Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-12-22


rough evening surely, and Christmas
eve of FL days in the year. The wind
Is enough to cut you in two.
''It is hard lines for them who's
obliged to be out in the fury of a
storm. Just the night to make one
feel thankful for hearth and home,
to say nothing about a bite and sup
Bless me! You don't mean TO say
so? Walked all the way from Kirk
wood, have you? | don't wonder that
you look about done up, with side
wind driving you all the way, and the
snow-drifts lying along the road.
Yes. sir, it's a short cut in the sum-
mer time. to those who know the coun-
try well, but even | should not like 20
attempt it on a night like this; ana
/ have lived in the neighborhood, man
and boy, for nigh upon seventy-years
Yes, seventy next birthday is the
number of years | have been allowed
to live, and five-andforty of them have
been spent in this house. All. | dare
say it does seem long time 20 young
fellow like you, but they haven't been
long in passing, and appear precious
little TO look back upon.
1T is forty-five years ago last Sep
TENDER that / first brought my wife
through the door yonder, and here we
have lived in summer and winter, sun
shine and cloud. ever since.
"Oh. yes, we have been blessed with
! children. 1t is they that have done
much to bring the sunshine, although
they are linked with the cloudy days
as well, for three of them are lying up
in the churchyard on the hill. Three
out of five. Still, We are happy to think
two have been spared to us-the first
| and the Iast--even if they are now
gone out into the world for themselves.
Tom is the captain of boat plying
between Cairo and New Orleans, and
Susie is living in Memphis, for she is
married, and has two little ones OF her
own.
so we have been content to have
lust each other, as we did the year or
two before they were given to us, until
last year. when we had what | may
call an addition to our family.
"You can sleep in the blue room.
That is what the wife calls 1t, but
tell her il will soon nave to be called
the Christmas Eve bedroom. They
say the third time brings luck, and If
you accept our offer this will be the
third CHRISTMAS Eve that We have had
! a sudden visitor to require 1t.
well, there is little story attach
ed to it, III you care to listen, While
my wife is preparing the supper, will
try and tell it to you.
"You see, it is little room over
looking the orchard, and is about the
cosiest one in the house. / suppose
most women like to have what they
call spare room ready, in case COM
pany should come unexpected.
IL used to laugh at her. and tell
her it would be always ready and new
er wanted, because, don't you see, when
Tom or little Sue come, they like TO
have the rooms where they used to
sleep when they were children at home.
But it is exactly three years ago
tonight that We were glad TO think
it was all ready for use.
Little Sue-we called her that TO
distinguish her from her mother, al
though she is the taller of the two
was here with her two little ones. They
had come to spend Christmas with the
old folks.
"We were sitting in front of the
fire. lust as you and / are doing now,
and the women's tongues were chat
ting together. nineteen TO the dozen,
for you see they had not seen each
other for over two years, when all at
once Sue stopped in the middle of a
sentence, and said: 'Hark! what was
that?'
eve listened, but could hear moth
ing.
"'What was it, child?' said her moth
er.
"It was like someone moaning out
side the door, Listen-theIS 1t is
again!
II could not tell il there was any
: thing OF not, for my hearing was get
ting a bit dull, but | went and opened
the door, and stood there for minute
or so. 1t was a lovely evening, so
calm and still. No moon to speak of.
but the stars were shining like so
many diamonds, and the snow made
everything very light. Away across
the fields could hear the church bells,
but that was the only sound, and l
was just about to close the door, when
/ heard the noise myself, as she had
described it, like person moaning
in pain. 1t seemed TO come from close
by the garden gate. and, sure enough
when / went TO look. there lay a man
all huddled up in a heap.
II managed to get him indoors and
laid him on the couch and then began
to take off his wraps. He was wearing
a thick cloak and fur cap, and when
this was removed, / saw he was bleed
ing from a nasty cut at the back of
the head He did not appear to have
lost much blood. but he was perfect
ly dazed for awhile
Il knew who he was: Mr.. Hugh
Danvers, nephew of Squire Mar
tin. You are complete stranger
around here, maybe, and don't know
II