Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-02

ng snow: the tall irregular chimney stacks
rose black against the deep-blue sky: and
| from one uncurtaincd window the ruddy
| light shone out upon the snow-clad lawn.
How still it was! Was the whole world dead?
The bells on the horses heads sounded pain
| from time TO time. 1 felt vaguely that
ought to walk them up and down, but the
spirit of stiffness seemed to have got the
better of all my senses. 1 could not move.
About was the still, silent sky: around, the
still, silent world: and in my heart strange
sensation sem Of unfeelingness. The world
more. felt nothing, nothing. why
trouble whether she loved me or not. 1t
would all be the same when was dead. Ny
heart was dead now. The spirit of stiffness
had wrapped the world in its cold embrace,
and my soul was at rest within its arms. 1
| did not mind the delay; did not feel impa-
tient for her return: only, 1 wished the
horses would stand still and the bells not
| Jangle so.
Then, all at once, through the silence stole
beautiful sound falling like golden snow
from somewhere above me. A woman's
voice! Singing softly, tenderly, sloriously!
words sa reached Orsash %sony TO shs listen sweet
clear notes; and even they seemed
to come from the voice of a singer in
dream. The voice ceased. A little wind up
rose and swayed the trees, as if protesting
| against the cessation of the wonderful mu-
| sic-then suddenly there came to me over
| Iue SHOW Une SOunQ OF DellS.
! The time draws near the birth of Christ;
| The moon is hid the night is still;
| And Christmas bells from hill to hill
answer each other through the mist.
| Peace and goodwill. good will and peace,
| Peace and goodwill to all mankind.
The door opened gently-closed: and to
| the music of the BELLS q white figure moved
| toward me through the whiteness. Under
| the arch of black yewS she stepped. Did she
| do it on purpose? Did she know that the
light of the carriage lamp fell full upon her?
hC1,o flpna 1ppt1 f,1I
| the spirit of her song still on her lips; with
| the light of her tender action still in her
eyes2 She stopped and listened. How sweet
| 1y, ghostly, sounded those far-off bells, those
strange dream bells Not sound but their
thin beauty dying and growing and dying
again! And there she stood and listened
with the wonder growing in her face"
"Peace and good will-peace;" and then
| she looked at me, and camequickly forward
next moment she was beside me in the
sledge.
"she is asleep" she whispered. '1 think
she will get we'll"
''Then let US get home,"I answered; and
that was ALL
Jangle, jangle, jangle, went the sleigh
bells, and once more we moved through the
silent world. But we went slowly on. Why2
Was it because of the surrounding stiffness,
which one feared to disturb? Or was it be-
cause my whole soul was filled and
thrilled with the knowledge of hernearness.
with the knowledge that here were she and
alone in this sleeplng-tnis dead world: the
only living creatures in this great silence?
Slower and slower went the horses; and
yet the road seemed to melt before us; and
ever nearer came ''home" and parting. But
yet we did not speak. The sweet precious
moments slipped by; and once more my
heart came alive and beat and throbhed and
suffered. longed to throw myself down in
the snow before her and humble myself
utterly, if only, by my doing so, we might be
again as once we had been. But still could
must meet me halfway. oh! she must feel
it. Why would she not confess it? Could
she not see how much Drawer, nobler,
worthier of herself it would be than this in
different unconcern, this obstinate silence?
"I've dropped my muff," the clear voice
suddenly said quietly.
I started if 1 had been shot, and came
back from my world of thought to gaze with
uncomprehending eyes on tie sweet face at
my side. How sweet it was, how calm, how
contented! Why was it not full of shame
no, not bit of it! The eblue eyes were look
ing up at me with the utmost friendliness;
the rosy mouth had a smile on it.
please" she cried-"please stop the
horses. I've dropped my muff."
stopped the horses.
"Win you please get out and find it for
me?" went on the purring voice, II will
hold the horses"
81 may not be able to find it in the dark"
said |, "it is white like the snow.'
.It's winter" she answered, still smiling.
got out and strobe along the way that
we had come. My heart was vexed within
me; for knew she had dropped that
wretched muff on purpose that she might
order me to go back and fetch it.
At that moment my foot touched some
thing soft. The little white muff! picked
it up: aud something dropped out. 1 stopped
and lifted it from the snow. A glove! Such a
little glove! Not thinking what did I spread
it out on my broad palm and laughed a bit
ter laugh as words that 1 had read some
where came to my mind, ''That hand w1thal
looketh somewhat soft and small for so |
large will in Sooth."
I walked back to the sledge. The lamps |
were shining with two golden eyes over the |
snow: the horses bells were jangling: but
the little white lady was sitting very still. l |
came to her side of carriage. What great |
fellow seemed! for, standing there on the |
road, my head was on a level with hers as
held out the muff She did not take it,
Her face was turned away. Was she crying? |
Was that why she kept her face hidden? |
Was she ashamed at last? This was well, |
ah! this was well. l was glad she had come |
to see the error of her ways. She had taken |
long time about it, certainly: but still I |
would be generous; would pardon her at |
once.
still held the muff out. "Avis, this is
"Which!' and a face not bathed in tears,
not blushing with shame, but sparkling and |
dimpllng with laughter, was turned to mine.
"Which?' she repeated, looking at me with |
a world of mischief shining in her eyes.
'This," L said severely-but my hand
shook.
''Ohl is that all?" she said, taking the white
fluffy thing in one hand very slowly and |
looking in my eyes all the time: while gradu- |
ally warm little bare hand stole out from |
under the wraps. 81 thought you meant |
this''-and the warm little hand was about |
my neck.
For one wild moment tried to remember |
my anger; but the shining eyes were still |
smiling into mine: and the next moment the |
laughing mouth was warm on my lips.
All! well, who could have resisted it? In |
an instant my arms were about her, and |
was straining her to my heart.
How could two young people who loved |
each other have been so foolish?-C Chambers |
Journal