Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-02-04
how all that wood could ever have got

latches take the place of locks but
whoever the unknown benefactor had
been. he must have possessed wonder
rul faculties for silence.
There was magic in it, and Norma
called to mind the old Morse tales she
nad heard of good.natured demons of
the forest; but, then, all that belonged
to Norway, and not to Minnesota.
Inside the house the '.food question"
was fast becoming an important one.
so closely had the narrow and stinting
policy of old Jan permitted the cur
rent supply to run down; but. for all
that, Norma Ericsson sang all day the
quaint and musical rhymes Of her
northern ancestry, which her mother
had taught her years before
Bitter. bitter cold it was without,
but the bountiful provisions Of the un-
known friend left little to ask for
| within, and the very dancing blaze it.
self seemed to laugh in mockery Of
Norna's curiosity.
The long night came again, of course.
and Norma tried hard not to go to sleep
so that she might listen.
The first thing to greet her eyes, as
| she swung the door open, was the car
cass of a goodly deer that hung against
it, and she knew very we'll how much
better venison-steaks are than utter
starvation.
The next day and the next went by,
and the terrible cold seemed to have
griped everythin: with hand of
frozen steel.
Again and again did Norma Ericsson
shiver and turn pale, as she thought
of what would surely lave been her
fate but for her unknown helper.
Old Jan was able to sit up now, and
| grumbled at the sad necessity of burn
ing so much good wood just to keep
| warm!
In reply to Norna's specula tons as
to who had sent it, however, he testify
replied:
| Il knowed Judge Pinner would keep
an eye on us. That coffee you say was
left this mornin:; came from Jones'
store at the village. l knowed it soon
as tasted it. IT,; what the judge al
ways buys, and it's two cents pound
more than I want to give"
True enough, Judge Pinner had by
no means forgotten his client, and at
last he succeeded In stirring up Johns
chivalry and his own, now the roads
were becoming a trif1e better broken,
and the mercury ventured a few points
higher up in the glass.
Bitter cold yet, but when the double
team Of Judge Plnner's pulled his
sight of Jan Ericson's homestead, the
curling smoke from the chimney
promptly dispelled all their fears.
'.Hurrah for old Jan!' exclaimed the
judge. Jack Frost didn't catch hin
mapping"
Great was the surprise of Doth father
and son, however, when the old mar
hobbled out to meet them, to be greeted
with such a torrent of what seemed
to be genuine gratitude for the kin(
, attention they had shown during hi:
illness. and all they had saved him an(
Norma from during the cold snap.
. | Just at that moment a man on snow
| shoes came plodding down the road
| but nobody thought much about him
\
sion enough to answer:
"WeIl of course, we We're anxiou
/ about you and Norma, and we've com
now to see if there's anything else W
! can do How's Norna?''
I'm pretty well, thank you," sai'
e that young lady herself from the door
l way "Father, you should thank MI
10 coffee
The man on snowshoes had hal
A halted within hearing distance, an
/ could not have lost a word of Jan Eric
G sons thanks, or the dubious protestin
and yet acknowledging acceptanc
thereof Of the Primers.
a sis that you. Mr.. Jones?" again II
e terrupted Norma, addressing the "store
4 keeper" who still sat muffled up in th
sleigh. "I'm glad you've come. I wan
n you to read something for me-"
;; "All right" said the gallant mel
v chant, springing out into the snow
a take large slip OF brown paper fro1
e Norma's extended hand. Where di
e that come frOm?"
"Read it-read itr' said Norma
J. "Paul Wood! That's plain enough
q and it's in my own handwrite. Oh,
h remember, I did up whole lot {
y things that day for one and anothe
4 and put the names on 'em, SOS not
# git 'em Mixed
# "Oh, that's it, is it?'' said the beaut.
,e II see now. Father. John Pinner g
Paul Wood to buy the coffee for hi
$. and bring it out. Mr.. Pinner, ho
n much did you pay Paul for working a
h night in the storm? Did you tell hi
# not to forget about the venison and IL
4. rest? It was real good of you. 'Tw:
If good Of him. too, to give up his cour
ing in the village all through the CO.
ID snap"
N "What's that:" suddenly exclaime
TX the man OH snowshoes, untwisting
O. huge fur muffler FROM his head as /
It, spoke-"what's that about courting
as the village?''
TX John Pinner was evidently getti1
rv very chilly ill1oinv nv tho way h