The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-12-27
BATTLE WITH A BLIZZARD,


800
toned New England farm houaeI Grace
0orden and Walter Arnold, The FIRST
apple blossoms were falling like snow
flakes In the orchard and the yellow
daiiodils and the star eyed narciasuses
we're thmating up their pretty heads
from tho prim borders OF tho walk,
reaching from the gate TO tho house.
They seemed alert with life and hope,
the eager couple, ~ they ohatted low,
with their heads close together and
their hands almost touching, US George
leaned ON the gate and Grace placed
her plump pretty fingers on the top
most bar,
The daifodila aud narciaauaea seemed
10 nod approval, an the light gust Of
wind luttered their alender stalks the
apple blossoms, with their delicate
scents breathed the very spirit OF youth
ful passion; Graee's mother was away
from home and not q creature was In
sight, save Walters long'eafed setter,
who was barking al the chickons no had
chased into the she'd love was ardent
aud life was young,
Z What wonder then, that Walter ere
no said good bye, should place a kiss
square on Grace 4 rosy lips, which made
nor crimson checks glow like twin pop
pies and her eyes radiant as stars be-
meath her heavy laah0s,
"Good bye, Grace, | am sorry 10 leave
you before your mother comes home,
hut | must DO back 10 the store before
Ave o'clock, 10 let the clerk 80 to sup
per"
oGood bye, walter" cried Grace,
turning 10 throw aim q kiss, ~ she ran
up the walk and disappeared behind
the lattice work OF the porch,
Walter fastened 10 tho village and
was soon NJ his place Of business, deal
ing out camphOr aud Qulnlno behind
the drug store counter, whore Cor q few
short months, since the death OF his
father. no had been sole proprietor.
lilo was u tall, handsome young fol
low, broad shouldered and bluo'eyed,
with a sturdy torso, squarely planted on
apair Of strong, shapely limbs, a blithe
nature and u digestion that waited on
appetite. Ills mother had died when he
was a child Of four, and his father, who
never married again, had been father
aud mother In one, until his death, 90
has been recorded.
James Arnold was q man OF wealth,
possessed OF u tender and generous ma
ture and had layished every ear upon
his only and beloved child. lie was
given every advantage of education and
travel and an unlimited command Of
money, that would have spoiled a loss
sturdy nature
But Walter was simplicity itself and
understanding his fathers strange
clinging TO the quiet country life, In
which no had been born and bred,
Walter returned from his European
trip, following q fow well spent college
years, content 10 settle down In the
plain fraternal homo and adopt the
calling that his father had followed, 40
well as his grandfather and great grand
father before him.
But there was one shadow between
father and son, aud that had promi0ed
10 bo Il formidable one. This was no
less than u plainly expressed desire on
Mr.. Arnolds part that Waiter should
marry the daughter Of an early friend
OF both father aud mother, Mary Ban
croft. TO further this end, Mary had
been invited with her mother 10 visit
the house, and both were guests In II
when james Arnold, with scarce n
warning 10 his friends, passed sudden.
ly away OF heart disease, II morning
shortly after their arrival, Since then
their visits had been frequent, 40 they
lived but ten miles away,
Grace Gordon wal attending q girls
seminary NJ a nelghboring town when
Walter returned 20 tho village after
his long absence, but on her FIRST yaoa-
ton he had seen and spoken 10 her
nee or twice, so that his objection to
his fathers arrangement was some
thing more than n young mans natural
antipathy TO u wife Of somebody else's
choodug. The truth Is, Walter loved
Grace from tho FIRST sight Of her, and
ne never ceased TO forget tho tingling
sensation that shot through him, like
an electric current, the lrst time she
looked ut him from those great brown
eyes Of hers,
Wen, the old gentleman was gone
and Walter was his own master and IL
did not take him long TO seek out
Grace and tell her In that frank, manly
way Of his, thath he loved her aud could
not, and more than that, would not do
without her.
SO stood matters whom our story
opens, and as we have seen, Walter did
not pay court TO m unwilling queen,
The wedding day was fixed, which was
TO be In early autumn, and Grace was
already deep In preparations for the
glad event.
Such yards aud yards Of laCes and
embroidery rs she was making up into
The most snowy and delectable gar.
ments. Such tucking and pleatlng and
braidlng and embroidering as was go.
ing on. Not only Grace bat all her
friends were plying busy fingers, for
the wedding waste BIO n notable event
In the social annals Of the village.
Aud the wedding dress was TO be Of
Grace's W making; n perfect dream
of lace and pulls and hem stitching.
For II was 10 be- q home wedding, In
Che morning, IN the old fashioned par-
-. Ia. 49,. - .l.....aN. ...l l.Iln