Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-02-07

L yVu WofV oihAVSV ihiOAiu Aux uuokiy
ten years"
On the very evening OF the day
week on which they had met, draw
ing aside his blind to look at the OPP
posite window-why. there was no
light there. How very odd! Think
ing he might get from Miss Bates
whether she had noticed any de-
parture he said. as she was setting
the teapot down: Lovely weather
for the time of year -
Miss Bates was i'm lugubrious
frame of mind. Plenty o. sickness
about, l hear. They say" she ad-
ded with sniff and a sigh, 'the
children's dying like sheep, with
measles. and some parts whole
houses is down with influenza. I'm
sure trust we shall be spared, but
doubt it. for there's one of 'em i'll
opposite. saw the doctor to-day
going In there"
The sudden change in his face as
sured her that she had thoroughly
drenched his vivacity, and following
the axiom that having made an inn
preston you should go, Miss Bates
left the room. He buttered his toast
and poured out his tea, and some
minutes later, finding plate and cup
empty, he reasonably surmised that
he had eaten and drank, but he had
done so mechanically, while his
thoughts were occupied by the words
of his landlay. Poor little woman |!
Now he knew why the window was
dark and the blind remained down.
She was i'll.
He walked about the room. he
looked out Of the window; in short,
for over an hour he fidgeted over a
score Of things, and then that in
ward tormentor refusing him any
peace, he suddenly put on his hat,
crossed the road and knocked at the
door, determined to ask what was
the matter with the lady on the
drawing room floor. He had ar
ranged his words. and, the door open,
was about to utter them, when, why
--no-yes-it was she, she herself,
who had answered the door and was
standing before him. II am so
glad" he said, taking her hand and
giving it a hearty shake. II thought
you were ill.,"
"And you came over to see? Oh,
how good and kind! That anybody
should care cheers me more than l
can say"
"There was no light in your win
dow last night, and this morning the
blind was down. and while / was
wondering what had become of you
my landlady told me she had seen
the doctor here"
YES. but happily not for me. But
you must come in and hear the story.
It's poor Keziah, the servant here.
She tripped on the stairs and fell
down, and has broken some tendon
in her leg. And Mrs. Jenkins is away
and the dodgers were out, so that
when / got home l found her lying,
grooming, helpless, on the mat"
But why did you not come over
for me?"
~ wish I had now. l did think
of doing so, but fortunately was
able to help her. | managed to get
her to bed, but l had to sit up all
night with her, and this morning l
got the milk boy to go for the doc.
tor, and take telegram telling them
/ could not 90 to Bedford street. 1t
was impossible to leave her alone,
but now her sister has come, and
Mrs. Jenkins will soon be here, so l
am free again. Won't you come up
stairs to my room?"
She did not wait for reply, but
led the way, saying, as she ushered
him in:
what pity it is not light; then
you could see my view Of your win
dow"
"Oh, but what coy ROOM" He
had halted just inside the door and
was looking round.
Does it look so? tried as much
as l could to make it like my old
home. A few friends bought in some
of the furniture for me, and when I
was really settled it was sent up.
Lodging house rooms are SO dreary."
His answer was a half-stifled sigh.
In that moment he had compared
the block horsehair-covered chairs
and sofa of Miss Bates's drawing
room-the rigid back OF each one
protected by wool antimacassar-
with the homely snugness which
reigned here.
LAS you see, she said, pointing
to the table. Il was just making my
self a cup of tea. Now won't you
sit down and join me? That would
be showing yourself neighborly."
II think have had my tea
Think only?"
"Well, / know my landlady
brought it to me, because it was then
she spoke Of having seen the doctor
here, and l at once jumped at the
conclusion that you were ill., because
for week past have never caught
sight OF you at the window"
"And have never seen you"
No; we don t see unless we
look"
But I have looked"
mot from where you usually
stand, or must hare seen you. l be-
gan to feel little huffy. thought,
she never fancies / mean to presume
on that little chat we had together?"
"Why, of course not. How could
!? was only afraid l might have
let my tongue run too quickly"
Come, come! lie said, smiling.