Middletown transcript., 1905-02-11
BY ELIZABETH R. MACDONALD

BY ELIZABETH R. MACDONALD
The wind had blown fiercely all night,
and all the day before. The snow still
fell, but the gale had died away, and the
worst storm of the winter WAS nearly
over. Agnes Clifford, looking out OF the
parlor window, reioiced in the great drifts.
"Aunt Caroline" she exclaimed. turn
ing to fraif.looking lady in heavy black
who sat near by, II am going for snow
shoe tramp over those splendid drifts.
You won't be lonely with your new
novel, dear, will you?'
Aunt Caroline hesitated moment Tn
her own secret heart she considered snow
shoeing an uhlady-like amusement. But
her late husband had said to her. few
days before his death Remember, Car
oline, it is your duty to make Agnes
happy" and this injunction was always
sounding in her ears. Besides long walks,
skating and snow -shoeing brought more
color and brightness to the clear-cut girlish
face than any other occupation-except
perhaps that of painting, and that was
suitable employment in Aunt Caroline's
opinion. Agnes thought OF that, too, as
she noticed her aunt's hesitation, and she
said: II win take my sketch-book, and
bring you back something pretty. if I
can"
"Very we'll, my child" Mrs. Castleton
consented "but wrap yourself up WARMLY
and take Bevis with you for company.
Remember, I shall be anxious if you stay
too long"
A few minutes later Agnes kissed her
aunt goodbye, with merry "Only for
an hour or 80, auntie, and went through
the kitchen to give her directions to Hep
zibah.
"Don't forget aunt's cup of cocoa at
eleven, Hepsie and look in occasionally
to see if she wants anything"
Claw sakes, Miss Agnes, you, amt eyer
going out in this snow You'll get lost
and frozen and buried in the drifts p
"Oh, dear, l hope not '' Agnes laughed;
but if I'm not home by twelve, you will
know it is time to dispatch John for mep
John came in at this moment and stood
by the door, stamping and shaking him
self free OF his white covering.
"BIess your heart, Miss Agnes, be you
going to look for valentine? You won't
find none, in weather like this, Pm
afeared e.
"Why, is this St. Valentines Da, ~
Agnes cried II had quite forgotten.
Who knows, 1 may find king, or
fairy prince, who will come alive, in
the fields to-day p'
She waved goodbye to the admiring
old couple who watched her from the
doorway, and swung off with the long,
easy tread OF All experienced snow -shoer.
Bevis, the big St. Bernard, plunged heav-
lily after. They made apretty addition to
the winter lapdscape-the tall girl in her
blue coat ana toqae, and the beautiful,
massively-built dog.
The fields spread spotless and uneven
before them the spruce woods to the left
we're magnifcently draped in white. Ag-
ness went down over the wheat-field aud
through the hiIly sheep pasture, in the
direction Of the heavily-wooded ground
at the back of the farm. The air was not
too cold for dreams, and she found her.
self going back to the happiest year she
conld remember in her life.
Agnes had been left an orphan when
very little child. She could not remem-
Der her parents, but she had their por-
traits, and thought of them always as
they were in those beautiful miniatures
the smiling, radiant boy and girl in the
first pride Of their love. Her Uncle Cas-
tleton, wealthy man no. blessed with |
an appreciation of children, had sent her !,
to good boarding-school as soon as she !
wasold enough. Then he and Aunt Caro-
line moved to New Brunswick, and as the |
select school seemed to him quite salts
factory, little Agnes was left behind to be |
trained up to young ladyhood. Aunt
Caroline had felt mild wish to keep the
child with her, but she never dreamed Of
expressing either wish or opinion opposed
10 those of her autocratic husband.
SO until she was nineteen Agnes re-
Ilattieu at school then came one en-
;hahted year spent at the home OF a school \
riend at Montreal. That winter she met
lack Dudley-met him at every party,
net him at quiet home-eyenings, sat be-
'lde him at concerts and theatre, and
rev to love the strong. quiet nature be-
ore she knew it. Then, one morning in
'ariy summer, came the sudden summons
rom her uncle he had lost all his money
md much of hers they must 20 into re- !
lrenient and live most carefully she |
s,nld not waste her time IN MuItnaI any