The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-02
saw nv Grandfather Harring.


'sYes," said the old lady-''yes!
me and you, child. y
SO Aileen put away the pretty, lit
tie blue merino gown that she had re-
trimmed for New Years Day, and
donned instead the brown Merrimac
calico that made herlook ike a robin
redbreast; and Just about the time
that her three cousins were quarreling
for the possession Of the biggest dress
ing-glass, to do their hair, she and
her grandmother were adjusting the
ancient spinning-Wheel in the stone
barn chamber, and piling wood in the
cavernOus recess OF the huge fireplace.
They had a very pleasant New
Years day, after all, though the tears
came to Aileen's blue eyes once or
twice, when the carriages rolled by
over the hard-frozen road toward the
house.
And at dusk she lighted the cheerful
candles, and sat down to prepare
grandma's supper, with fresh corn
cakes, baked in hot embers, according
to the recipe OF Aunt Felicia, the col
ored cook, fragrant coffee, and sweet
But Capt. Dulany, riding his Morgan
horse, Hotspur, through the pine
woods, drew rein close by the old
stone barn, wherce he had not seen
the red lights cleaning out for ten
years.
''What can it be?" he asked him
self. eve children used to play at
ghosts up there OF an autumn evening,
when the Vladimir family lived there.
Or perhaps the careless servants have
set something on fire"
He Jumped off his horse, flung the
reins over q projecting pine bOugh,
and went in tOs what the meaning OF
this unwOnted illumination might be.
The door stood wide open-the
whole room was aglow with a warm,
rudy light. Grandma, enthrOned in
a big splint chair before the blaze, was
drinking her coffee, and Aileen sat
spinning at the old wheel, with cheeks
softly REDEEMED and blue eyes spark
ling--a very picture. OF health and
beauty.
Both started at the sudden appari-
ton of the captain on the threshold.
IL beg your pardon" said Capt.
Dulany, lifting his hat. Il saw the
light shining out, and | was afraid
that something had happened"
"Something has happened" said
Aileen laughing. Il have learned to
spin. And Grandma and | are hav-
ing a picnic VIII you come in, Capt.
DuIany ?"
well, since your coffee smells so
good, Think | will, said the gallant
young officer.
His cup-whlch for lack OF more
expensive china happened to be a mug
was scarcely poured out, before
their numbers were augmented by
Mr.. Ferrars and young DR.. Fenchurd,
who had seen the lights, and had also
observed "Hotspur" fastened to the
fence.
''May we venture to intruder" said
they, peeping in over the stair,raiI.
ooh, certainly" said grandma,
smiling.
And Aileen distributed handleless
cups and beautiful slices OF golden
brown corn cake, yet steaming from
the fire, to her guests.
eve are hardly prepared to enter
tain so large a company" said she,
cOmpOsediy; "but we can, at all events,
give you q sincere welcome"
Two-three- a dozen more
dropped IN. Old POmp was sum-
moned to pour fresh pine cones on
the blaze and bring more coffee and
cOrncake.
He grinned from ear to ear.
"POw'fu' ike de good old times"
said he, to Aunt Felicia, when he re-
turned to his cabin. ode berry cream
oh de gentry enioyin' de cornpones an
COtfeelike dey was our own old marse's
folks Amt muffin like cornpone for
rale good flavor, dat dey amt. An
Dc young lady from de Norf, she's as
pretty as a peach. Reckon de capting
tinks so too. He, he, heW
And old Pomp shook his lean sides
with an inaudible Chuckle Of glee.
Later IN the evening the gentlemen
went up to the house, where stood the
three Misses Harrington in a simpering
row.
But their call there was like water
after wine, and several OF them re-
turned to the "Stone Barn" to finish
their evening.
Adrian Dulany remained the latest
OF also late, IN fact, that it was he
who escorted grandma-WhO had dis
creetly fallen asleep in her big chair
some time agO-and Aileen to the
house, under whispering pine boughs,
by the light OF big, round moon.
The three cousins, whose list OF calls
had long since ended, were yawning in
the parlOr beside the great seed cake
and the decanters OF wine.
Dear me - cried Selma, as the lit
tie group came in. where have you
been all day, Aileen?"
"ln the old stone barn chamber,
learning to spin" said Aieen, laugh
ing and cOlOring
Juanita looked sharply at her.
What change had subtly crept over
her voice and manner? Then she
looked at Capt. Adrian bright face.
'Take good care Of her" said the
young officer, tenderIy removing the
heavy shawl from Aileen's shoulders.
she has promised to be my wife be
! fore great many weeks"
| 1t was not until Dulany had gone
| that the full caunonade OF questions
/ burst upon AIieen's devoted head.
Girls, girls, don't ali speak at
once" said the grandma. its Just
exactly as I've always told you
! The right one will be sure to come
/ along II you sit in the chimney corner
and wait. And that was lust what
Aileen was doing this evening"
And that night, when the frost
white stars OF midnight climbed the
! sky, Aileen whispered:
"GOod-by. sweet New Years Day
the happieSt | have ever known"
\ Tramp's New Trick.