The Press., 1893-03-30
whistle. The whistle fioated back like

whistle. The whistle fioated back like wake of merry sound.
 Presently Nicholas arose, took off his cap and beat it against the doorpost to rid it of it's dome of snow. Then he shook himself like dog and stamped. Then he went into the house and stood looking irresolutely at the cold stove
 .'Should like fire to heat up my hasty puddin mighty we'll. sol won't have it." said he.
 He took wooden bucket and went with it out of doors, around the house over snow covered path to spring. The water trickled into it's little basin from under hood of snow. Nicholas plunged in his bucket, withdrew it filled with water and carried it back to the house. The path led through the woods; all the trees and bushes were white arcs Some of the low branches bowed over the path, and Nicholas passing under them had to stoop.
 Nicholas, back in his house, got bowl out of rude closet: it was nearly full of cold nasty pudding. He stood there and swallowed it in great gulps.
 The light was waning fast, although it lasted longer than usual on account of the snow, which, now the clouds were gone, was almost like a sheet of white light.
 Nicholas when he had finished his supper, plunged out again into this pale dusk. He tramped, knee deep, down the road for long way. He reached the little village center, left it behind, and went on between white meadow lands and stretches of woods. Once in awhile he met man plodding down to the store, but there were few people abroad, The, road would not be cleared until morning.
 Finally Nicholas turned about and went back until he reached the village store. It's windows and glass door were full of yellow light, in which one could see many heads moving. When Nicholas opened the changing door and went in all the heads turned toward him. There was hardly a man there as tall as he. He went across the store with kind of muscular shamble; his head, with it's wild, light beard, had a lofty lift to it. The lounging men watched him furtive- ly as he bought some Indian meal and matches at the counter. When he had gone out with his purchases there was a burst of laughter. The storekeeper thrust a small. sharp face over the coun- ter.
 elf man is such darned fool as to live on meal and matches, ain't got nothing to say so long as he pays me the money down" said he. He had a hoarse l l,so Co rl>.., per.
 There was another shout of laughter. Nicholas could hear it as he went down the street. The stranger who had driven the wood sled past Nicholas house was among the men. He was snowbound over night in the village. He was a young fellow, with innocent eyes and a hanging jaw. He nudged the man next him.
 "What i'll creation ails the fellar any howl" said he. Il seed him a-settin on his doorstep this afternoon, and the snow a-drivin right on to him
 ''He ain't right in his upper story, replied the man. 'Somethin went agin him: his wife run off with another fellar or somethin, an he's cracked
 "Why don't they shet him up?'
 'He ain't dangerous. Reckon he won't hurt nobody but himself. If he wants to. set out in drivin snowstorm and tramp till he's tuckered out, it ain't nothin to nobody else but himself. There ain't no use bringin that kind of crazy on the town. "'Twouldn't cost the town much, " chimed in another man. "He's worth property. Shouldn't be surprised if he was worth $3,OO0 And there he is a-livin on cornmeal and water" An old man in leather cushioned armchair beside the stove turned his grizzly, quizzical face toward the others and cleared his throat. They all bent forward ,attentively. He had reputa- tion for wit. "
 Makes me think of old Eph Huntly and the story Squire Morse used to tell about him." said he. He paused i'm pressively and they waited. Then he went on: Seems old Eph got terrible hard up one time One thing after an other went agin him. He'd been laid up with the rheumatiz all winter: then his wife, she'd been sick, an they was most eat up with medicine an doctors bills. Then his hay crop he'd failed an his pertaters he'd routed, an finally, to cap the climax, his best COW died all the int'rest money was due on the mortgage an he didn't have a cent to pay it with. We'll, he couldn't raise the money mo- how, an the day came when he sposed the farm would have to go. Lawyer Holmes, he held the mortgage, an he ex- pected to see him drive into the yard any time. We'll, old Eph he jest goes out in the yard an he ketches nice fat crower an he kills him an picks him