The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-10-23

The Stone Fireplace.
Observation-Disclosures

snow. Miss Frazier, pacing from
window TO window of her little cot
tage felt imprisoned.
"Oh, pussy cat, pussy cat, she said
60 the cat curled up on the window
seat, II shall die of loneliness"
The cat gave sleepy attention, and
Miss Frazier shook her gently. "Of
C, urse 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 l can't
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 pair OF rubbers.
Pausing on the threshold as she went
out. she addressed the cat theatrical
ly:
"Sleep on" she said, 81 go to seek
my fortune" and she fioundered
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 on"
Help came in the person of little
man in high boots, who appeared
from the other side of the drift.
Got stuck, did ye?" he asked.
cheerily. "Well, you ought ter
stayed at home. 'Taint weather fer
wimmen to be out"
Miss Frazier looked at him haught-
lily. In her code there was no place
for bad grammar, and, besides as a
spinster Of spirit, his reproof grated
on her.
Women cant stay in and die of
loneliness" she told him stifiy.
The little man looked at her with
sympathetic grey eyes. Lonesome,
was ye?" he said. We'll, now, that's
too 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
TO live there for six months. hoping
for the benefits of the fresh air and
free life. There had been other cot
tsgers 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 unbearable.
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
Il hate the house" said Miss Fra
zier fiercely. There isn't a soul
there but the pussy cat"
IL live up at the farm" he in
formed her. I'm the new manager,
and there ain't anybody there but a
lot of men and 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
bade her "good-by."
Come in, she urged. "Oh, please
come in. | don't think l can stand
1t 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
fcan hats had been artistic summer
accessories, but in the gray light OF
the snowy day they merely served to
emphasize the bleakness. In the
stone fireplace was bunch of gold
en-rod gone to seed. The only warmth
came feebly from a rickety old stove
dn the summer kitchen.
why amt you go a fire in the
freplace?" the little man demanded
as he surveyed the cavenous struc-
ture.
IL haven't any wood" shivered
Mss Frazier. I'll couldn't get
any"
Perhaps he read in her hesitation
a confession OF poverty, but he did
not ask any more questions.
oil be back in a minute" he said
presently, and he went out. and when
he returned he was bending Atlas
iike under the weight Of a great log
that had LAIN for days by the road
side.
There" he said, as he deposited
lt In the fireplace. If you will take