The Press., 1893-03-30

NiclIOlns turned his eajes stOlDty md
 looked ct him.
 Cant 1 go into your house an set down an rest a few minutes? I'm most beat out" +
 "No. you can't" replied Nicholas Gum.
 Il dunno as can git home.'
 Nicholas made no rejoinder. He turned his eyes away. Stephen stood looking piteously at him. His sharply cut, deli cate face gleamed white through the white fall of the snow.
 ''1f you'd jest let me set there a few minutes" he said
 Nicholas sat immovable.
 Stephen tried to walk on, but suddenly another coughing fit seized him. He stumbled across the road and propped himself against pine tree, setting the basket down in the snow. He twisted himself about the snowy tree trunk and the coughs came in a rattling volley.
 Nicholas Gum looked across at him and waited until Stephen got his breath Then he spoke.
 Hook here!' he said.
 "What say?" .-
 "If you want to set in the house few minutes you can. There ain't no fire there"
 "Thank ye.'
 It was some time before Stephen For ster gathered strength enough to return across the road to the house. He leaned against the tree panting, the tears run ming down his cheeks. Nicholas did not offer to help him. When at last Stephen got across the road he rose to let him pass through the door; then he sat down again on the doorstep.
 Stephen Forster set his basket on the floor and staggered across the room to a chair. He leaned his head back against the wall and panted The room was bit terly cold; the snow drifted in through the open door where Nicholas sat. There was no furniture except d cooking stove, cot bed. oue chair and table: but there were ornaments. Upon the wall hung various little worsted and card board decorations. There was lamp mat on the table, and in one corner was rude bracket holding a bouquet of wax flowers under tall glass shade. There was also shelf full of books be- side the window.
 Stephen Forster did not notice any thing. He sat with his eyes closed. Once or twice he tried feebly to brush the snow off his clothes; that was all. Nicholas never turned his head. He looked like q stone image there in the doorway. In about twenty minutes Stephen arose, took his basket up and went timidly toward the door,
 Pm much obleeged to ye, MT. Gum" he said. ''I guess I can git along now.
 Nicholas got up, and the snow fell from his shoulders in great cakes. He stood aside to let Stephen pass. Stephen, outside the door. paused and looked up at him.
 ''Im much obleeged to ye." he said again. II guess 1 can git home now. l had them three coughin spells after 1 left the store. and l got most beat out.''
 Nicholas grunted and sat down again. Stephen looked at him minute: then he smiled abashedly and turned away, urging his feeble little boy through the storm. Nicholas watched him. then turned his head with stiff jerk.
 eff he wants to go out in such weather he can. don't care, he muttered.
 It was nearly four o'clock in the after noon. The snow was gradually ceasing. Presently yellow light could be seen through the weeds in the west. Some birds flew into one of the snowy trees; wood sled creaked down the road: the. driver stared at Nicholas in the door, way; he turned his head and stared again. It was evident that he was not one of the village people. They had witnessed the peculiarities of Nicholas Gum for the last six years. They still stared, but not az assiduously.
 The driver of the wood sled, as soon as he went down the slope in the road and could no longer see Nicholas. began to