St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-28

Gray: "What strange girl that was
who came over from the station with
me. I felt positively afraid of her."
Eyes. Annie is queer" answered
Mrs. Gray placidly. Though l never
heard tell of anybody being afraid Of
her before. She wouldn't harm fly.
They say she can charm the BIRDS and
sqlrrels so they'll come and talk to her."
Old Llsbeth sat in the shadow near
the fireplace and grieved for her favor
lite. She said nothing, for after all it
was not Lucia's fault that this child of
nature should lavish the treasures Of
her heart on the first man who happened
to speak kindly to her.
Annie disappeared that night and
Llsbeth could only guess that she had
fled to some Of her haunts in the woods.
Christmas eve Was another stormy
day. Outside the snow fell fast all day.
Inside the old hotel all was confusion
and hustle of preparation for the APP
preaching wedding. Herbert was ex-
pected that afternoon. ana Lucia
watched impatiently for the first
glimpse of him. Late in the afternoon
the wind began to blow and the cold
grew more intense every moment.
Herbert arrived at dusk. There stood
ms promised bride, Lucia, waiting to
welcome him. What happy contrast
10 his coming year ago. That even
ing Herbert brought his violin. He
and Lucia were alone in the old parlor,
which had been fitted up for the we'd
ding ceremony, Lucia sang, and man
might well be pardoned for forgetting
all else while listening TO that voice.
Neither noticed face at the uncur-
tanned window. 1t is doubtful if Her
bert would have recognized the haggard
face had he seen it.
When Lucia on the evening of her ar
rival said to Annie the words that
crushed all hope out of her heart, she
had hardly strength to conquer the i'm
pulse to turn and Strangle the sweet
singer. Lucia had good cause to fear
the desperate woman beside her. There
was no mistake about the news. After
leaving Lucia at the door Annie flew to
the woods to hide her sorrow among her
dumb friends. Her simple. untutored
nature had gone out in love for Herbert
with a force that could hardly be meas
ured by conventional standards. For
days she Toamed the woods, feeling
neither cold nor hungry, only that dull
pam at her heart that seemed 10 be
slowly eating her life out. She could
not have told the impulse that led her
back to the house on Christmas eve.
There was only dim feeling that the
pain might go if she could SEE her Her.
bert once more. The days of exposure
and mental suffering had robbed her of
her beauty. Her face looked pinched
and prematurely old as she stood like
gaunt Specter outside the window.
Finally Herbert began the carol he
had played for her last Christmas. The
plaintive chords seemed to give voice to
the anguish of her heart; the soft strain
like the song of birds brought back the
memories of the happy day when he
gave her the golden heart. 1t was still
about her neck. She sank down in the
snow, one hand tightly grasping the
little token. The pain had all gone.
The wind heaped the snow around her
like warm. fleecy covering. Dimly, as,
from afar off, coming the joyous clos
Ing strain. All was warmth and light
about her. A merry Christmas had
come after all the sorrow.
All night long the wind heaped the
snow around the still form like white
sbrOud. Annie had no need now of an
earthly Christmas.
On Christmas morning the sun shone
brightly on the wedding party. Mrs.
Gray kissed Lucia goodbye, and wished
them happy life. Only old Lisbeth
erieved, and was sure some harm had
happened her Annie.
mat evening LlSoetn fOund her be-
meath the drifts. her band still claSping
the golden heart, and smile of joy on
her wasted face. The village people
wondered at the strange accident, and
only Lisbeth guessed the sad story that
the cold lips had never told.
The people of Grove city are still
waiting for another boom to come. The
hotel is deserted, for Mrs. Gray went
East to live with Lucia and Herbert.
Old Lisbeth still fingers about, and the
villagers say that every Christmas Eve
light shines from the parlor window.
There are sounds of music and a shad-
Owy figure gides from the woods and
stands at the window motionless until
wished Merry Christmas.
EVA GAY.