
grows dim behind her. she even break
into song ana carols as sweetly as an
bird that flies the air.
So passes a long hour. and then-the
slowly. and without any undue mis-
giving-it occurs to her that the villag
must be further off than she has bee
told Surely it is a good mile that sh
has travelled; and that was the distanc
specified At this time she is nc
frightened; but presently, as the storI
rises. and the snow falls ever faster an
faster, and she finds shehas mcoI
sciously quilted The path, and is wall
ing upon grass. 4 1ittle feeling of nerr
BUSINESS gains upon her. How can 81