The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-04
The Stone Fireplace.


tage felt imprisoned.
"Oh, pussy cat, pussy cat, she said
to the cat curled up on the Wlnoo"
seat, "I shall die Of loneliness
The cat gave sleepy attention, and
Miss Frazier shook her gently. "Of
curse you don't care" she said, but
who could have believed that snow
and cold weather would have come so
early. And all the other cottagers
have gone back to town. But 1 cant.
My rent is paid for six months and
can't afford to lose it,
Once more she began her excited
walk across the floor, while the cat
went to sleep, and deadly quiet
reigned. At last Miss Frazier could
stand it no longer. She put on her
hat and coat and a pair of rubbers.
Pausing on the threshold as she went
out, she addressed the cat theatrical
ly:
"sleep' on" she said, Il go to seek
my fortune: and she foundered
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, II can't go on
Help came in the person of a little
man in high boots, who appeared
F., from the other side of the drift.
Got stuck, did ye?" he asked,
cheerily. "Well, you ought ter
stayed at home. 'Taint weather Ter
) Wimmen to be out
Miss Frazier looked at him haught-
fly. In her code there was no place
for bad grammar, and, besides as a
spinster of spirit, his reproof grated
On her.
Women can't stay in and die of
loneliness she told him stiffiy.
The little man looked at her with
sympathetic grey eyes. Lonesome,
was ye?" he said. We'll, now, that's
100 bad"
His sympathy warmed the cookies
Of Miss Frazier's heart. 1t was SO
long since any one had cared. The
last of her family, she had taught
school in a big city until i'll health
had forced her to resign. Then she
rented the little cottage at the un-
fashionable resort, and had prepared
20 live there for six months, hoping
for the benefits of the fresh air m a
free life. There had been other cot
tagers 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 Sit
uation seemed u%nbearable.
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 better get into the house. You
will ketch cold"
81 hate the house." said Miss Fra
zier fiercely. There isn't a sou!
there but the pussy cat"
II live up at the farm he in
formed her. I'm the new manager,
and there amt anybody there but a
lot of men and a colored woman to
cook for us. There's a great 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
doorstep safely. In spite of the bit
ing air he jerked off his cap as he
babe her "good-by."
Come in" she urged. "Oh, please
come in. I don't think I a. stand
it to face the pussy cat all alone"
His kindly blue eyes smiled at her
'I'd like to come in" he said. 'Taint
very sociable up at the farm"
The little room was cherries:
enough.
Miss Frazier's ginger jars and Mex
lean hats had been artistic summer
accessories, but in the gray light o.
the snowy day they merely served tt
emphasize the b~leahness. In thu
stone fireplace was a bunch of gold
en-rod gone to seed. The only warmth
came feebly from a rickety old stove
in the summer kitchen.
why amt you go a fire in thu
hreplace?" the little man demanded
as he surveyed the cavenous struc
ture.
II haven't any wood" shiveret
Mss Frazier. II couldn't ge
any,"
Perhaps he read in her hesitation
a confession of poverty, but he dit
not ask any more questions.
"Ill be back in a minute" he sait
presently, and he went out, and whel
he returned he was bending Atlas
like under the weight of a great 10:
that had lain for days by the road
side.
There" he said, as he ~depositet
it in the fireplace, 'if You will TAX
out them wild flowers, we'll have
fire"
Miss Frazier obeyed meekly.
How strong you are sh
breathed.
"Oh, law, yes" said the little man
81 kin lift most anything"
He made several trips after tina
finding enough dry wood in the she,
to start the fire, and soon it was roar
ing furiously.
The black cat came and curled u
on the hearth looking at the flame
with fathomless eyes.
ooh ;t'c loyalv 1oya1y cai6 Mis-