Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18
4 MATRIMONIAL EXCHANGE.
A True Romance of a Long,
ago Christmas.

busying herself dressing and cooking
souirrel and some cartridges he fad
thrown ON the floor when he entered, he
wss carrying in armsfui OF the wood
ana aeon had The FIRE cracking meTrily.
lie was good company for the lonesome
little woman. and as they ate their eve
ming meal together, and ne reiateu
humorous Incidents OF his wider expe-
rience. more than once she laughed In q
way she had wellnigh forgotten. ana as
they sat before the fire that night. ana
he told her stories Of recent adventures
with Indians and savage beasts, sne
could not help the feeling or admiration
OF his bravery and strength. sne was
not afraid that night, though more than
once she heard the terrible scream OF
pantber close 10 the house She was
awake before the dawn, but when the
gray light began struggling through the
cracks I'm the wall she heard him stir
ring behind the blanket hung up TO give
her a private chamber in one corner OF
the room. When she arose with the sun
a big fire was blazing on the hearth. ard
Crawford was out at the creek washing
his face and hands. Soon she heard his
axe ringing again. and when she went
out to cali him to breakfast he had a
great pile Of wood chopped up to fit the
cabin fireplace.
After breakfast he smoked his pipe,
chatting gavly while she cleared off the
table. He knocked the ashes from his
pipe. and. placing it in the pocket of his
hunting-shirt, rose TO his feet. well.
I must take to the woods again" he
said. 81 want to get to Lynch's Ferry
tonight You say / go on up the creek
Always, and can find gap In the noun
tain?'
Rosa did not answer him. She had
finished clearing off the table, and was
seated on stool on the opposite side
Of the fire. 1t suddenly seemed terri
bic thing to have him go away, and
leave her there alone in the wilderness
Look here when did you say your
husband was coming hackT' asked
Crawford. suddenly.
"He will be gone one day longer" she
replied.
Il hate to leave you here in the woods
by yourself" said Crawford. 1.-TWO days
can't make much difference with me. so
II you don't mind, I'll just stay around
till your husband comes back.
And so It was that when Arnold and
his dogs returned on the evening of
the second day they found a stranger
installed at the freside. In few words
Crawford explained his presence. Ar
nold's reply had nothing Of welcome in II.
Crawford was angered at the rough man
ner in which Arnold invariably address
ed his wife. His manner towards his
dogs sleeping around the room was far
moro pleasant. He had brought from
the Ferry numerous things in the way
of supplies. but Crawford looked In vain
for any little trihe purchased to please
M no oil
brought something else from the Ferry
a three-gallon key Of whiskey.
Before they went TO bed that night
the men were drawn into discussing their
experiences in the woods. Arnold re-
lated several Of his adventures Craw-
ford replied in kind, and the elder man
saw that though his own knowledge OF
the wilderness was wide and varied, the
stranger had outdone him. He was COM
pletely thawed, and Crawford was forced
to join him in a health pledge from the
contents Of the keg.
The next morning Arnold would no,
hear Of his guests leaving until ne had
accompanied him on a days hunt. They
wen. off early. but before they had gone
Crawford had carried into the cabin
several armsful Of wood despite the
assurance of Arnold that his wife al
ways did that kind Of work.
When the two men returned homo that
afternoon, it was Crawford who bore
the major portion of the game. Arnold's
respect for him seemed to have greatly
deepened, even compared to what ii was
when he had heard his stories. He in
formed his wife that Crawford haC
promised to spend some time with them
November came and went, and De
cember came, and Crawford still gave