New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19


built upon 1t. What fool I've peeh all my
lifer 49,. >,ov
He had lifted his head to rpeak thus now
no bent II and again covered his race LOOKING
toward him saw beyond him the snow driving
still more furously by the window anu the
wind had begun TO shrek about the chimney.
IT'S the beginning OF terrible s'o'"''
claimed irrelevantly. .s,,o
/ rose and walked to the window, standing
there and gazing out absently watcnIns ~ s,.
/ whjr of snowfiakes and acutely wondering wnat
| should do How cold 1t was! Frost hsules
were already forming on the panes OF gla .s'.
Several snow buntings were gdyiy u'Spo''
themselves in the yard.
I heard n sound In the ROOM and turned
The stranger had risen. He made fumpIng
movement as If to button his coat more tlgh.E
across his chest but he found 1t already p"'-
toned.
He went toward the door, there he hesltated'
then he came back and stood near me. re
reached forward. took my hand and bowed
over II. ,,
you've been so kind" he said, tremulously.
81 thank you"
| He still hesitated. ,
| "If you will be so good as to add to your kind
| ness" he continued. in his old-fashoned way
"by telling me where Miss Runciman now 49,
I answered that she was In the South, that
did not know more definitely than that she had
planned to come to New-York and Boston in the
middle Of spring.
| He stood silent for moment
"she is successful" he asked
Very"
For a while she taught me.
Then you would be likely to catch her man
| nerisms. her waye. You nave Deen SO soo ,
| VIII YOU sing song to me? After that VIII
besitated: then walked to the piano and sat
| down. He followed and stood near. not looking
| at me- but at the portrait on the wall .
"Do YOU care what I sing?' | asked. II don't
| know many things sing something from
| the 'Trovatore Miss Runciman has been par
| tlcuar for me to learn that
"(,o on - he sall, and there seemed edBerHeSs
| In his manner.
I began and sang:
.Of love like this how vainly
Do words attempt expression"
Half wav through the solo stopped. my
| hands striking a discord the keys. l could
| not 20 on. for the man had sunk down on his
knees by chair: his face. covered by MS hands'
was pressed into the cushion, and ne was SOD
' / was saving 20 myself What shall do?'
gazed heplessly down at him. But only Tor
| the briefest space. lie eprang to his feet with
more acrtness Of action than he had yet shown
| II was a fool to ask you TO sing. he cried.
| You have her trick Of voice. but you nave
| something more. Young woman let me tell you
| one th.ng-go back home. If you nave nome.
| Go back to IT.
He left the room so suddenly that I was
startled TO find he had gone. -
ran 10 the kitchen. where found Mrs RIDGE
| gazing from the window. She was looking NJ me
! figure OF the stranger. He was preaching the
wind staggering Keeling before Its violence
I'm thankful he's gone" she said. Have
| you been singing TO him.? ,
| did not answer her question. was Watching
| tn, man and thinking II was an unknd deed To
! 1T him 60 out in such storm yet stronger
blast came laundering from the northeast. That
| iil-rlad figure reeled still more-lt fell -
81 can't bear that I exclaimed. Hell die
out there. I'm going inter him.
| Mrs Ridge took hold OF my arm
"I.ct somebody else take him In now shc
| said We've done our share He'll get TO some
Place. never You fear
But | shook her OF.
"It'a a cruel thing not 10 help him. SAID
I snatched shawl from chair. put 1t over
my head and hurried from the house. The wind
caugh, my shawl and flung It across my race.
| But | went laundering on. ! reached the man
and bent over him. holding out my hand 10 MIN
| lie crasped It strongly and rose 70 his feet
IT'S my wcrk ankle that made me fan" he
explained I'm rreatly obliged to you. | shall
do very woll now think
! lie took N his hat t. me.
| "rui whore ~" You going7 ! asked
| "Whcr"2 Well I've not quite made up my
mind You have my thanks. mls'
IL attempted to go on again The wind sprang
a, him herc,y saw plainly tn,i n . was sim rn-
! duced I'm strength 20 he was.
| | made him take my arm and We started back
toward the house the wind now blowing us on
! - that We must hurry.
I when we entered the yard Mrs. Ridge hung
| Cpen the door and waited for MS.
J Il DO wonder" 81" said. angriIy now yo"
| dare 20 DO such thing Miss Armstrong.
| made no answer 10 this remark helped the
| man t. the old lounge that stood in the kitchen.
| lie laid himself down upon II as one whose
| strength il spent. He closed his eyes and hard
| Is moved.
"Aren', You willing to let him stay there for
| the rest OF the day. asked OF Mrs Ridge.
She replied sulklly that It wasn't any affair or
here ana she washed her hands Of II.
So he did stay The storm was the very worst
~ the eeasou thus far. 1t ragged all over the
| Northern States and strcwed wrecks on the
II was three days that did not get out to the
1a,.r hat thn CT nnfrnr
| mained beneath the shelter had first given
| him.
During tina, time he said very little. He sat
| quietly 10y the kitchen stove during daylight
| hours and at night lay on the lounge
| Once when | was alone with him he suddenly
| looked up At me and said. quickly;
| II didn't warn YOU against singing because
| singing IL wicked but because that life ~ praae
| ord excitement units YOU ior any other. IL
| takes the sweetness out Of calm days.
lie seemed to make THE explanation as II II
| had been on his mind to do so as matter OF
| duty.
| brilliantly Mt noon. shining on the deep drifts
| that lay about the house. BY III" middle OF the
| afternoon the teams were breaking open path
| way The mercury In the glass that was fas-
| tened 10y our north door kept going down until
! In the evening. when took lamp and went 10
| examine It. II registered IL degrees below zero
| Ny hand on the latch stung AZ II II were burned
| 'Ue can't so away tonight" ! snid 10 Mrs.
Ridge. when returned to the eittng-room.
81 do wonder what Miss Runciman would
| say" was her response TO my words
| She put down her knitting. and. Hhivering.
| drew nearer the great coal stove. whose sides
| were glowing red with heat.
! There the sound OF sleghbells outside In
| the road
| 81 pity any one who has TO drive tonight"
| said
As spoke there came loud knock at the
| front door.
| Imnci atcy the door from the kitchen opened.
| our guest appeared on the threshold His face
| was color.ss. but eager and hopeful.
"Pcrhaps she has come" he exclaimed.
Cro be Contnucd)
4 WTNNTNG PLATFORM.
From The Peoria O) Journal