The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-28
HOW THE TWO SETTLED 1T
And Agreed at Last to Revolt and Be-
gin Anew Together.


there.
The snow was foot deep on the level,
and in places it was over the stone
walls, Simeon's tracks trailed off across
the field behind He had come that way
because it was nearer, but when he had
gone half the distance he regretted it.,
and was tempted to retrace his steps
and go by the road. After standing
still and rejecting for some little time,
he had decided to- continue.
When he had reached the fence he
was glad he had taken the field other
wise there would have been no excuse
for resting on the top of the rail fence
He had shovel with him, and was go
ing mile up the road to help dig out
drifted place
Simeon sat on the fence till he began
to be little chilly; whereupon he con-
cluded that he was rested enough, and
jumped down on the other side into the
road
| He had covered nearly half the dis
lance to the place where he was to work
| when he stopped suddenly in front Of
| the school-house.
Thine nation!'' he calculated under
MS VI ca Ill KIT was stating az u "piiihh
who was making strenuous efforts to
dig path up to the school-house door.
AS she paused a moment for breath
she caught sight of Simeon. If he had
caught her stealing chickens she could
hardly have looked more frightened and
guilty.
oh" she painted, II thought I could
get it done before anyone saw me-
"Keziah Thatcher" he said, solemnly,
Il thought you had better sense"
He took the shovel from her. 1t was
small fire shovel He looked at it
scornfully, tossed it into a convenient
bank, and set to work with his own.
Don't some of the big boys dig the
paths for you?" he asked sternly
Yes" she remarked, but they are
always so late, and then the fire doesn't
get to going and the little children suf-
fer and take cold'
Simeon smiled grimly as he thought
that at the rate she was going she
would not have got the school-room
much warmer than if she had left the
work to the boys.
And, besides Keziah continued,
apologetioally II didn't know it was so
drifted"
Something in her face made Simeon
turn and look at her.
You are cold" he said gently, what
have you got on your feet? Whew!
Nothing but your rubbers." He looked
obviously across the drifted yard to the
school-house door Then his face clear
ed. Where is the key?" he asked.
Keziah felt in her pocket and drew it
out He took it and without word
turned and began blowing slowly
through the snow. When he reached
the door he unlocked 1t and opened 1t
wide, then returned to Keziah who was
watching him wonderingly,
Now" he said, as he reached her, Il
am going to carry you to that door"
"Oh, no, please DON'T I can wait till
the path Is made perfectly well. I'm
not very cold, truly I'm not"
Il am going to carry you said Sim
con, and there was strange note of
command in his voice, Put your arm
around my neck--so. There, now l can
carry you easily
Slowly and carefully he walked
through the snow, reached the steps
and deposited his burden inside the |
entry.
'"There!" he said Now you can
start the fire, while I finish the path"
1t took but short time to finish that |
path, for Simeon worked as he had new
er worked before. He smiled as he |
looked up and saw the smoke ascending !
from the chimney. When he went into |
the school-room, after stamping the
snow off his boots. he found that Ke-
~, I1,,+
neither the heat of the fire nor
the previous cold quite accounted for
the bright color in Keziahs cheeks
Simeon glanced around the room
1T looks natural" he said, but awful
small, I don't believe I've been here
since | went to school, but you've spent |,
A good part Of your time here since
hen. My! that fire feels good"
He drew two chairs up To the stove,
md after Keziah had taken one he seat
ID himself in the other. isn't this
,ozy?" he said, in tone of satisfaction.
L was on my way to Benson's Corner
o shovel snow but guess the snow will
Keep and it isn't often I get g chance
o speak to you. Why, how long Is 1t
nce we were allowed to see each
ther?"
81 don't KNOW" Keziahs eyes were Is
asst down. 1T Is some years. ! don't
,now what Cynthia would say if She
'he paused abruptly.
Simeon smiled good -humoredly. II
now that sister of yours doesn't APP
rove of me, but that's no excuse for
er holding over you the way she does"
ooh, Cynthia has SO much more Il
ense than I have Keziah murmured
eprecatingly.
Simeon looked at her quizzically. 81 I
oppose she has told you that so often :
hat you have got so you believe it.
tut l don't believe it!'
There was an awkward pauses, Ke &
iah looked at the clock and half-longed /
Or, half-dreaded, the arrival of the
rst scholar. Simeon frowned at the J
tore and wished he knew how to say -.
that he wanted to say AT last he
feared his throat.
"Keziah, let us have one good, long
ak together, and there are some
Kings I'd like to know about Will
on tell me the real reason why we
idn't get married that time-15 years
go, wasn't it? Was one reason Gym