The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1907-05-24
KennewiCk Courier
Friday, May "a, 1907

once as size p;iSScu the cottage he WIS
washing his few dishes, and he saw
her toss her head and quicken her
steps. More often. however. he was at
his post in the depot. He hoped against
hone that she would drop him a foreiv-
ing line or fling him nod Of friend
ship as she passed the depot. Instead
each W. ek lie heard more Of Nellie's
social popularity. The boys at the new
suspender factory organized a club and
gave a dance. Nellie was the belle Of
the evening. Miss Mccarthy, who had
come over to the cottage to do some
scrubbing. told him all about it. con-
Guiding with graphic description Of
the wonderful! new frock which Nellie
had ordered from the city.
That afternoon the weather change
suddenly. The snow came down first
in a soft swiriing cloud. then with
crisp, needlelike insistence. Tom threw
more coal into the depot stove and made
a quick run home to take the gerani-
ums out of the window. When he
came back to the station he knew that
a blizzard was closing down on Ridge
field. He wondered how Nellie would
get home, and then Syracuse called,
and he had to put his thoughts on his
work.
1t took all his strength to reach the
cottage across the track. His first in
stinct was to close all shutters and
draw the curtains, but he remembered
his mothers custom Of setting a lamp
in the window for those who might be
abroad Oh stormy nights. Such a coy
little kitchen as it lighted, with fire
swapping in the old fashioned cook
stove which Miss Mccarthy polished to
briliancy at each visit!
He hummed contentedly. as he sat
over the teakettle and brought the
bread and butter from the pantry.
Then he stopped short and listened in
tently. What was that scratching noise
at the door-yes-and now the sound of
muffied fall?
He flung open the door, and the wind
blew out his lamp, but against the
blur Of the snow he saw a dark figure
huddled on his doorstep.
He carried the woman indoors. laid
her on the old fashioned settle and re-
lighted his lamp. Then, with some
thing like a groan, he sprang back to
the inert form. 1t was Nellie!
Fifteen minutes later a white and
very quiet Nellie sat before the snap
ping fire with blankets wrapped around
her still trembling figure and a cava-
lier in short sleeves serving her tea
and toast.
"And now tell me how it happened"
Tom said, with authority.
IL; didn't realize it was stormins Sc
dreadfully, and my machine broke
down just before closing time. The
fOr1man-the new man, you know,
from BostOn-said that if l wanted to-
make up the time I'd lost-Im doing
piecework now-he had some extra
work to do, too, and he'd see l got
home all right. l was sort Of glad to
stay. because it's fierce to go home to
cold room in the hotel a night like
this, and when you have a headache
You just hate to sit evenings in the
narlor with lot of folks and the piano
janSling. So l stayed, but-but"-her
voice was low and tear heavy-"on the
way down the Stairs-he-he tried to
kiss ne, and then l ran through the
snow, sort Of blind, l guess, and the
first thing didn't know where was.
| just saw the light didn't know it
was your cottage"
Pride struggled with relief in her
tired voice.
'Have some more tea," said Tom alb
ruptly, and then for some minute, he
busted himself around the room. stand.
Ing before her at last in his heaviest
outdoor raiment
Where are you going? Please don't
leave me alone.''
This storm is no joke, Nellie" he
said quietly. "First I've got to get in
fuel to last us all night and perhaps
longer. Then, before we're showed in
for fair, I'm going to bring over the
Rev. Mr.. Cary" Nellie rose uncer-
tainly to her feet. "Now, don't get
Hurried. You've had your lesson. and
I've had mine. and we're going to be !
MARI tonight. You can't get to the |
hote' his storm. thank God, and you
can't stay here except as my wife,
his voice turned suddenly tender-"and
l want you to he my Wife"
Nellie rubbed her face against his
shabby. fuzzy overcoat. "All right.
DEAR she said docilely. and then, even
as his arms closed around her she
tom. dear, this shiny fire
looks SO good and homelike. Those
registers up at the hotel sort of civ.
you a chilli
And then Tom knew that the cottage
looked shabby no longer.