The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-01-01

buulutT tlHut, anu even lht ulJb tOl'
sigor Of a Minnesota winter could no
take it all away. Nevertheless. ther,
was nothing else there half so. beautiful
ns Norma Ericsson.
Her withered, old Norwegian father
had settled himself on good enough
piece Of land, away up above the head
of the lake. miles away from Mataska
village, and no one could say he had SC
much as one friend more at the end OF
a five years residence than the day the
first timber was cut for his house.
Rarely was Norma seen in the village
almost never at all at any merrymak
ing OF the neighborly country folk, and
old Jan seemed to take an ogreish sort
OF pleasure in preventing her from en-
fertaining visitOrs-young men, espe-
cially-at his own house.
And so, the more NOTuas beauty
grew and became known among them
the more unpopular was old Jan Eric
son among the free hearted settlers OF
the Mataska Valley.
And yet there were those who had
succeeded in breaking through or
climbing over the odd Old miscr's wall
Df reserve
John Pinner had done IL, by his faith
er's advice, for Judge Pinncr was Jan
Ericsons lawyer ana he had more
that Norma had other ana more solid
attractions than her beauty.
If, therefore, any fair occasion offered
10 send a message TO the Ericsson farm
John Pinner had been generally quite
ready to 6blige his father by carrying
il, and more than once he had even
ventured on n brief call without any
special errand
As for Paul Wood, on the, other hand,
either he had not sufficient cunning to
invent errands or his pride forbade any
subtcrfuge, for he had positively and
openly bravcd, more than once, even
the harsh discourtesy Of old Jan. in his
uninvited. unabashed intrusiOns.
If Paul did not pretend to vie with
John pinner in dress, wealth or appar-
ent prospects, he was certainly fine,
manly specimen Of n young Western
farmer, and his dark Curls and almost
swarthy features wore pleasant con
trast to even the ripe blonde Morse
lovelincss of Norma herself.
One bit OF strategy il seemed that
Paul had stopped TO, for more than
once Norma had been surprised 10 find
that he had been "out a-hunting in that
ncighborhood" on the very days which
old Jan had chosen for bit Of teaming
on the furthest edge OF his possessions.
tr for a trip TO the store at the village.
Nobody ever knows how such things
come 10 be common property, but,
somehow or other, Judge Pinner and
his son were made aware that they had
reasons for distrusting Paul Wood aud
he had been made to feel the fact very
Snsibly more than once.
There had been m added bitterness
the past autumn in the fact that John
?inner's nomination 10 the state Lcgls-
lature had only resulted IN showing the
folly Of the Mataska valley people, for
the stupid fellows had known no more
even Norma Ericsson had said she was
glad OF it,
There came day, however, in the
early winter when Paul would have
given his political honorS and his best
horse, perhaps even his farm 10 boot,
TO have known why II was that Norma
suddenly became rs distant and repcl-
ling as old Jan himself
Not word would she vOuchsafc him.
though he met her full halt.milc from
The house anu walked TO thc very door
by her side.
He did not give the matter up, even
then, half so much for the vollcy of
bitter abuse with which the old miscr
greeted him, as for the icy look of in
difference with which Norma marched
straight on into the house and closed
the door.
There was really very little give
mp in Pauls composition, hut he met
john Pipncr before he had left the
farm q mile behind him, and there
was look on Johns face that sug-
gesed n good many ugly thoughts To
the sore heart OF the discounted
youth.
The next day and the next. and, in
fact, n good many days after that,
Were decidedly unfavorahlc TO court
ing of any sort
Anyhow, there were terrible stories
OF suffering, here and there. and no.
body cared 10 stir far from home "un-
til the frost should let go its hold
little"
John" said the careful Judge. on
the third day, when the abating storm
began to let III the frOst-"John. don't
you think you'd better 20 and take
look at the Ericsons? | don't believe
the old man was ready for this"
What! You amt in earnest?" ex-
claimed that ardent lover. Ten miles
through these drifts! DO you want me
TO bury myselfT
well. maybe you're right, but |
wouldn't wait too long, if | were YOU
They'll be breaking out the roads i'm
day or so," replied the Judge
But more than n day or so" went
by before the Mataska people cared to
attempt great deal in the way Of
road making. and in the meantime the
Ericsons had not been ready for this"
With endless supplies OF timber land
close by-that is. within n mile or SO.
and generally fine winter weather to
haul in what he might want. old Jan
never could see the policy of making
up much Of n wood pile.
Besides. huge provision for warmth.
such as his neighbors made. offended
Jams keen sense OF economy. They