Middletown transcript., 1902-02-01

i e. the hlacksmlth,S snOp al,
and there reined i'll his horse.
ssWhat picturep'~ said he, his dark
ewes riveted upon the scene within the
forge. "What picture"
Without, the snow lay white upon the
ground, was piled upon every ledge and
protruberance that could hold it-and
upon the boughs of the great oak-trees
that shaded the shop.
Within, in food of yermilion light,
sturdy, swarthy young blacksmith ham
mered away at some glowing bit of iron
from which golden sparks arose in show
ers against background Of black shadow,
and at the moment delicate little figure,
with hair of palest gold, and face O
cream and roses, wrapped in knitted
shawl of white wool, and wearing on her
head little white crocheted trihe, all
tiny balls and fringes, emerged from the
shadoY and stood smiling at the young
Hercules in the foreground.
eyes, by Jove, pictureP' said the
young man; then lifting his voice cried
i'Hallo, blacksmith! my horse has lost q
shoe Can you give him new one?'
eAll right sir" cried the blacksmith;
'In one moment"
Then he turned and spoke to the girl,
who pouted little, but laughed the next
moment and came tripping out Of the
forge, and with glance from the corner
OF her eye at the rider, run across the
way to little house that stood there, en-
tered letting out a blaze of lamplight as
she opened the door, and shut it behind
her after standing there moment
Then the blacksmith was at the riders
side, the latter dismounted, and the
horse was shod in the briefest possible
time.
s'That's splendid horse you have, sir, Y
said the blacksmith, as he received his
pay. t'I don't know when have seen
fner.n
''Yes, and that's splendid girl I saw
here just now," said the young man.
fWho is she? What's her name?'
The blacksmith drew himself to his
full height and looked down upon the
questioner with flashing eyes.
"You have very good clothes and q
very good horse, and, no doubt, plenty
Of good money in your pocket" said he,
'sbut you haven't got good manners to
back 'em up. We don't give young
ladies' names to strangers in this town
and as that young lady will change hers
to mine shortly, I'm more particular than
usual'
The stranger shrugged his shoulders
jumped into his saddle and rode away,
Once out Of hearing, he laughed.
"The poor girl will have jealous hus
band, I'm afraid. What a little white
fairy to be gobbled up by such big
black, jealous ogreI Well, can find out
who she is without the blacksmith's help
/ fancy" NV
When Deanie went to Mrs. Cressy's tx
make another gown she found that the
stranger was visiting there, that he was
Mr.. Carelton; when, as she sat dowr
alone, he came to the window which
looked upon the garden and chatted witt
her, and gave her great Jacque ros'
from the hothouse, when on her way
home he met her, out Of sight of thu
house, and walked with her, she coulC
not but feel that she wished Cher Roger
wore such clothes and had such ways al
Mr.. Carelton had. The thought would
come, though she strove to drive it away
and even prayed that night that it nigh
not come again.
From this she went on to wish tina
she was a rich and fashionable lady her
self, that she need not make dresses, o
that when she ceased to do that, as Roge
said she must when they were married
it need not be merely to be housewife
to wash, iron, cook and tidy house.
How elegant were the ladies witt
whom she saw Carleton riding; how
charming were all the arrangements al
Mrs Cressy's.
Oh, it was SO hard to appreciate al
that was fine and only have what wa:
coarse; and one day, when she was walk
ing slowly along the path through the
woods, Mr.. Carelton came behind hel
and took her by the arm and drew hel
away from the road to spot where
q fallen tree made good resting place.
A carpet Of moss lay at their feet, tht
sunlight filtered through the leaves over
head, and fecked everything with spots
OF gold-tne moss, the tree-trunks, tht
girl dress, and Mr.. Carelton's soft white
hands.
seYou are tired" said he; "oh yor
can't hide it from me. You have beer
toiling since dawn over vain woman'
fnery; and you are going home to poo
fare common rooms and blacksmith
sweetheart with black hands. Tired
why my dear girl. I don't believe you
can stand this long"
The girls color arose.
stMr. CareIton" she said we don't pre-
tend to be fine, but sister Jane keeps I
yery clean house and our food is whole
some and plenty and Roger, if he is
blacksmith tides himself to come to se'
me, and he is SO good. !"
WI Ashe said that she arose and triec
to koA by but Mr.. Carelton held he
zast.
ssMy little darling said he "do yol
think said that without motive? M,
child, it is because want to offer yol
something better that ! spoke-in fact
/ think that 7, with all my faults being
gentleman, am better suited to you thai
this worthy Roger with all his virtues
he being blacksmith. You know tn
life before you as his wife-as any me
chanic's wife-as well as / do. There
YOU may 60; you are angry, but yo'
know / speak the truth-you know tha
sooner YOU let Roger know it the better.
Deanie was running away, sobbing a
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