Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-07-01

The time went on and winter came
with its deep SHOWS and keen, biting
winds. The blinds were still kept
close ON the south side OF the house,
and the next neighbor was seldom
mentioned. One day Mr.. Maberly
spoke Of him ON his return from
business.
''It is bitter night, he said, ''and
I wouldn't like to be in Warren's
place"
'sWhy, what is THAR" his wife asked,
with some show of interest.
''His wife's father is not expected to
live, and Mrs. Warren is not able to
go. There are some business matters
to be attended to, and his presence is
needed. It's long, cold journey. 1t
must be hard for the poor wife that
she cannot see her dying father. /
feel very badly for them both"
"It is--very hard" Mrs. Maberly
forced herself to say, and once or
twice in the night she thought of the
lonely woman, as the snowdakes were
whirled against the window in the
heavy windbeat of the storm. She
could not help picturing her, wide
awake and fearless in her misery. And
yet she never suggested to herself she
ought to call or betray any interest in
her neighbours sorrows.
II said / never would speak to her
again." she said, ''and 1 never will
She brought it all on herself"
Don't expect me home till the last
train tonight" Mr.. Maberly said the
next morning. There's meeting of
business men that must attend, so /
shall be obliged to stay in. Send John
down with the sleigh about eleven"
The day proved pleasant one, and
Mrs. Maberly felt unusually light
hearted as she sang and worked about
the house. 1t was not till evening
that she realized how very lonesome
she was. Ernest had been kept up an
hour beyond his time, and it was not
until he pleaded to be sent to bed that
she allowed herself to carry him up
stairs. His prayers were of the brief
est, although she tried to prolong the
process of undressing, but he was too
sleepy; and presently, as his head
touched the pillow, he was in the land
of dreams. Something prompted the
woman as she went out in the hall to
open the inside blinds and lift the
curtains from one of the windows that
commanded view of her neighbor' s
house.
All between was one bed of snow
trees, shrubbery. fences, garden; and
the moonbeams fell gently over the
wide. white, uneven space, and bathed
the opposite cottage in its silvery ra-
dience. She looked toward the house.
On. the white surface of the window
were shadows fitting and coming,
seemingly going to and fro in great
haste.
"Isuppose they are putting the baby
to bed," she said to herself, "or per-
haps she has company; it looks like
it."
Carefully closing the blinds again,
she went downstairs. The parlor
looked very cozy with its rich red
drapery, made more intense in color
by the blazing coal fire, and yet the
woman had vague feeling of uneasi-
ness. Opening the door, she could
distinguish voices in the kitchen.
John was talking with the cook, and
the sound treasured her somewhat;
blu, oh, how she missed the genial COM
panionship of her husband! Sudden
ly there was peal of the door bell,
so sharp and sudden that it set all her
nerves tingling.
I'm so glad John is in!' was her
inward comment, as she heard his
heavy footsteps across the hall
Presently the front door was open.
The accents of womans voice, as if
in despair, came family to her ears.
The parlor door. was opened, and John
was saying, 1.-The madam is in here, "
when there appeared, pale and drawn
in its agony, the face of her neighbor
of the gray stone house. The room
seemed to whirl round her as she
looked-what could it mean?
so, Anne-O, Mrs. Maberly!" cried
the woman in a choking voice, her
tightly clasped hands unconsciously
extended as if in supplication, "some-
thing sent me here to you. My baby
my beautiful baby is dying!-dying
before my eyes, and am all alone.
Come and help me, if ever you loved
me-come and help me. You have
studied medicine and will know what
to do. 1 have sent for doctor, but
he is ten miles off with patient-and
that horrible Group" Her voice failed
her. There was a noise in her throat
like the coming of hysteria. Mrs.
Maberly had sprung forward and
caught her or she would have fallen.
Into her voice crept the oldtime tend
erness, into her hands the old caress-
ing movements.
Don't worry" she said, "wait till
1 get shawl-wait till get my medi-
cine box, and believe can help you.
Don't give up heart. You were too ill
yourself to come out; you should have
sent for me-" All this time she was
going rapidly around the room, pre-.
pairing herself to go.
Eyes, but / remembered = O, ]
thought if came myself in all my
misery, you would take pitypn me
o, my baby! my baby My poor old
father is dying, too, and L can't be
with him! 1t seems as if cannot bear
ito lose my father and my baby,
too" and she wept bitterly.
Don't give up heart and hope,
said Mrs. Maberly. ''There, i am