Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-12-24

better
'Psaaw mother, said her husband;
''dont you think the windows give light
enoughz"
"WelI, the windows will be dark
when We go TO bed, she answered. "and
besides, no one can see them till thew
5e1 IN iTcnt Of the house. l guess IN
aang it out r
: And with the wiqk turned up to give
bright, clear light, she hung it By
aail On the outer post of the porch, where
nao often hung before
lhe kitchen and dining room taced
| ne Crawford road, as it was rsnallv
-ailed, because It was near the point
"here several roads from Railway. from
| ne hlils, and from RoselIe, turned
tn'o the one leading to the village of
Crantord. The construction Of the honsa
vas very odd, but as the neighbors said
hen Jane aad John Blake set out
20 build house, YOU might be sure 1t
"ouldn' I be like anx other And it
mad not altered their opinion when Mr..
Blake explained that as they were to
spend most Of their lives in it, he didn't
see Why they should build the best part
tol somebody else. When he built the
| barn beside the house, its door directly
| opposite one from the side of the kit
chen, the neighbors only laughed good
naturedly and said: That's like them.
too,
Though Frank was old en- ough to stay
mp ard help with the thxin's," he made
no objection to going to bed with Rob,
and the two boys snuggled together in
the effort to get warm.
"Say, mother, SAID Rob, as she leaned
over the bed to give them the good
night kiss she never omitted, edo angels
ever come down nowl" !.
t'I'm not sure" she answered. :Some
people think they do, but others don't. .
AS she went down stairs she added to
herself "Im one of the people that
think they do-for awhile"
She was thinking of the baby girl who
had lain in her arms, and blessed her
hfe. for one short year.
When she came into the kitchen her
husband sat beside the bright fire, with
both hands on his knees, gazing at the
light, troubled LOOK on his face
What's the matter. father?" said his
wife, who knew the sighs of meptal
disturbance
.'Well, there is somethn' that both
ers me, sure enough he answered.
>'fou see, when I was driving back
from Elizabeth, this afternoon, Istopped
at Derby's and Cranes to leave some
things, and get the turkey trimmings
you wanted an they both mentioned t
they'd heard that John Granger d been
on a spree, an driven his wife an child
out o the house, an locked 'em out,
too. suppose the poor critters I'll be
taken in an cared for by the neighbors
near there fore this time, but it makes
me feel kinder shivery to think she may
be out IN this storm. Ugh! the wind
goes through one like mowin' machine
through the grass
Mrs. Black went toward the front
window and looked out on the road.
eyes, it is bitter night" she said,
thoughtfully. ''Id like TO feel sure the
girl was under shelter. All, John, it
was bad day for Anna when she mar
ried him. Poor orphan! haven't ever
laid 1t up against her when she got the
idea that marrying anybody was better
tnan being bound out to US. Pretty,
sentle-spoken child, and don't see how
any one could ill-treat her. Mr.. Wins
low says hes heard her crying out;
Don't strike me again, john! Alb,
poor girl, poor girl. And baby, too,
only about six months old. A girl
BABY
Il amt stopped there of'en lately"
k said Mr. Blake; John has been so
ofen half drunk, or all drunk, that it
amt been pleasant. Well,I suppose we'd
better begin fxin the tree, hadn't wel'
II suppose SO, his wife answered, but
she still fingered beside the window.
She pressed her face close to the pane,
and peered out. The lamp on the porch
sent fright stream Of light out into the
road. All abou. the lantern the fakes
were whirIing, like flies and glats on
summer night.
John hal brought u the tree, placing
it IL corner Of the dining room, while
taking the lamp with them, they now
proceeded 10 trim the tree. The orna-
ments saved from one year TO another
were brought out and fastened. the rosy
checker apples and golden oranges we're
hung on, the popcorn they had spent
several evenings IN stringing were flung
over the branches, looking as if furry
! Of snow had frozen there. The candy
ornaments, and last the candles, com
! plesed the pretty effect.
/ MY" exclaimed Mr. Blake. "Who'd
think you could neat up On such nighsi
II makes one as warm as s-hayin'. Most
done. amt we, no.herf'
Almost, said Ms vile, as she stepped
toward the kitchen door The light
from the porch was iain,lg reflected on
| both OF the windows. while the inside Of
| OF the kitchen vas without light except
| from the FIRE.
As Mrs. Bake lcoked toward the vim
! dow facing her, sne repressed scream
a. she saw q wonaus face outside