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

d what he would do on the morrow.
T And Norma tried 10 be cheerful; but
? the bowling, dismal tempest without
4 was only too well in keeping with the
| dismal state of her own internal feel
/ ings and thoughts.
= The night went by aud the mornin z
came, and the storm still ragged; but old
Jan Ericsson did not go out 10 cut
: wood
He did not even leave his bed. for
exposure and cold and over exertiOn
had done their work on his rheumatic
old limbs and imprisoned him only too
cffectually.
, Poor Norna's heart sank within her,
for she knew that such attacks were
apt TO be tediously long, and even food
might fail her, as Wen as the means Of
cooking il.
She was a brave girl, and she made
out 10 go 10 the barn ana stables that
day, 80 that the stock did not suffer (,
but the few fence rails ana odd pieces
Of timber she was able 10 bring in On
ablcd her 10 make but poor defense
against the fast increasing cold.
Moreover, old Jan was chilly, and
fretted and complained OF the absence
Of the grand old fires he had been used
TO in his youth among the distant hills
OF Norway.
That was q terrible day for Norma,
and when another morning dawncd she
| looked out uCon the white and more
than Arctic dcsOlation around the
house with feeling near akin to
despair.
Still, with true courage, the Beauty
OF Mataska faced her troubles, wadcd
through the drifts. fed carefully her
one feeble fire, attended 10 the qucru-
lous demands Of unreasonable old Jan,
and wondered, now and then. if the
people at the village would ever dream
Of sending out TO look after them
Then there followed another long,
dark, miserable night ana Norma could
not get q wink OF sleep till toward
morning, for thinking Of what might
| come.
She did not even rise at once when
the tardy light began 10 come through
the thickly frosted panes Of her win
dow. Why should she, when she had
nothing 10 make n fire with?
"Would il not be better to burn the
furniture than 10 freeze? She could
make a cup Of coffee. at least, with the
A kitchen chairs"
! Just then she thought she heard
! slight sound in the adjoining room. and
! stirring.
1t was an effort even TO rise and
dress in that stngng cold. but Norma
was brave, and ia n few minutes more
she was ready 10 face the labOrs and
pcrils Of the day.
| Her heart was heavy enough when
she laid her hand on the Kitchen door;
| but when she opened it she fairly
started back In astOnishmcnt, for
blast of warm air, balmy with the
! breath Of blazing pine smotc her in the
! face
Not the cherries. chill dcathly desc
| latiOn she had expected was the ample
| kitchen but the high-piled hearth
| bln2cd and cracked with { most un-
| wonted prodigality of pine. oak and
| hickory, while hcapcd on either side OF
it were ample supplies for at least that
days consumption, whatever might bc
the condition of 10 thermometer
Norma did not believe in miracles,
but She thought Of her bcdriddcn
iathcr. about 10 be frozen to death
but for that pile Of wood, and she just
sat down 10y the window for n good,
wholesome cry before she set herself
10 work at getting breakfast rc@ly.
The tea kettle had evidently filed
itself and started for boil on its own
account, aud Norna's curiosity took
her at once 10 the door. 10 see what SO.
luton OF the puzzle might be found out
side Not sign OF human lie was
there, but somebody had been at work
with a sho ,cl for there was very
decent pathway cut as far as the
barn
Tracks. OF coursc here and there, but
big boots are too nearly alike TO tell
tales TO the eyes of any one less acute
Of vision than an Indian trailer.
Still Norma wondered and wondered
how all that wood could ever have got
there.
Getting into the house was easy
enough in Il region where wooden
latchcs take the place Of locks, but,
whoever thc unknown benefactor had
been. lie must have posscsse, wonder
ful faculties for silence.
There was magic i'm il. and Norma
called 10 mind the old Morse tales she
had heard Of good.natured demons of
the forest; bL, then, all that belonged
TO Norway. and not TO Minnesota.
Inside the house the food question
was fast becoming IN important one,
so closely had the narrow and stinting
policy of old Jan permitted the cur
rent supply to run down: but. for ull
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 il was without.
hut the bountiful provisions OF the un.
known friend left little 60 ask for
within. and the very dancing blaze IT,
self seemed 10 laugh in mockery Of
Norna's curiosity
The long night came again. OF course.
and Norma tried hard not TO 20 TO sleep
so that she might listen.
The first thing TO greet her eyes. rs
She swung the door open. was the car
caSs OF goodly deer that hung against
IL, ana she knew very well how much
better venison-steaks are than utter