Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-22

standing upon the step, and at her feet
was basket of berries evidently just
picked. Both were laughing gayly, and
as the wagon drew near and stopped, the
girl upon the step, with sudden rush
of color to her brown check, turned slow
ly toward the two men. 1t was the girl
who looked at Raymond from the wood.
He could not help betraying his surprise
and satisfaction, which increased tcnfold
as Farmer Curtis, noting his evident adj
miration, took the young girl by the
hand, and with no little pride in his
voice, presented, ''my daughter"
The summer days passed very happily
to the little family in the lonely farm
house. 1t was certainly very strange
coincidence that Mr.. Raymond should
discover in Alice Niles, Mans other
boarder familiar city friend. Yes,
very strange, too strange indeed to be
believed, and Nan for one did not be-
lieve it. No, she was quite sure that the
one object which this artful young man
had in view, when he sought the Curtis
homestead, was the hope of meeting this
interesting invalid Nan being of an
imaginative turn of mind, had built up
fine romance about these two and
laughed to herself as she thought how
easily she had OWNED their little intrigue.
They were certainly the best of friends,
and the gentleman ever attentive to his
delicate companion; but then he was
almost equally as kind to his little board
ing mistress, and Nan recalled with a
secret blush his many courtesies. She
liked these two, they were n revelation
to her, and she delighted to build lovely
castles for them to inhabit.
They were all very gay together, and
Nan could not help seeing that they adj
mired her, and pitied her for being con-
demned to a mountain fastness.
The bracing air was having wonder
full effect upon the city girl, and she was
able now to take many long jaunt with
her ever-ready escort. Nan watched them
depart, sometimes with little sigh of
envy; he with fishing-rod over his
shoulder, she with her book, both go
handsome and happy, and so well suited
TO one another, as Nan told herself.
Oftentimes, however, at Raymond's
earnest request, they made family party
of 1t, and taking lunch, had pleasant
day of it in the woods, building gypsy
fire and making merry generally. There
was always something in Raymond's eyes
on these occasions which reminded Nan
of the first time she had seen him from
her berry picking in the wood. She
could not define the look. exactly, but it
was certainly fattering, at least, and had
it been any one but her friends admirer,
she would have beeh somewhat confused.
For some strange reason neither had ever
spoken of their first peculiar meeting,
either to each other or to any one else
To be sure, there was nothing about it
that would greatly impress a disinterested
person, but Nan found herself more than
once dwelling upon the little episode
with certain romantic satisfaction.
And then she sighed when she remem-
bered that the gay summer days were all
TOO quickly passing, and that ere long
the pleasant companions would return to
the gayeties of their city life, and the
little boarding mistress would be forgot
ten, together with the other pleasant
things which had served to amuse them
during their holiday. Nan began to
question herself now as to whether her
summer had been n success or not, since
it only served to make the rest of the
year seem more gloomy by contrast.
1t was not, however, until the crickets
began their mournful chirpin9s in the
long grass, the nights to close in chill
and damp and the red leaves to appear
here and there in the ivy and occasional
!, maple trees, that the two city friends
I. said farewell to their pretty hostess. 1t
was very sad leave-taking, on Mans
part at least, and Miss Niles was also
sorry to depart, for she had learned to
love this shy little mountain flower,
!, blooming so far away from any com
panion. She saw the pain which the
girl felt, and made sudden resolve.
Il shall come again." she said de-
cidedly, "be sure of tin the winter
sometime; / long to see you icebound.
1t will be such novelty"
Nan smiled gratefully and looked shyly
at Raymond, half expecting that he, too,
: would announce similar intention, foI
she did not like to think that he either
would forget her Immediately. But hC
/ made no such offer, indeed, so careless
and Indifferent did he appear that Nan
began to grow hurt and angry, and il
/ was a very cold goodbye which she al
/ last accorded him, although she could
not admit that he seemed very much i'm
pressed by her sudden accession Of
dignity.
| 1t certainly promised to be very
{ dreary Christmas for the Curtis family
G The snow had fallen at intervals during
G the last few days. The trees were heavy
/ with it yet, and about the mountain tor
: the heavy gray clouds were still hanging
l with promise of more.
Z Until the last moment almost, Nan haC
a expected her city friend, Alice Niles, t.
< spend the holidays with her; but the
e alarming accounts of the weather in tn,
e North had discouraged that lady in he
i romantic scheme, and the real old
!, fashioned country Christmas which she
4 was so anxious to experience was indef
s nitely postponed. Mans disappointment
t was very bitter. Ever since the de
e parture of her guests she had felt loneli
h ness and sadness uneXplainable to her
e self. She said nothing to those about
a her, but at times it seemed that thu
: monotony of her life wa
rapidly becoming unbeaable. This visi
t seemed the last connecting link will
, those brief, happy days, and it was yer,
n hard to have it broken. The city cir
Is had been very kind in her letter, an'
h among other interesting gossip Informed
k Nan that she intended to startle her be
e fore long with some delightful news
~ | oatoo,eh;n4 II Nvao i6pliOht