Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-05-10

Gho called II wouldn't be 3 mlt<
| surprised. II that ladder was away
over In the farther end. That jim
Little Is dreadful forgetful--"
| A splash OF water interrupted her
"Hallow called the tramp, 81
thought you said this place was dry
and here's the water up to a mans
neck ~
If you're in hurry to put out
those sparks, maybe I'd better run
upstairs and see II they've got to
blazing yet" said Della, as she turn.
ed and hurried across the floor.
She ran up the stairs, opened the
door into the light, sunny kitchen,
shut it quickly, and bolted 1t.
There" she said to herself,
there, my fine gentleman-tramp,
it'll take you some time, think, to
find your way out of that dark eel
lar
She smiled grimly when she went
out-of-doors and surveyed the crowd,
who watched the firemen upon the
roof of the main house. ''Such a
MISUNDERSTANDING" she said,
contemptuously. II could have gone
up myself with dipper of water, il
I'd known about it.
But Della, though. cool and scorn-
full, was not destitute of sense. Call
ing a fireman to her, she directed his
attention to the shed roof. Then,
returning to the house, she resumed
the making Of her veal pie.
Half an hour later she was deftly
covering the big dish, for which her
mother had stipulated, with the rich
top crust, for which she herself had
special fondness. Her face was
grave, as befitting her task, yet a
close observer would have noted a
CLEAN in her eyes, which betokened
that her thoughts were not wholly
upon her work.
But presently a frown gathered
upon her forehead, and she looked
toward the door impatiently. 1t was
thrown open with touch which was
indicative of familiar acquaintance
with the oid-fashioned latch, and
a tall and somewhat stout woman
entered, followed ut little distance
by man who Della at first supposed
to be an utter stranger to her. She
nodded briefly to the woman. "How
do you do, Sarah Mother thought
you'd be along, you or Nancy, or
both of you."
"Oh, well, I'm not alone" re-
sponded Sarah, good-humoredly,
land / have brought someone that'll
do just as well as Nancy. You're
making veal pie, amt you? Well, 1
guess Mr.. st. John III excuse you
while you finish it. Mr.. st. John,
this is my sister, Miss Brigham;
Deeley, this is Mr.. st. john"
Della looked at the stranger, bow
ing slightly. And then, as she met
his eyes, she turned back to her work
with an abruptness which brought a
sudden color into her cheeks; for in
this stranger she saw not only the
tramp whom she had decoyed into
the cellar cistern, but the man she
had resolutely intended to ignore
during the coming summer. And it
was he, the rich widower, whom she
had thought prison convict, whom
she had left wandering in five feet of
rain water, in dark cellar! Her sis
ter was woman Of slow thought.
Land sakes alive!" she exclaimed,
u don't wonder your cheeks are
redder N peony-blows! Why, this
Kitchens just like an oven! What
on earth possessed you to do cooking
with the house attire? Did ever you
hear of such goings-on, Mr.. st.
John? But la, didn't / tell you we'd
find her working round as cool as
you please? Land, Deeley you needn't
toss your head. Everybody knows
you're an odd sort Of body. Where's
mother? She amt much fustered,
is she? Dear sakes, how ever did it
catch?"
Della made no reply. Words would
choke her, she felt. She left the room
and went into the pantry.
Sarah looked after her with smile
of amusement and contempt.
"Deeley want never like Nancy
or me-" she said. "She's odder than
odd; but, dear sakes, we shall roast
il we stay here, so come right through
the dining room, Mr.. st. John, and
guess we'll find mother somewheres
to the front of the house."
Della came forth from the pantry
as they left the room.
II hate him" she muttered. II
was sure / should hate him!'
Upon a bright morning of mid
December Della stood in the kitchen.
She was rolling pie crust, and as she
nodded it into the desired shape and
thickness the smile upon her face
eliminated in a laugh. 1t was so
happy laugh that her mother, sit
ting by the fire, looked questioningly
at her.
ut was just here" said Della,
"that was making veal pie that
day last spring when"
The opening of the door behind
her and the noisy entrance Of her two
married sisters prevented further
explanation.
"Well, 1 declare! - said Sarah. "If
you amt rolling out dough, Deeley
Brigham"
YES" quietly.
"Well, / declare - echoed Nancy
raroov;p0 her CLOAK tif Won aim an