The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-08-05


tiers of juicy meats, Drowned To the
critical point of perfection, and fianled
with dishes of yellow pumpkin and
white turnip and scarlet cran berry. As
the table became crowded these in turn
were taken to the storeroom to wait
the coming of the great day" And
still the tired and flushed mistress of
the kitchen went ON with her mixing
and tasting and baking.
The low, sullen line of clouds became
more menacing and crept on until they
had masked the entire sky. The wind
grew strong and was soon filled with
fine PARTICLES of swIrling snow, but
Mrs. Barten needed not; time was too
precious
Its growing dark she grumbled,
she slid more pans into the oven;
days are pesky short this time q year
1t was only when a fierce gust Of
wind hurled a cloud of snow against
the window that she looked up.
For the lands saze!' she exclaimed.
Its showing n I'll lay dollar them
drafted children's out in it.
Hurrying 10 the door she called shril-
ly:
Bob. Liza! March your boots in
here quicker'n lightning"
Receiving no reply she muttered
angrily:
Upstairs rumagin', most likely.
Seems with all my work they might
quit their didoes for awhile"
But when a sharp call up the stairs
failed to elicit response she began 10
look anxious. Throwing a shawl over
her head she went out into the yard.
The snow was now whirling past in
binding sheets, and the keen wind cut
one like a knife. Already white drifts
were forming in the fence corners and
sheltered places. Objects a dozen yards
away were becoming iudistinct-
A thorough search of the yard failed to
show any trace of the children and she
returned to the house to decide on her
next move. She could not determine
the direction the childish feet had taken
and once out of sight of the house she
knew there was little probability of
their finding their way back by them
selves There was no danger of their
being lost unless they wandered away
from the village, but Liza had scarcely
recovered from the measles and Mrs.
Barten had all the mothers horror of
wet feet and colds
A smell of burning bread drew her
attention TO the stove. When she re-
turned to the door she saw bent figure
coming up the path. \ moment later
and the old woman stood before her.
but now the ragged shawl was closely
wrapped around one child, while
another cluug to her skirts, sobbing
bitterly. The strangers face was full
of a wistful tenderness, but Mrs. Bar
ten did not see it Assured of the
children's safety, her feelings under
went quick change. Her child in the
arms of a dreaded ''furriner" In a
moment she had hurried the little ones
to the fire and was removing their outer
garments. What contamination and
disease might not lurlI in the ragged
shawl and draggled skirts!
She was aroused from her reflections
by the entrance of her husband
More wet feet eh?" he said, as he
drew chair to the stove
''Aller's wet feet when there's any
thing to wet 'em in" she returned.
Then, after a moment, she added:
You go tell the old woman she can
come in to the fire. Beggars and young
'uns are enough to make folks lose their
wits"
Il passed an old woman outside the
gate" he said, as he took his pipe from
the shelf and began to fill it. IF it's
her You mean, she's half down the street
before this"
Then I'm shet o. thet trial. she
said, in a relieved tone. Some of the
neigh bors Will be sure n take her in
All night long and the next day and
night the snow whirled and drifted
about the village. Then the sun came
out and the men and boys took their
Gh ~aIg and 20 4 -
communications between the houses.
As the paths became clear one neigh
Dor after another sailed forth to gossip
over the events of the storm.
At length some one mentioned the
old beggar woman. and then it was
learned that no one knew of her where.
abouts; nearly all had seen her, and
most of them confessed that they had
sent her away with flea in her bon
not"
One man thought she went toward
the Freeman house. This was a de-
serted building just ont of the village.
Without hesitation the men took their
shovels and began to dig vigorously in
that direction. And Mrs. Barten worked
with the foremost.
Lucky there's a good fireplace and
| plenty of fuel in the old house" said
one. Tire old lady can keep warm, but
| guess she'll be mighty hungry"
When they reached the house there
was no sign of its being occupied.
''She amt here" said the man who
had spoken before, as he threw open
/ the door.
But he was mistaken; they found her
inside. She was dead.-Kansas City
! Times