The morning call., 1892-05-22

till her poor worn0ut body could work no
more. And now she lay appa rently dying
In her cold little room, thanking God each
day that none Of her children had been left
to struggle on without her.
Except my poor big child" she said.
with that spark Of pathetic hum0r one sees
now and again among our rustlcs-chiefy
| among the women. But seem to have
brought him up very badly, doctor must
| Just hope he may be able TO bring himself
| home at last"
as there any one you would care to see +,
Mrs Clerk2" l asked her, late one bitter.
| cold afternoon.
Why do you ask. doctorP Is the end at
| hand?"
II can hardly say that. Yet, IL there is
any one l could send for to come to you, it
/ might be as we'll not TO put It off,
A light cleaned over the tired, plain
features. "Oh, doctor, if / could see the
| little lady, think it would make it easier
| for me- BUt"-and the weary eyes wan
dered TO the uncuTtained wndow-''it be
getting dark and the snow lays thick on the
| ground. Her couldn't come now" And
| she sighed that patient sigh that speaks of
life of remuneration.
Have you no relation-no sister-you
would care to see?" asked.
mo, sir; no. I'd have liked to see the
| dear lady this very night. | think if she
| bad sung me to sleep I'd have woke better
| But 1t IS no use. She couldn't come out q
| night like this"
''Pll fetch her in my sledge." 1 said.
The tired eyes opened with such glad
| light that, had IL been Queen Victoria had
| promised to snatch off her throne and bring
to this poor cottage, | should have had a
| try to fulfill my word.
"Yes"
And away over the snow dashed. nor
paused to think till l drew up at the door of
| the manor.
rs Lady Avis in ?" l asked the footman.
and made my way unannounced to the
| drawing-rOom. The lamp was burning.
! subdued by its hOwer-like shade; the tea
table was drawn up near the fire; and
she, In one OF her soft, silken tea-gowns,
was standing warming one perfsctly
| shod little foot at the fame of the Iblaz-
ing logs which roared up the chimney
| and danced on the steel CRATE. Close TO her
! sat young fellow whom / had never seen
l learned afterward that he was a cousin,
who, during the years had been away, had
oeen Ike a brother to her; but / did net
! know ths then.
Did her face grow pale In the red light as
! she saw me enter? 1t seemed so: vet she
came quietly forward and offered me tea.
No thank you" | said as shortly as ]
could; there Is no time for tea. There is a
woman dying who wants to see YOU"
All her lace grew soft in n moment. "a
woman dyingl On, where? what woman pr
''Mrs. Clerk, at the old Farm cottages.
| win you come. The sledge Is here. 1t will
save time If you will come in it with nue.
now"
II will come"
Nonsense, Avis" cried tho young man.
ut Is sheer nonsense to think of going out
on such an evening in an opeu sIedge. The
bfougham, can be brought zsround in q
minutes"
Are the horses roughed?" | asked,
| "N0. said Avis 'saud IN maud to1.o j..
long time to get them ready. / will 20 with
| YOU" ~ wa
"And l shall wait outside, as don't sup-
pose the f0otman rellshes holding the horses
| Ia the snow"
II have no doubt he has sent for groom. -
said Avis, and her blue eyes turned coldiy
away. You bad better drink some tea
| Harold, come with me for @ moment" and
sne swept IRON the room, the young man
| following. Drink tea in the room where
that fellow had been! Neyerl / flung out
| OF the room and fastened into the nigh,
| air. A groom had relieved John Thomas
at the horses heads, and | had the graft.
fcation of observing the contemptuous Iooks
with which he surveyed my scratch team
and makeshft sledge.
A courteous fOotman In the hall asked
| whether L would not step into the library
and threw the door nyitingly open. dis.
| playing the wainscOted room. on whose old
oak carving and brightly bound volume,
the nrellgnt danced delciously. Holly and
mlstletoe glInted and twinkled from al
corners. 1t was Christmas eve.
No, no; will wait here" l answered
CURLY.
AT this moment her light footstep sounded
on the stair. and her ladyship herself trppeG
INTO the lampllght. Aud what ladyship
She mad not even taken time to change heI
dainty shoes; but her silken dress was COW.
cred over with her great white mantle. Or
her soft, fair curls rested little white fuI
cap, and about her neck was bound a fe,th.
cry boa like glorifed snowflake. Her
nands were hidden away in snowy mutf.
Harold was with her
! We'll, my snow queen" he was saving