The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-15


at all The woman was really cook
of no mean accomplishments, and the
sauce of hunger helped her fame. 1t
also helped to keep the children quiet,
that and the fact that their mother
would not sit down to table, but insisted
upon spending most of her time in the
kitchen.
| 1t was with difficulty that Bunker
{ could be prevailed upon to take his
place, for social distinctions nearly OBJ
liberated in the presence of the storm,
re-established themselves in the house
Wetherell amused himself by speaking
of the driver as his old friend Captain
. Bunker whom he had brought home to
dinner, and by treating him with dis
tinguished courtesy as the guest of the
occasion. He also devoted himself to
: Harriet, who sat beside him at her own
earnest request, for the episode of the
two kisses seemed to have touched her
, little heart.
Wetherell was witty and cheerful
throughout the meal. He carved the
turkey to admiration and was appar-
emily alert to every ones needs. But
in reality he felt like man in dream.
His surroundings were strange enough,
surely, but the wonder that perplexed
bored? How could he laugh at chill
dren's nonsense and set a value upon
trides?
It's her tact he said to himself at
last, looking across at Amy. "She is
carrying this whole situation on her
| shoulders and has carried it from the
start. If she We're any other girl, I
would go out and hide in a snow bank.
After the dinner came the tree, but
that should be seen by child's vision.
Wetherell tried to see it that way as he
watched the two little girls come into
the room They halted as soon as they
had crossed the threshold and stood
stock still, incapable of speech or mo-
tion--just two pairs of wide, wondering
eyes. Doubtless they still saw the gilt
, tering marvel hours later when their
eyes were closed in sleep.
At o'clock Mrs Williams dragged
/ them away, protesting, though their lit
tie heads were rocking on their Shout
ders. Mr. Bunker went out to smoke
pipe in the kitchen. Wetherell and
, Amy drew chairs before the fire and
sat with no other light except that from
| the waning tapers.
II have been singularly happy to-
day" said the man of the world
said she. 1T Is the same thing"
Il cannot quite believe it," he replied.
"Of course it was to certain extent a
! pleasure to do what / could for my
q companions in misfortune, but I'm too
, selfish to be much moved by it."
IF you are selfish" said she, you
have a remarkable way of showing it,
I Il really am" he said 81 feel
l selfish happiness at this moment. Shall
r tell you why? Because / have found
my way. This day has been sort of
, allegory. Miss Hunt, have for a long
time been lost in colder and more
, hopeless desolation than any we en-
> countered today. / have sought one
, road and another and have always gone
! astray. What should / have done? DC
+ you remember what I told you in the
: grove this afternoon"
! you said the road would do us M
! good that what we needed was shell.
ter"
, Precisely. And it has been the SAND
with me. The lean steeds of selhshness
D and petty personal ambition-mostly
for money-have carried me as far as
they can go, and on the wrong road
The path that have found today leads
! out of the highway to shelter. roof
, over my head, home
, Isn't it singular how fate has coerced
me?" he continued. This morning [
was the lonelest, most grabbed and
= spoiled old rascal that ever took pleas
, ure in being miserable. / could hardly
bring myself to visit my dear old aunts,
Z, who have loved me ever since / was
, born. | was afraid of them afraid Of
I their house, afraid of the children whom
/ they shelter in sheer goodness of heart
And fate looked down on me and
laughed. 1t put me into place where
, had to go back to the natural man.
to fight the cold and the storm. That
, was to crack the crust of artificiality.
Then it loaded me with responsibilities
such as / had studously avoided. 1t
sent you to me- and those two children
whom | began by hating"
And myself also, l fancied," said
Amy.
Il was not drawn toward you, that's
a fact" he rejoined 'I was afraid to
accept even the responsibility of enter
tanning you with my cheerful CONVERSE
ton for a couple of hours And what
resulted? Why, to be brief about it,
have been led step by step to establish
something very like a home here in the
house of strangers and to celebrate the
best festival of the year as one might
do beneath his own roof. And like it,
In the way of humble confession, let ma
say that / have never been so happy
before"
Il am very glad" said Amy, rising.
"Shall we put out the candles on the
tree?"
They began at opposite sides and ex-
tinguished the tapers until but one re-
manned on a low branch. Amy was
about to put it out when Wetherell re-
strained her.
There is a superstition" said he,
about the last candle on the Christmas
tree If two unmarried people blow at
it, the one who puts it out will be mar
ried first"
Amy turned quickly and blew at the
candle Wetherell did the same thing
at the very same instant. and the flame
vanished.
When they blow 1t out together
said he. ut is sign that they will be
married in the same church, on the
same day and hour, by the same minis
ter"
"A double wedding?"
mot necessarily"
Il do not believe in omens," she said.
but one can never tell. Sometimes
they come true Good night"
She gave him her hand as they walk
ed together into the brighter freight
Just then there was a scratching on
the door. and presently the head OF
Bunker appeared.
It's clearin' of" he said. II thought