The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-12-05
Miss Frazier obeyed meekly.
"How strong you are," ST
breathed.

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 roar
ing furiously.
The black cat came and curled up
on the hearth looking at the flames
with fathomless eyes.
ooh, it's lovely, lovely, said Miss
Frazier. cts something alive"
II allus liked puss," 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
friendly"
II am going to make you a cup of
tea," Miss Frazier said futteringly,
and when it was ready she brought it
in on a dainty tray, fanked by half
dozen stale crackers. II 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.
II bet you don't know what good
things you kin cook over a fireplace, :"
he said eagerly.
II never hear of such a thing"
she said. "What could I cook 7"
"Well, 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 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 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, she uses
dreadful grammar, but he is the kind
est man I have ever known"
The little man came the next day
and made the stew, and all that after
noon the savory food simmered and
bubbled, and the black cat watched
it 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 it 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 man
illness, against his defects, and found
grammar losing its relative impor-
tance.
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 came the beginning Of
the new quarter and with it Miss Fra
zier's remittance.
"And next week I must CO." she
told the little man when he came that
evening. He looked at her calmly.
"Ycu amt goin'," !" he said.
Miss Frazier, thrilling at his mas
terfulness, asked family, "why not :"
Because I can't get along with
out you," said he; II can't Anna
BEL"
"How did you know my first
name 2" Miss Frazier demanded.
"I seen it in one of your books"
he said, IAN it's pretty name"
Then he reached out and took her
hands in his. "You're such lonely
little thing" he said, "an' jes'
can't live without you. I think it's
settin' around this hearthstone that
gave me the feeling that I wanted to
marry you. And you'll never want
for nothin', honey, not so long as I
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 aud peace and happiness,
poor, tired Miss Frazier was content.
PHILADELPHIA Bulletin.