Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-12-19

TuJS Oh SOlc county
frozen ruts of Cole county. The
children, with bright expectant faces,
waited ct every post-box and gave
Merry Christmas in exchange for
her bundle of mail. Old Ben Todd,
whose three-score years exempted
stood by the little bird-house which
served as post-boX at the corner of
his field and, presenting her with an
ear of red popcorn, wished her Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year, with
smile on his old face, as brown and
wrinkled as the apples that had lain
on the ground since harvest. But he,
like the children, was cheerful, ex-
pectant, even gay; it Knocked her
mood of bitter disappointment. More
to her taste was the greeting of the
Widow Brown, a forlorn-looking
dame, whose sleek hair, pulled vio-
lently back from her face, seemed,
her purple nose. AS she took the
mail from Matilda's hand she re-
marked with a rueful shake of her
head "a green Christmas makes
fat graveyard" And the girl
sighed in answer and drove on with
anything but holiday air. For there
was a package in her bag, which, light
and small, made her heart heavy as
lead. 1t was addressed to a certain
Miss Fay Barney, and the hand was
as familiar as it was dear. Had she
not often admired the heavy shading,
and practiced with loving emulation
the curves in the capital letters? y
every week in this same handwrit-
ing, and yet-Christmas day was
here, the mail all collected and no
remembrance.
Instead, there was a ring in this
package, a diamond ring, so the open
receipt read, addressed to her dear
est friend, and, such was the clumsy
playfulness of fate, she must be the
one to deliver it.
Suddenly voice startled her
Merry Christmas" it said, and a
strange head divided the curtains al
the side of the wagon.
At the same instapt the wheels
came to a full stop, and Matilda's
eyes, from which astonishment anG
fright had dried the tears, saw anoth
er stranger at the horses head. Both
were seedy and shabby, and botf
wore slouch hats drawn closely over
their eyes.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year." continued the first speaker
Cant you be civil to a feller on 6
holiday? Mono, that won't go;
drop it," and he leveled revolver il
Matilda's face. For she was unac
customed to the use of hers, and haC
bungled in an attempt to slip it from
its place. Pale, but determined, ant
with all her wits now fully about her
Matilda stared silently into the
cleaning barrel. The man at the
horses head chuckled in open admira
ton, then warned his companion;
Hurry up; somebody might come
The other, still pointing his weapon
at the little mail-carrier, urged
"Step lively, miss; some O. then
things in that there sack II come
in real handy. Christmas comes bu
once a year, you know"
Like lightning Matilda's brai1
sought about for some eXpedient. Tt
gain time she demanded: DO yol
know the penalty for"
"Yep, get move" was the laconiC
interruption, made still more effective
by threatening click of the trigger
All this time Matilda had kept the
ring tightly clasped in her hand. BY
great good fortune she was near the
| end of her route. There were only &
few packages left, and this ring was
she felt sure, by far the most valuable
If she could only keep this from the
men; and like flash came an ugly
thought-a temptation before whicl