Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19

MTI
''0f course rot" said the other Did you
think 1t was? MAJ. Pendsllas lives here"
Miss Weldon and looked at each other in
dismay.
1--WE have made 9 mistake" 1 said. "How
much further on is it to the Deliver placer"
1T isn't farther on at ALL" the woman re-
piled, lit Ia not on this road at all"
1T is too bad" I said. 'They told US at
Boynton it vas . straight road, and We could
no. miss it,
$50 it is, but three miles below here there is
fork that anybody might mistake, especially
at night, with the roads unbroken. But come
In aud get warm, you must be half frozen. I'll
nave q man throw q blanket over the horse"
and with this she showed US into large room
with woodfire blazing on the hearth. She
pushed two chairs before the fire.
Sit down." she said, ''and get little warm
II am not mistaken this is Miss Clara Weldon.
Yes, thought SO. It's been a long time since
l have seen you. am Mrs. Bardsley. 1 keep
house Tor Maj. Pendallas. Excuse me for a
moment"
"Whs, grand thing this FIRE is, said 1, land
Il never saw him in my life," said Miss
weldon, following my example and drawing up
close to the fire, "but have often heard Of
him. He used to be in the army, think, and
now he has q stock farm and has all sorts of
nne horses and cows. / wonder if be would be
willing to send Us over to my uncle's? 1 can't
year 10 tnlnk OF starting out again In tn at
sleigh and with that horse"
was glad she did not include the driver in
her objections and said l hoped that the major
would be able to do something for us. But at
the time did not give much thought to the
subject for my whole soul was occupied in rev.
that was so cold
In about hve minutes the door opened and
tall. broad-shouldered man, wearing a heavy
pea jacket and An unraistakable air Of being
the master OF the house, entered the room.
DE was middle-aged, had side whiskers aud
bright blue eyes We both rose and. with out
stretched hand, he greeted Miss Weldon
Delighted to see you" he said, in a hearty
tone Mrs Bardsley tells me you have lost
your way. but that doesn't matter, I'll make
Then he turned toward me and Miss Weldon
introduced me.
by the hand.
'Yes," replied, "Henry G. Ashmead."
As l spoke he gave me q quick look and
seemed about to say something In reference to
my name, but he checked himself and urged
Us to sit down again.
What you must do now is to get warm, get
warm, he said, and he put two great logs on
the fire.
With few quick questions and without
sitting down he made himself acquainted with
the situation For q moment he gazed down
upon Us and then he said
HE first thing to do, now that you are
little thawed, s to get of your coats and wraps."
THAT is hardly worth WHILE" replied. "for
as soon as we are well warmed we must get on.
In one way or other. to the Deliver house"
Sir, said Maj. Pendalias, there is no DOLL
iver house for you tonight. Here you are. and
mere you stay. It's three miles back to the main
road, and then you have two miles more to 90.
and before you reach the Dolliver house there
Is long hollow and at this present moment the
snow is probably drifted five feet If you had
taken the right road you most likely would
have been in that snow drift now Ihaye sleiobs
and teams enough and no doubt could pull Won
through, but it is blowing now as well as snow
ing and am not going to let young lady go
out into storm like this, especially when
she has had already as much she is able to
stand OF that sort OF thing. Your bags will be
brought in and your horse put in the stable
Mrs. Bardsley will take charge of Miss Weldon.
L III attend to you, sir. and supper will be ready
In half an hour" and without waiting for an
answer he left the room.
We looked at each other and laughed
That is just what hoped he would do"
said Miss Weldon; Il have had all the sleighing
/ want for this day."
Good l cried, throwing of my overcost;
Il feared might have TO persuade you"
That is really absurd" she said, 'sas if the
storm and Major Pendallas were not quite
enough"
In i've minutes Miss Weldon had been carried
Oh BY the beaming Mrs. Bardsley, while Major
Penda!ias conducted me to a bed room on the
ground hoor in which found cracking wood
nre. Ihe house was large one and seemed
TO be lighted from top to bottom.
we three sat down to a big round supper
table, and as might have been expected the
meal was bountiful, hot and most grateful and
CHEEKY to the two storm-beaten travellers, who
had eaten nothing since breakfast except an
unattractive luncheon on the train
Our host did most of the talking, and We
were well content TO have him do It,
You cannot imagine" he burst out, as soon
as We were seated, how glad am to have you
two people here. l expected to spend this
Christmas eve absolutely alone, and should
have feit that, for never did anything of the
kind before, and from a boy have thought
more Of Christmas eve than Of Christmas day.
There is less Of u strain in it. On Christmas day
you feel as ifyou ought to be awfully jolly. be-
cause If you don't you won have another chance
for year. On Christmas eve one can be Jolly
without thinking Of it. If there are any short
comings they can be made up next day. Last
year my niece was with me. and we had plenty
| OF company, but now she's married and cleared
out, utterly. Gone to Europe with her hus-
band, and intends TO stay there