Oxford Democrat., 1907-07-09
The Stove.:
By STEPHEN CRANE.
Author e The Red Badge Of covf.
49," Etc.
} Copyright, 1900. BY William Ho,rs Crane. +,
)-O-O-O-O-O-OO-OtO-o-O-O1,

""HEY'LL bring her." said Mrs
Trescott dubiously. Her cous.
in. the painter, the bewildered
4 father of the angel child, had
written to say that If they were asked
he and his wife would come to the
Trescotts for the Christmas holidays.
But he had not officially stated that
the angel child would form part Of the
expedition. But of course they'll
bring her." said Mrs. Trescott to her
husband.
The doctor assented. Eyes; they'll
have to bring her. They wouldn't dare
leave New York ut her mercy"
"Well." sighed Mrs. Trescott after a
pause "the neighbors will be pleased.
When they see her they'll Immediately
lock up their children for safety"
Anyhow" said Trescott, "the devas-
tatlon of the Margate twins was COM
plete. She can't do that particular
thing again. shall be interested to
note what particular form her energy
will take this time"
"Oh. yes; that's itw cried the wife.
you'll be interested. You've hit 1t ex-
actly. You'll be interested to note
what form her energy will take this
time. And then. when the real crisis
comes. you'll put on your hat and walk
out of the house and leave me to
straighten things out. This Is not a
scientific question; this Is a practical
matter"
"Well, as a practical man advocate
claiming her out in the stable" an
swered the doctor.
When Jimmie Trescott was told that
his old flame was again to appear he
remained calm. In fact, time had so
mended his youthful heart that 1t was
a regular apple Of oblivion and peace.
Her image in his thought was as the
track OF bird on deep snOw-it was
an impression. but it did not concern
the depths. However, he did what be-
fitted his state. He went out and brag-
ged in the street: "My cousin in comm
next week f'om New York. My cousin
Is comm next week fom New York"
"Girl or boy?" said the pOpulace
bluntly, but when enlightened they
speedily cried, ooh, we remember her."
They were charmed. for they thought
of her as an outlaw, and they surmised
that she could lead them into a very
ecstasy of sin. They thought Of her as
a brave bandit, because they had been
whipped for various pranks into which
she had led them. When Jimmie made
his declaration they fell into Il state of
pleased and shuddering expectancy.
Mrs. Trescott pronounced her point
of view: THE child is a nice child II
only Caroline had some sense. But
she hasn't. And Willis is like wax
figure. | don't see what can be done
unless-unless you simply 90 to Willis
and put the whole thing right at him."
Then, for the purposes of indication.
she improvised speech: Look here
Willis: you've got little daughter.
haven't you? But, confound it, man.
she is not the enly girl child ever
brought into the sunlight. There are u
lot of children. Children are an orIi-
nary phenomenon. In China they
drown girl babies. If yon wish to sub
nit to this frightful impostor and ty-
rant. that is all very well, but why In
the name Of humanity do you make us
submit to it!'
DR.. Trescott laughed. 81 wouldn't
dare say it to him."
Anyhow" said Mrs. Trescott de-
that is what you should
say to him."
1T wouldn't do the slightest good. 1t
would only make him very angry, and
l would lay myself perfectly open to
that / had better attend to
my own affairs with more rigor.'
"Well. suppose you are right" Mrs
Tresc0tt again said.
"Why don't you speak to Caroline"
asked the doctor humorously.
Speak to Caroline! Why, l wouldn't
for the world! She'd fly through the
roof. She'd snap my head Off Speak
to Caroline. You must be mad!'
One afternoon the doctor went to
await his visitors OH the platform Of
the railway station. He was thought
fully smiling. For some quaint reason
he was convinced that he was to he
treated to quick manifestation Of lit
tie Cora's peculiar and interesting pow
ers And yet when the train paused
at the station there appeared to him
only pretty little girl in fur lined
hood and with her nose reddening
from the sudden cold and-attended
by her parents. He smil
ed again, rejecting that he had CON-
lcally exaggerated the dangers of dear
little Cora. 1t amused his philosophy
to note that he had really been per-
turbed.
AS the big sleigh sped homeward
there was sudden shrill outcry from
the angel child: "Oh, mamma, NAM
ma! They've forgotten my stove!'
flush, dear; hushw said the moth
er. "It's all right"
"Oh, but. mamma, they've forgotten
my stove"
The doctor thrust his chin suddenly
out of his top coat collar. "Stove?" he
said. "Stove? What stove?'
"Oh, just a toy Of the child's," ex-
blamed the mother "She's grown so
fond OF 1t. she loves 1t SO. that II we
didn't take 1t everywhere with her
she'd suffer dreadfully. So we always
bring it."
"Ohw said the doctor. He pictured
q little lin trinket. But when the
stove was really unmasked 1t turned
put to be an affair of cast iron as big
rs portmnnteau and, as the stage
people say. practicable. There was
some trouble that evening when came
the hour Of children's bedtime. Little
Cora burst into wild declaration
that she could not retire for the night
unless the stove was carried upstairs
and placed at her bedside. While the
mother was trying to dissuade the
child the TrescOtts held their peace
and gaxed with awe. The incident
closed when the lamb eyed father
gathered the stove in his arms and
preceded the angel child to her cham
Der.
In the, morning Trescott was stand
In Ii kc tho diYaltanE