The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-12-19
A Christmas Rose.
RS. POLLOCK'S student board
ers gathered for the evening
meal in CAV humor. The dav

IRIS. POLLOCK'S student board
ers gathered for the evening
" meal in gay humor. The day
had been cold, the streets and
cars crowded with Christmas shoppers. The
freedom of the dining-rcom with its lights
and savors thawed out host of tongues.
However, when Austen May entered and
look his place at the center of the long table
opposite his landlady, he missed the usual
airing Of medical opinion. He looked across
he table and saw tucked under Dame
Pollcck's ample wing, young girl of nine
teen or twenty. He watched her with some
curiosity, knowing Mrs Pollock's seclusion
Of her own young relatives. Pretty the girl
certainly was not. Austen May thought it
little sad that that deficiency should shield
her from gallant attention. She held her
seit not ungracefully, with grave COM
posure which changed but once, when an
nacvertent movement sent napkin-ring
spinning to her opposite neghbor. She
met Austen Mays eyes with quiet smile,
her dark eyes lighting for the briefest mo-
ment, and white. even teeth showing against
her swarthy skin. A scar crossed the lobe
of her left ear.
"A real lady," said Mrs Pollock to young
Nav as she left the room, ~ but reduced
very, very much reduced. Her father sailed
with Captain Pollock many time to Peru,
when they could not count their money, and
now It's all gone, and he's gone, and the
captain. 1t is against my rule to have her,
ano it's not just the thing, but what can the
poo child do in strange city? And she's
30 tsave."
Austen May left town for day or two.
He returned late one evening. and the new
soa-der entered the house ahead of him.
The mail had just arrived, and as she passed
the group that struggled for it young fel-
low neld up letter and called Nunez."
-Niss Nunez," she emphasized, the color
mounting to her cheeks at the magined in
dignity.
She turned from apology. When she
came BACK to the dinng-room she started
% tind Austen May belated like herself
She hesitated a moment at the door, then
scok her place, sliding her chair as far down
her SIDE of the table as arrangements would
allow. While they waited to be served,
Austen May took up the evening paper,
and she had an opportunity to study his
pleasant, fair-bearded face.
MY beef rare again !" he exclaimed, as |
the dishes reached the table. "What mortal |
nan can endure this 2"
Take mine" said his vis-a-vis, demurely |
st5erlng her plate. "A change would suit
me"
"Is Is strange he said. Ito be indebted
to lady Tor such favor"
" How can l like meat, cooked or un-
cooked" she answered, when a stove
nave seen only lighted as plaything?"
"An " he sighed Thrust be charming
80 live on figs and hooking birds eggs-and
earthquakes"
She laughed little.
IAN earthquake and long crack in the
side OF my house is dearer to me than your
summer with thunder-storms and your
Christmas with snow" She shivered as
she spoke.
Would you like to go back to your south
country Z" he asked.
50 could not go back to its idleness." she
said. quietly, and spoke again only in mono
syilables.
May guessed her education from her
fluent English with its clear enunciation
Her full. soft voice was in keeping with her
lingering accent.
1t was not many days after that Austen
May locked down upon her from the ele :
waited railroad. She came out of the first of |
4 row OF apartment houses, and he noticed |
how she differed in walk and carriage from
the girls who passed-her light, elastic step
and their quick. assertve tread her grace
full inclination and their rigid masculine