Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-22
i4S{sIsG / S j AS

ton OF MISUNDERSTANDING akin to
the old boyish zest-something tnngi-
blel"
Something tangible! He dwelt on
the words at the stately dinner table.
They fingered with him as he tried
to settle down to quiet smoke In the
library. There arose in his mind a
picture of the past. 1t was poverty,
obscurlty then; but thought OF the
bare-footed rambles through the
woods, Of the real coziness or the lit
tie attic-room back at the old home
stead, of ambitions tinged with ideal
sentiment and glowing hopes, glori-
fed the years now dead.
He glanced from. the window at
the dying day. Mournful, inexpres-
sibly cold, repellant, unloyely, seemed
the wilderness OF stately mansions
and stiff, precise equipages on the
street without. How different the
dear old village where he was bornl
The narrow streets, its quaint homes,
its heart-warming people foated
across his vision now, and seemed
part of another world.
AZ was uOb % NClJ lat away LhoO
little country town nesting among
the hills was only an hours ride from
the great metropolis. Was he getting
sentimental? What was this strange
impulse that lured him to steal
thither like thief ashamed, and try
to warm the frozen currents of his
dreary life at the ashes Of a dead past?
All! the dear old town. How
natural it looked! The old red
school-house, the rickety depot, the
broad common-once again, for the
first time in ten years, Richard Pen
rith trod his native soil that night.
He wandered about the place like
an uneasy ghost haunting the scenes
Of former experiences. He felt a
keen pang Of actual envy as he peered
through the frost-crested windows OF
the homely village store, and saw its
proprietor, happy, serene, all one
glow of perfect delight over the
gathering in OF an extra few dollars
for holiday business. Why! Il turn of
stock in the city often meant for
tune for him, and yet scarcely stirred
q nerve!
All heart, all sympathy, all human,
simple felicity! What a paradise,
compared to the dollhouse, superb
cial life of the city! He paused as a
name spoken by bent, old man,
passing with companion, struck
his ear with shock.
"It's all Miss Naomi's dongs, sir.
Bless her dear heart! She's nursed my
wife back to health, she's got my boy
situation, and we amt the first
that angel of charity has helped"
"Miss Hewitt is great friend to
the poor; yes.
Naomi = Miss HEWITT Richard
Penrith stood stock still on the snowy
street. A slight flush surmounted
his brow, his eyes grew larger, then
| tender.
Strange how he had forgotten hel
stranger still that after all til ese
years the sudden recurrence OF that
once treasured name could stir his
nature as it had not been moved for
nearly a decade! ~
He tried to smile at Sthe memory Of
their boy and girl love, but failed
Something choked. him as he walked
onpand paused to peer through the
windows of a neat, pretty cottage.
Yes, there was the best room"
brightly lighted, and old Mrs. Hewitt
seated knitting, surrounded by coZl
ness and warmth. There was Tho
pretty rustic porch. How often III
had kissed Naomi goodnight under
the dew-spangled vines surrounding 1t
All was the same, only the vines were
dead and dropping now, All wa
the same His heart gave great
bound as the vivid lamplight showed
little framed portrait on the wall
his picture as he had been, treasured
esteemed faithfully by the winsom'
lass he had sacrificed to the cold
cynical demands of gold.
He fell to wondering how Naom
looked now. She was not visibl,
about the house, and he strolled re
luctantly on, and passing peopl
stared ssuspiciously at MIN. lie fol
lowed the concourse. All, anothe
reminder Of the past, the old church
its glowing portals an open welcom
to all the weary, and hungered ant
penitent.
: He entered and glided to an oh
scure pew. 1t took him back tel
years. How a certain watch-nigh
meeting one New Years Eve lon
ago came back to his mind! Naom
was there then, and he was her "com
pany." Why! Naomi was here now
Yes! his heart thrilled as he made he
, out.
Changed? Yes, as gentle years Q
sympathy, and purity, and love TO
fellow mankind change the face Of
saint. The glory of perfect woman
hood in her kindly beaming eye
made Richard Penrlth shrink at
sense of his own callous unworthi
ness.
Angelic influences were here tC
night, surely The white-haire
| preacher seemed TO appeal to hi
heart as to brothers. He was oil,
tressed. awakened, and then peace
! full calm swayed his soul-he hate
the things he had loved, he realize
} the hollowness OF the bright baubl
| he had striven for, holding at its cal
, only bitter dust and flight.
How his heart beat 1t must hay
been dead for years? New Year
chimes ringing, he stood on To
church porch, he timorously az
yanced to the side of the trim, lp'
ing, fond woman he had watched a
the evening.
aNaomi-Miss Hewitt, do you no