The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-06-17

deep enough Ia prevent Maria Ellen
starting out early IN the fore moon t.
walk to the village, q distance Of more
than q mile. She had an errand at
the sstore, and she was not one to
| falter at a mild snowstorm Before
: c,::c started fol -!oln-. ..oweves, 1t was
showing faster and when she reached
the open road that led from the village
! out into the open farming country
where her home was situated she felt
strong wind in her face and found
that the roads were drifting badly.
But she trudged bravely along, for she
was strong and healthy. and she liked
the touch of the soft snow flakes on
her cheeks. Walking soon began TO- be
laborious, however, and she was not a
third Of the way home when she
paused. painting, and leaned for sew
eral moments against the crooked old
rail fence that ran alongside the road.
The ground had been in that hard.
frozen condition that permits the fresh
snow to pack down and make good
sleighing at once, and Maria Ellen
had just started ON again when she
heard the jingle of sleighbells behind
her. She stepped to one side of the
road to let the vehicle pass, when she
heard a sudden "Whoa!" and horse
almost rubbed against her as it stopped
close at her side. She looked around
and saw Elder Burrows sitting in his
fine new cutter. His face was ruddy
from the snow and wind and beaming
with satisfaction and good nature. He
smiled genially down upon the girl
standing in the white drift and moved
to one side of the seat. holding up the
buffalo robe with an air of invitation.
"Well, WE'LL" he said. '"how lucky
happened to come along! Get right In,
Maria Ellen, and I'll give you a lift
toward home. I was going right your
way"
Maria Ellen had suspicion that he
hadn't happened along" at all. and
she resented his familiarity In calling
her Maria Ellen" as if he had per-
feet right to do so.
THANK you," she replied, "but I'd
just as soon walk"
WALK? The idea! I guess not, in
all this snow" cried the elder. when
you can just as we'll ride. all snug and
warm. Come, come, hop I'M"
And Maria Ellen stepped in. She
felt that she could not refuse without
open rudeness, and besides. she was
really glad of the chance to ride. But
rs she sat down on the warmly cush-
toned seat and the elder tucked the
robe about her she made firm resolve
that she would not give him an oppor-
tunity to say the words which She felt
sure he was intending to speak.
The horse sped along. the cutter slid
smoothly over the white surface of the
road and the snow flew into the faces
of the two behind the big fur robe.
Maria Ellen held up her old-fashioned
muff, a relic of her mothers girlhood,
to shield her face and eyes. The elder
put his arm around her to draw the
robe closer about her form. She drew
away from him, almost with a gesture
of resentment.
Whats the matter?' he said. do
you want to freeze to death? I can't
allow that, you know. You're too pre-
ciOus."
He looked around, smiling down into
her face.
How do you like my new rig?" he
asked
Its very nice. Mr.. Burrows re-
piled Maria Ellen.
Zine horse, that How'd you like
to have such a rig to ride in whenever
you wanted to-"
"I-I don't know
Don't know? Pshaw, I'll bet you'd
like it. And-er-say, how do you
think you'd like to live at my house,"
He certainly was abrupt enough, and
his words fairly took Maria Ellen's
breath. She was for an instant too
frightened to reply.
"Well, how would you, little girl?"
Then she found words.
1T is very kind of you to think of
such thing, Mr. Burrows" she be-
gan, land I know you have lovely
home, and l think the children are
very nice, and-and I appreciate it,
but-Oh. I've dropped my muff!"
Either in her excitement, or as a
ruse to- gain time and perhaps cause
the elder to change the subject, she
had let her muff fall from her hands
into the road, where it was left some
distance behind. He stopped the horse,
jumped out and restored the lost arti-
Gle to her.
I'm sorry to have made you SO much
trouble. Thank YOU"
1T wasn't bit Of trouble"
Then, before he could say anything
further, i? she began to rattle on about
one thing and another, and kept it up
until they were in sight of her home
AS the horse stopped by their gate,
Maria Ellen saw her mother looking
out of the window at them. and she
knew that there was joy and satisfac-
ton in the proud woman's heart.
Mrs. Turner could not hide her happy