The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-03-16
would scarcely expect visitors on that

and seating herself before the cheerful
hearth, proceeded to dress the child,
making merry game of the task, as she
told over and over on his pink toes the
story of "the five little pigs" Then,
giving him his breakfast Of bread and
milk, and placing OH the floor for his
amusement a box of well-worn play
things, she went briskly about her
household tasks.
The market town to which her father
and brother had gone was good 10
miles away, and once there they must
wait for the grinding of their load OF
grain.
1--WE shall have long day by our
selves, Tony, DEAR" said Jenny more
to herself than the child; ''but thereli
be plenty of work to do, for sister must
| bake the bread and cakes for Sunday,
and father and Steve will be wanting
good hot supper tonight"
'sTony help sister," lisped the boy
'Yes, Tony shall help sister, and Sis
ter will fry him doughnut man."
Clapping his chubby hands, the child
drew his little cricket to the table,
where, by climbing upon it, he could
overlook his sisters operations at her
molding board, and so, with frolic and
cheer, the short winters day wore on
Gradually the sky, which had been
clear in the early morning, grew over
cast with clouds, and Jenny saw from
the window the air filled with gray
| mist.
Its surely going to snow" she said
to herself, little anxiously. "But
father promised to be home early, and,
anyhow, Meg and Dobbin are strong
enough to pull them together
A few feathery flakes came floating
down as she spoke, which proved but
the forerunner of a mighty host, as the
storm slowly settled over the landscape.
Hour after hour passed. There were
no longer any tracks to be discerned
along the narrow roadway, which was
the only avenue of approach through
| the dense forest.
Inside the cabin it grew so dark that
Jenny placed a lighted lamp upon the
table, and, having finished her work,
sat down to listen for the first distant
sound of sleigh bells, while Tony curled
himself up sleeping upon her lap.
Suddenly she heard the muffied beat
of horses hoofs upon the snow, a
shadow darkened the window, and a
moment later heavy knock resounded
upon the door. Jenny opened it, hold
ing Tony in her arms.
The xy;c;tor xyho bod 6icnpnntaH and
stood holding his horse by the bride
rein, was large, powerful man, in
hunters dress, carrying brace of pis-
tolls, and long, sheathed knife stick
ing in his leathern belt. an
A little city-bred maiden might have
tainted with fright at sight of so for
midable an apparition, but Jenny was
too well accustomed to the rough ex-
terror of the backwoodsman to be easily
startled.
The stranger looked at her lleenly
as the glow of the open fire lit up her
little figure, with Tony's golden head
upon her shoulder.
Then he said:
"Can stay all night? I've been
! cauSnC In Jne STORM.
The young girl hesitated, but only
for moment.
"We're all alone, sir-I and the baby.
My father and brother went to town
this morning, but expect them home
every minute, and I'm sure they
wouldn't like me to let anyone go on
in the storm. So you're welcome, sir;
and you can put your horse in one of
the empty stalls in the stable yonder."
The man made no reply, but having
led his horse away in the direction in
Gated soon returned, and, taking his
place in front of the fire, began to dry
his wet garments.
His face, which might once have
shown fine lines, wore hard and bitter
expression, as the Pickering shadows
played over his bent head and averted
eyes.
A vague sense of discomfort crept
over the spirits of his little hostess.
81 wonder if he is in trouble, poor
MANI" she thought. 'He looks so mis-
erable!"
Then she said aloud:
eff you haven't had any supper, sir,
I can give you some of the pork and
beans I'm keeping hot for father and
Steve.''
81 don't want any," he answered, still
without looking up.
Little Tony, who by this time was
broad awake, had slipped from his sis
ter's arms, and stood with great, blue,
wondering eyes fixed upon the
stranger.
1t was something wholly new to
Tony's short experience to find him
self quite unnoticed by a visitor, and
he was evidently bordering deeply the
problem of this unsolved personality
He walked slowly up and down the
room, at each turn approaching a lit
tie nearer the grim, silent figure be-
fore the hearth.
At last he paused, and laid little.
rosy hand on the mans knee. Still
there was no response.
The child's breast heaved, his breath
came quickly, and a grieved expression
curled his pretty lips.
"Man," he said, with tremulous baby
accent, half breaking into sob, "why
don't 90 love ] tile boys?"