Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-02-13
Mr.. SNOW MAN.
BY q. MARIA AZ ANEsI.

| fields in shril fashion and carried in its
wings some flakes of white.
"onow.' Miriam exclaimed How
nice. | do love a real Chistmas-cardy
/ Christmas, don't your"
II love everything that you love-" said
4 the man.
/ She laughed.
/ What rash thing to say! | am
quite convinced you must detest and
/ abominate most of those things in which
my soul delights. You know Dan has
/ told me. all about you. Can you honestly
declare" she asked him abruptly, that
you love the country-that you are en-
joying this? Now wouldn't you rather
be back in town with all your accus-
toned comforts-your clubs, your coy
rooms and your good dnners?"
Yes he answered truthfully, but,
he added, ''only if you were there"
Miriam laughed again.
You do say awfully pretty things, but
| wish You would not say them 10 me,
Mr.. Elyaston. | am really an unso-
phisticated person, You know, and | may
take them in earnest"
Il wish to God you wouldr' he said.
They walked on, unconsciously quick
{ ling their steps. The darkness that
hid seemed so black when they had left
, me village had lifted out here. The
snowfall made the world light; it lay in
thin veil on the world around and
| tam-o' -Shanter His coat. too, had 4
/ layer of white down on one side.
Mimi" he said. and he suddenly
stopped, 1T is 50 real with me-so real
ana you only mock at me"
NO, don't mock" Miriam answered
but | must confess you do amuse me-
OH" she exclaimed. as packet slipped
from her arm and fell to the ground, the
candles, and ! have smashed them every
one. Oh, please don't Dotherr But FL
yanston had STOPPED and found the pack
age and had slippca it in the string bag
he carried, at least as far as it would 20
DO you Know he said, II think we
really ought to hurry; the snow lis. coming
I thicker"
/ She gave lin quick look. Tlf0saM nj
Ic0uld not see him very clearly her eyes
accustomed now TO the white gloom.
could fashion the expression on his face,
and her heart beat unevenly. a dull, sad
| feeling crcpt over her, the feeling that
she had hurt him.
III YOU were not 50 heavily laden" She
aaid. Il would challenge You to a run.
| There is nothing harder to run in than
snow except sand
Last year Mt Christmas time | had
sand and more than | wanted of it," he
Observed.
They drifted into seemingly CHEEKY
conversation, and laughed WHEN they
reached the porch of the little Oil house
that nestled in the hollow to see how the
snow had plaStered them.
You might very easily stand on the
village green and he prize snow man,
be. she added Il am only afraid you
viii never come 70 stay y It'll us again"
Don't ask me if you don't want me,
he answered, briskly.
After much stamping and shaking OF
themselves they passed into the coy hail,
whore delightful looking old lady was
sitting by the fire knitting
My dear child she exclaimed. as She
saw what Miriam, had been carrying,
"ccald not Smart nave sent those things
up?"
well. he said he could The girl
laughed. But as | believe we are going
10 be sn0w-hound for the next two or
three days, | thought | would be on sa1
safe side and bring the provisions with
me. Come along" she said to Elvaston,
we will take all our goods into the
kitchen, and Their you shall go and smoke
cigar; | know YOU are dying to have
one"
How nice it is in here" he exclaimed
as they filled the kitchen table with
packages. He looked about him, admir-
ing everything, from the red-tiled floor
and shining coppers to the beaming face
of the old maid servant. There was u
great bowl on side table with wooden
spoon in il.
"Oh the mince meatr' cried Miriam:
we must stir it for luck.
How mysterious. said Elvaston.
Their hands met just for an instant as
the spoon was passed from one to au-
other.
He would liked to have fingered in the
kitchen, but Miriam appeared to be yerE
busy, SO he wenS to change his wet
clothes, then retura ed and sat opposite
I h. II Af.l f.,lt~ lxy4 I,a hafI
and Mt her entreaty he smoked ;, cigar.
Mrs. Winstone found him rather poor
company.
no you know" he said abruptly, 81
don't think | shall be able to stay for the
new year as you so kindly suggested
"Oh. we shall be so sorry, said the
delightful old lady. but ElvaSton was
convinced that there Was relief in her
voice.
1T was very good of you to ask me
down at ALL he observed, stitflv.
Mrs. WinstOne deprecated that.
You are such n close friend of our dear
lads, and we have been delighted to
have you here. But 1t is really a dull
place for anyone. Mimi IS content. but
then Mimi has very happy spirit"
Il wish | had. never known her" said
ElvaSton, almost fiercely, and turning
he went upstairs to his own room,
Miriam was just ready for dinner that
evening when the delightful old lady
looked in at the door.
"Philip and Amy Strange are down
stairs; l suppose You invited themg
did not know they were back from
town"
Miriam turned red and then pale.
"Oh. grannier' she said, and there was
almost a cry in her voice.
The old lady came forward and took
her hands tenderly. II know--I know.
dearic." she said, but Philip has loved
you long time, and loyalty SHOULD have
loyalty"
The girl stood gripping that delicate old
hand long while, then she said unStead-
lily: "Let us go down together, darling.
Dinner was always charming meal
when presided over ny Mrs. Ninstone,