The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-07

pull pulled away Hunch saw him through
1t was a crisp January morning. The
snow STOW nad come ana the train rattled
t.lIouSn nat white country, cut INTO
strips as far as one could see by the
| Straight up and down lines of the black
uD to the white brick hotel on the main
street and ate his dinner alone. He walk
| trying to think clearly about Mamie and
Bruce Now that he was on the ground
drew near 8 O'Clock, and he walked out
TO Bruce's cottage
,,1 AT lirst there was no answer TO ms
the snow had not been cleared away
from the steps He knocked again and
ratified the knob. He heard some one
moying. A little later. an inside door
opened; and then, after some fumbhng
| with the lock, Mamie opened the door
She was pale and thin. A shawl was
osaWn over her head and shoulders
o. she said. then smiled How do
Hunch stepped in and closed the door.
w hats the natter" he said You
No. Just a little under the weather.
Come in and sit down.
Amt you got no fire?' Hunch. asked.
Yes, made a little hre IN tne
Kl n n TINS morning can SIT our N 'h here
where it's warmer"
20. no: you mustn't"
Now you just leave me be; Miss Con-
sidine. You set down in the kitchen ana
lemme Tx you up. Where's the. Woo
opening the kitchen h nc door.
Hunch saw why she was sParIng OF
wood There was only a rev aII 80, u
But ne built roaring fire IN the iron
room, and then took the ak out into tn
back yard and split up a heap OF ooaFsa
snow. Mamie watched him through the
window. After a few strokes he grew
his coat. he handed it through the doof
| 20 Mamie. and said: Warm Weathsr,
amt it? Mamie was smiling when ei Shs
the wood box and laid large pie on
the floor at each end Then ne put on his
coat
We'll" he said that's more like. Pull
up chair, Mis- Considine 49,,
You must be hungry, Mr.. Baceau,
after all that work. Tn going to make
yoG some coffee, anyway ~
Now don't you do ,,I nothing OF e,, the !.
/ Unconsciously he expanded his chest as
he spoke. In spite of his bent shoulders
from Bruce's. Mamie did not know that
there was admiration in her eyes as she
watched him.
Now, you've got to let me. Mr.. Ba-
! deau / don't have company very oItg 7n
You just sit still and let me work awhile
I'm rot doing my share.
| So Hunch sat by the stove and watched
her as she stepped about the kitenen- Her
manner had frightened. and there was a
flush on her cheeks. She took pains 20
keep the pantry door closed. but once
that the shelves were nearly bare While
drinking the coffee they both felt slight
restraint. Occasionally when their eyes
met. Mamie would lower hers and laugh
nervouSly. They talked of old times, ana
Hunch recalled, somewhat awkWaro il
| he had first met her on the beach by tne
lfe-saving station.
Then there was a long pause, and
Look here, Mis- Considine. there ain [
no use trying to make me think things
that amt so is, so I'm going down town
and bring up something TO eat"
Mamie flushed.
leave me be and Wen fix things up in
great shape
Mamie tried to protest, but Hunch put
on his ulster and started up the street,
saying over his shoulder as he went down
He found Joe Carter. who kept the
grocery and meat market across from
the hotel, at his house, and made him
open, up, his, store and put up a Iarge
Mamie was at the front window she
hurried to open the door.
said Hunch, as he cut the string and
spread the packages over the kitchen
things that don't have to be cooked at
all got some preserves, thought you
NAMES eyes were hesitating between
laughter and tears, but she nodded quick
~ and the laugh triumphed Then they
both set to work. Hunch laid the table
: cloth, and puttered about clumsily, while
Mamie prepared the meal Mamie
9 laughed at his awlzwardness and after q
time grew so cheerful that she joked hin
and made him blush through the bronze
> on his face. And they sat facing each
p other across the table with all the lively
| chatter of two foolish young people
! Afterward she washed the dishes and he
< But when it was finished. and they sal
u | before the stove in the front room, the
sense of restraint returned. For Ions
: | time neither spoke. They looked at the
! ! two cracked mica windows in the stove
q door, which Slowed redly when the flames
: leapsd up behind them. II was Mamie
I | who finally broke the silence.
Isis Bruce well?''
u quite able to come down today YOU
I know were bunking together You see
= I know about-now you mustn't think 1 n
7 polIing my nose into none of my bust
q ness. 1 and Bruce was together a gooC
n while, and We come to know good dea
about each other. o course.
Mamie was looking. at the stove win
s sending up sparks and shoots of fam
that danced grotesquely on the mica.
d You see. if there's anything 1 can do
e that mebbe I was lucky in getting plac
at pays little more'n Bruce's- And, yol
1t Come that 4 was kind Of on my uppers.
e Now, you just be sensibIe-csuse it
all sort of in the family, you know
and tell me how 1t is anyhow, abou
- the rent, and mebbe we can kind of patel
e things up. bseause three heads is bet
Mamie leaned back in her chair an
n rested her face in her hands Whel
= Huncn looked at her he saw that sh
"a was crying. and he waited till she shOul
Is speak. Finally she said:
II I don't know what were going {
do. Tits only that the-sOme one els
"a wants the house, and we-Of course
Yes, of course said Hunch.
Il thought. maybe 1 ought to take
20 room somewhere
That's so. Something smaller.
dunno but what's like as not you'd fee
N better, anyhow. This is pretty bi
house for little bit of a thing like you
Mebbes long as Bruce is working up t
Manistee you could get g. room and soT
L OF keep house by yourself Be kind O
snug, don't you think sop
:, Tell you what he said. after the
IL had sat for several minutes withou
talking. I'll see what we can do" H
rose and put on his coat Mani
10 watched him, but seemed unable to re
piS, and let him go out without a word.
He returned an hour later. Mani
10 was still sitting by the stove.
It's all fixed up he said, shaking IN
snow from his coat. You're going owe
y to Carriers. They re got a big room 20
Ia you and he's going to see that you &c
10 moved all right You can take you
IL meals right in the house. And 'tWcr
lie cost you hardly anything. Now you jus
III drop them blues and we'll see if we can
get you fattern than you ever wa,
~ You're going to have good time ye
sr this winter. And Bruce1l come dow
III SUNDAYS. I've the train. (SIIeS