The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-10
The Stone
Fireplace.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Homer sprasue.

the umlJleSS eXp9ASe Oh SHOW. MISS
Frazier, pacing from window to win
dow of her little cottage, felt impris-
oned.
"Oh, pussy cat, pussy cat" she said
to the cat curled up ON the window
seat, 81 shall die of loneliness"
The cat gave sleepy attention, and
Miss Frazier shook her gently. "Of
course you don't care" she said, but
who could have believed that snow and
cold weather would have come so ear
ly! And all the other cottagers have
gone back to town. But / can't. My
rent is paid for six months, and l can't
afford to lose it"
Once more she began her excited
walk across the door, while the cat
went to sleep, and deadly quiet reign
ed. At last Miss Frazier could stand 1t
no longer. She put on her hat and
coat and pair Of rubbers. Pausing
on the threshold as she went out, she
addressed the cat theatrically.
'Sleep on" she said. 81 go to seek
my fortune" And she f1oundered
through the snow to the gate.
The road, deep with drifts, offered
new discouragements. Miss Frazier's
long skirts dragged and grew heavy,
and at last she stopped and sobbed
aloud, Il can't go onp'
Help came in the person Of little
man in high boots, who appeared from
the other side Of the drift.
'Got stuck, did YEP he asked cheer
ny. well, you ought ter stayed at
home. 'Tain't weather fer wimmin to
be out"
Miss Frazier looked at him haughti-
ly. In her code there was no place for
bad grammar, and besides, as spin
ster Of spirit, his reproof grated on her
women can't stay In and die Of
loneliness" she told him stifiy.
The little man looked at her with
sympathetic gray eyes. Lonesome,
was yep he said. well, now, that's
too bad"
His sympathy warmed the cookies Of
Miss Frazier's heart. 1t was 80 long
since any one had cared. The last OF
her family, she had taught school In a
big city until Ill health had forced her
to resign. Then she had rented the lit
tie cottage at the questionable resort
and had prepared to live there for six
months, hoping for the benefits Of
fresh air and a free life, There had
been other cottagers near, but they
had their own interests, SO that even
In the warmer months Miss Frazier
had been lonely, and now that snow
had come her situation seemed unbear-
able.
There were tears In her eyes as she
stood there, forlorn and cold In the
drift and the little man said again:
well, now, that's too bad. You'd bet
ter git into the house. You'll ketch
cold"
81 hate the house." said Miss Frazier
fercely. There isn't a soul there but
the pussy cat"
II live up at the farm he informed
her. I'm the new manager, and there
amt nobody there but lot Of men
and colored woman to cook for us
There's a good deal OF work, you
know"
Miss Frazier didn't know, but she
found herself listening eagerly to his
talk Of Guernsey cattle and of blue
ribbon horses, with all the rest of the
homely farm details.
The little man helped her up the
path and landed her on her own door
step safely. In spite of the biting air
he jerked his cap of as he babe her
goodby.
"Come in" she urged. "Oh, please
come in. don't think l can stand II
to face the pussy cat all alone"
His kindly blue eyes smiled at her.
"Id like to come" he said. "'Tain't
very sociable up at the farm"
The little room was cherries enough.
Miss Frazier's ginger jars and Mexi-
can hats had been artistic summer ac-
cessories, but in the gray light of the
snowy day they merely served to en-
phasize the bleakness. In the stone
fireplace was a bunch of goldenrod
gone to seed. The only warmth came
feebly from a rickety stove In the
summer kitchen.
'Why amt you got fire in the fire.
placer the little man demanded as he
surveyed the cavernous structure.
81 haven't any wood" shivered Miss
Frazier. IL couldn't get any"
Perhaps he read in her hesitation
confession of poverty, but he did not
ask any more questions.
'Tll be back In a minute" he said
presently and went out, and when he
returned he was bending Atlas-like I'M
der the weight Of a great log that had
lain for days by the roadside.
"There," he said as he deposited 1t
in the fireplace, ''if you will take out
them wild flowers wen have a fire."
Miss Frazier obeyed meekly.
'rHow strong you are" she breathed.
"Oh, law, yes," said the little man;
II kin lift most anything"
He made several trips after that,
finding enough dry wood in the shed to
start the fire, and soon it was roaring
gloriously.
The black cat came and curled up
on the hearth, looking at the flames
with fathomless eyes.
"Oh, it's lovely, lovelyw said Miss
Frazier. ut Is like something alive"
Il allus did like fire." said the lit
tie man. 81 came from down south,
and we don't think much of stoves
there. Not fer bein' sociable. You've
got to see the flames to be real friend
ly."
81 am going to make you cup Of
tea" Miss Frazier said futteringly,
ana when it was ready she brought 1t
in on dainty tray, fanked by half
dozen stale crackers. Il wish / had
something nicer to Offer" she said,
"but It is so hard to get things"
The little man smiled, and as he took
in the details of the poor room some
knowledge of her plight seemed to
come to him, and he found a way to
help her.
81 bet you don't know what good
things you kin cook over fireplace"
he said eagerly.
II never heard Of such thing" she
said what could l cook"
SWELL Brunswick stew is fine. It's
got squirrels and corn and onions and
tomatoes. You JUS let me show you
"But can't get those things Her
face famed.
"Of course you can't 'Tain't to be
expected that a woman kin kill a
squirrel. But I'm goin' huntin' to-
morrow, and I'll bring the things
He left her later, and when he had
gene Miss Frazier stood for long
time looking into the glowing Goals.
ooh, pussy cat, pussy cat" she said
when at last the two Of them were
: curled up for the night, "he uses
dreadful grammar, but he is the kind
est man / have ever known"
The little man came the next day
and made the stew. and all that after
noon the savory food simmered and
dubbed, and the black cat watched II
with eager ewes. Miss Frazier in her