The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-23
out them wild flowers. well have

How strong you are." sh,
breathed.
"oh, law, yes" said the little man
II kin lift most anything"
He made several trips after thai
finding enough dry wood in the shee
10 start the fire, and soon ii was roar
ing furiously.
The black cat came and curled ur
on the hearth looking at the flames
with fathomless eyes.
"oh, it's lovely, lovely" said Mis-.
| Frazier. Its something alive"
| II allus did like fire." said the lit.
tie man. II came from down South,
an We don't think much of stoves
there. Not fer bein' sociable. You've
| got TO see the flames to be real friend.
ly."
II am going to make you a cup OF
tea." Miss Frazier said fluttering gly,
and when It was ready she brought
it in on a dainty tray, flanked by a
| 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.
Il never hear OF such thing" she
4
We'll, Brunswick stew is fine
| it's got squirrels and corn and onions
and tomatoes-you JUS let me show
| you"
But i can't get those things"
| her face famed.
"Of course you can't-'taint to be
expected that a woman kin kill a
squirrel. But I'm goin' hunting to-
morrow-and I'll bring the thing"
He left her later, and when he had
gone Miss Frazier stood for a long
time looking into the glowing Goals.
"Oh, 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 af-
ternoon the savory food simmered
| and bubbled. and the black cat
watched IL with eager eyes. Miss
Frazier in her best blue gown set
the table for two, fitting from one
room to the other with all the gayety
Of young girl.
The little mans table manners
proved to be much better than his
| grammar, and 1t was at the end OF
the feast that he told Miss Frazier
the story of his life, and as he talked
his hostess weighed his dignity, his
manliness, against his defects. and
found grammar losing its relative i'm
| portance.
He came often after that, and the
| black cat learned to know his foot
steps, and to meet him at the door.
and to curl up on his knee as he sat
In front of the fireplace, while the
two good friends basked and chatted
in the golden glow.
And then care the beginning OF
| the new quarter and with 1t Miss Fra
zier's remittance.
And next week / must CO." she
told the little man when he came that
evening. He looked at her calmly.
You amt goin', he said.
Miss Frazier, thrilling at his mas
terfulness, asked family, why not?"
Because l can't git along without
you" said he; II can't Annabel."
How did you know my first
name?" Miss Frazier demanded.
'I seen it in one of your books" >"
he said, 'an it's pretty name"
Then he reached out and took her
hands in his. You're such a lonely
little thing" he said, AN jes' can't
live without you. / think it's settin'
around this hearthstone that gave
me the feeling that l wanted to mar
ry you. And you'll never wait for
nothin', honey, not so long as l kin
give it,"
With little impulsive movement,
she slipped on her knees beside his
chair and hid her face against the
roughness Of his coat. i've been so
lonely all my life," she sobbed.
There. there, honey" he whis-
pered, with his kindly hand against
her cheek, you amt goin' To be
lonesome any more" and with that
vista Of rest and peace and happiness,
poor, tired Miss Frazier was content
Philadelphia Bulletin.