The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-11-17
A WINTERS EVENING.


the girl at the window could no longer
see to read. She looked, instead, into
the neighboring garden, bounded by
low hedges and wind-bowed fir trees,
sharply outlined against n glowing
crimson sky. The thin, rasping voice
of mother reused the girl from the
wintry thoughts which had saddened
her large, dark eyes.
"Maisie," she began, hesitatlngly, 81
want to speak to you again about"
1.-THE girl knew the particular tone of
voice, and broke in quickly with "Oh,
mother, please not that!D "My dear
girl, it's positively ridiculous the way
you always interrupt me and refuse to
listen to reason" and, with n whine.
lit makes my position exceedingly
awkward and unpleasant. What am
l to do with you? Do you realize your
age, Maisie? Nearly "a. Why, your
sisters We're all married before they
were your age, and Connie had two
children.
"At present." the mother went on
relentlessly, Il am besieged on all sides
you are a pretty girl, Maisie-pretter
than any of your sisters, and more like
your dear grandmother, who was quite
n belle in her time-but in few years
nobody will look at you, your chances
of happiness and of making good
match will be over forever. Percival
Sutton"-cAh, l knew that was COM
Ing" sighed the girD-said he would
come to tea this evening, and he Is
very anxious to speak to you"
After n pause she went on. "I want
to know what stands in your way Of
doing as the others had sense enough
to dO-of setting my mind at rest about
you, and of taking up n position in
life as the wife of good man."
"You mean of rich man." the girl
said hnguidly, folding her hands and
again turning her eyes to the gar
den.
A tall man, with bowed head and
hands clasped behind him, was walk
ing restlessly over the little lawn, Il
few inches of freshly fallen snow dead
ening the sound OF his quick footsteps.
and the girl watched with unconscious
fascination the dark shadowy prints
left in the fiat whiteness. The, tall
stranger with the grave face and ath-
letic. though now STOPPING form. had
never shown the slightest desire to
make friends; indeed, had seemed de-
termined to avoid any chance or risk
OF doing so. Years ago, when the
girls mother had called upon the
lonely newcomer, she had found him
at home, and he only Acknowledged
the visit by polite note of thanks eS-
planning that he never made or recefy
ed calls, and lived a life of study and
unbroken solitude. Tonight, as her
mother talked and the girls attention
wandered to the growing number Of
biue-gray footprints in the snow. an
unusual circumstance arrested her
thoughts and drew her still farther
from the sordid and wearisorne con-
versation. A servant came out of the
house and handed to the man an or
ange colored envelope, which he did
not open till he was again alone. Tben
he disappeared.
Tho girl returned to consciousness
with slight start. and became dimly
aware of question in her mothers
face and voice. She risked, at ran
dom, the first answer that occurred to
her: "Oh. yes, If you like, mother"
The reply was evidently appropriate.
My dear good child. this is sweet
OF you. That poor young man will be
so happy"
AND VIII you tell him so yourself.
dearic: or shall I see him alone first?
l expect You will both feel little shy
and constrained"
Il should like you to see him by
yourself, mother" said the girl, rising
and wondering with complete disin-
tercst what would be the outcome of
her mental alteration and wandering
response.
And 1 may tell him" said the
mother. eagerly.
Anything you like" her daughter
answered as she disappeared.
The servant entered with tea tray,
made up the fire, and lowered the
blinds. The girl passed swiftly
through the hail. wrapping a soft cray
cloak about her as she went and
then, opening side door and closing
1t quietly behind her, she slipped out
into the snow covered garden. In the
Tow hedge which divided 1t from the
neighboring patch there was n broken
space large enough to squeeze through
and moment later she was skimming
across the very lawn where she had
just seen the owners footsteps multi
plying in the snow. AS she had ex
pectcd, he had left his garden door
open, and through this she made her
way into the hall, and thence into the
only room from which as yet a light
emerged. A cozy fire and a red-shad-
ed lamp showed her u charming study.
lined from floor to ceiling with books.
and in u deep arm-cnair before the
fire she beheld her three years neigh
Dor, the owner of this delightful sane