The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-04-13
AT RED GABLES.
BY Annabel Dwight.

! left the cars on that dark February
afternoon.
:" Bitter cold, with a few snow-hakes
scurrN lg aimlessly through the air.
There was no one in sight but the
little lame station agent, and to my III
uuiries he answered that our train be-
ing so late 1--WE had been delayed by a
wrecked freight, the stage for Derry
own had left. IT, r.-. .
/ looked about me in despair.
Not a house in sight, and a lonely
road winding desolately away among
the hills
I decided. of course, that there was
some mistake.
I was to take the position OF house
keeper in the Derrytown tavern, ana
to have my little six-year-old Bess With
he.
1t was this that induced me to leave
the city and come to this out-of-the-
way place.
For as saleswoman in large dry
goods establishment I was obliged to
leave my child to the care of strangers
through the day.
The landlord of the Derrytown tav-
ern was to have met me az the sta
ton, but of course there must nave
been Sc me misunderstanding or some
accident, Or
Excuse me, marin, but was you
going to Derrytown?' inquired the sta
ton agent.
II was" replied, 'but expected a
Mr.. Drake to meet me-"
"Oh, ya-as, Ben Drake! Then you
must be the new housekeeper. But he
warnt expectin' Of you, marm until
Thursday, the 25th, so ne told me-"
I stared at the garrulous old man in
dismay.
OF course I had read Mr.. Drake's
figures wrong. which was not aStOnisli'
1ng as his hieroglyphics might have
been translated into almost anything.
IT'S there any house where can get
lodging for the night, or any convey
ance to Derry town. I said anxiously.
beard obviously.
'Ihere amt no conveyance. marin,
and the nearest place for lodgin' is at
Slab, Village, two miles up the road.
To be sure, there's Red Cables, but
you Won't get in there and he shook
his head.
GLOW far is Red Gables. and why
won't we get in there?" I Queried hur-
Riedly, looking at the darkening land.
scape.
oval. Red Gables is about half q
mile, and you won't get in there be.
cause the marster is Il high and mighty
sort Of Il chap, and don't take in
strangers"
"Wen, Bess,' I said, smothering d
sigh, and putting on look of cheer
ft11v,oSS (which I foo1i0O q.
"shall we stay here and sit up al
=, night. or shall we walk to Slab Vii
lager
Bess promptly, evidently anxious tc
try her legs after riding all day in the
cars.
The old man looked at her kindly
and laughed at her mistake.
II suppose you will be going that way
soon?" l said to him, rather shrinking
from the unknown windings of thu
lonely mountain road.
'Lor bless you, marin, I'm sorr!
that | can't go along with you and tn,
little sal. but have to bunk here a
the station on account of the nigh
freight. But you can't miss the way
marin, if you follow, ypur nOse''
Bess. who was looking at him. CAV
q little merry giggle at which h
nodded his head yoOd-naturedly.
I'll be bound, you think it followe,
my nose I'd so a crooked path; bu
your nose is straight enough, little ga
Goodnight
"Good-night,' called back Bess in he
sweet shrill treble, and thanking tn
old man, we set out for Slab Village
We were hardly out Of sight of tn
station when the storm began to il
crease
A pitilcss wind swept down from til
hills and drove the fine snow Xix
needle points against our faces.
At last little Ress, all warmly cla
as she was in her thick brown ulste
and astrakhan-tlimmed hood, and stou
legGins, began to whimper
GAS for myself, / was chilled to tn
bone, for l had not felt that I coul
afford q new garment after cuttin
over my old one for Bess, and IN
cashmere shawl was too thin for pr<
lection against this bleak country wine
1 began to feel the hopelessness {
trying to reach the village, when
curve in the road brought us to
broad, evergreen sheltered drivewa
which led up to a house, the outlines, {
which l could barely discern in til
darkness. ..'-,
Of the front windows, and Bess uttere
cry Of joy and turned into the driv,
way
1T is Red Gables, dear, but I thin
we must ask for a lodging
Little Bess, giving an unqualified a
sent, we fastened on. and soon, in al
swer to my ring, the door is opened b
tall, young mulatto boy
The sudden light and warmth Of til
wide hall, after my tramp in the storm
turned me dizzy.
In an inner apartment man is sin,
ing in q full rich baritone:
Though / no more behold thee,
Yet is thy name a spell .
Surely know that voice. know tt
voice Of my husband, although [ hay
not heard it for years.
] hSpe ] am not going to faint, b,