Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-07


"eh, pussy cat, pussy cat" she said
TO 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
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. Ny
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 reign
ed. 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 theatrically.
| sleep on" she said. Il go to seek
my fortune" And she floundered
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 little
| man in high boots. who appeared from
the other side of the drift.
Got stuck, did ye?" he asked cheer
lily. well. you ought ter stayed at
home. faint weather fer wimmin to
be OUT
Miss Frazier looked at him haughti-
Iy. In her code there was no place for
bad grammar. and besides, as a spin
ster 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 gray eyes. Lonesome
was ye?" he said. We'll, now. that's
too bad"
His sympathy warmed the cookies OF
Miss FraZier's hcart. 1t was so long
since any one had cared. The last OF
her family, she had taught school in q
big city until ill health had forced hel
to resign. Then she had rented the lit
lie 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 has
been other cottagers near. but they
had their own interests, so that ever
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 ketci
cold"
Il hate the house." said Miss Frazie
fiercely. There isn't a soul there bu
the pussy cat"
II live up at the farm" he informe,
her. I'm the new manager and Their
amt nobody there but Il lot of mel
and a colored woman to cook for us
! There's good deal of work, yol
know"
Miss Frazier didn't know, but sh
> found herself listening eagerly to hi
; talk of Guernsey cattle and of blu
ribbon horses. with all the rest of tn
homeIy farm details.
The little man helped her up tn
path and landed her on her own dooI
step safely. In spite of the biting al
he jerked his cap off as he babe he
} goodby.
"Come in" she urged. ooh, pleas
come in. 1 don't think l can stand
to face the pussy cat all alone"
His kindly blue eyes smiled at hel
/, I'D like to come" he said. "'Tain
very sociable up at the farm"
5 The little room was cherries enough
Miss FraZier's ginger jars and Mex
can hats had been artistic summer az
cessories, but in the gray light of tn
). snowy day they merely served to en-
b | phasiZe the bleakness. In the ston
}. fireplace was bunch of goldenro
gone to seed. The only warmth cam
S feebly from a rickety stove in til
I summer kitchen.
t why amt you got a fire in the fir,
place." the little man demanded as h
surveyed the cavernous structure.
II haven't any wood" shivered Mis-
Frazier. IL couldn't get any,"
( Perhaps he read in her hesitation
confession of poverty, but he did nc
ask any more questions.
I'll be back in a minute" he sal
presently and went out, and when
returned he was bending Atlas-like III
e der the weight of great log that ha
lain for days by the roadside.
u There" he said as he deposited
:, | in the fireDlaep 80 Won will take n,
>. them wild flowers Wen have a fire."
Miss Frazier obeyed meekly.
3 How strong you are" she breathe
"Oh, law, yes" said the little maj
Il kin lift most anything"
He made several trips after tina
finding enough dry wood in the shed I
= start the fire, and soon it was roarir
u gloriously.