Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-08-24

baskets and put ON the train BY their
growers own hands
1t was not such large check, but
ii was something. and she had earned
1t. From then on Hillside had to adj
nit that possibly Carrie had more
brains than had been imagined. Still,
they could not at once abandon the
oversight they kept upon her.
"She will never outgrow her fight
ness" Mrs. Barnes said one day. II
met her downtown in this cold. raw
wind with no fur around her neck and
| just lace blouse over her throat.
Carrie needs some one to look after
| her,
"Oh, she'll marry again." said Mrs.
Croft comfortably. She's too pretty
not to. And there's no sense In her
living alone in that little cottage and
growing those toadstools-well. they
look just the same. anyway-all the
rest of her life. But she doesn't seem
to have eyes for any one, and poor
Toms been gone four years now. Dr.
White would be pretty attentive to
her If she'd let him, and he's a fine
man.
Yet. when DR.. White soon after
asked Carrie to marry him she shook
her head with faint little smile and
refused him. 1T isn't that 1 don't ap-
preciate you," she said, with an in
stinct to soften her refusal, ''but, you
see, I'm so busy here. IL haven't
time to be happy"
Yet there was a pang of regret In
her heart as she watched his tall fig
ure down the hill. for their cheerful
comradeship had frightened her days.
He had brought her books and pam.
phlets on her work. had advised and |
sympathized. and she knew she would |
miss his brief but almost daily calls. |
But love. she told herself. she was
done with. Time had softened her |
sorrow, but for her she thought the |
ordinary happy life of a woman was |
over and finished
DR.. White after time bravely tried |
to renew their former unsentimental |
comradeship. but that, too, seemed de-
stroyed and the attempt farce.
Il can't do 1t, Carrie" he broke out |
hoarsely one day. II love you. and /
can't pretend not to! I'm going away.
oh, Europe-Japan-an to get |
awayw
And he went, and the days dragged
on, each one opening a little wider the
eyes Of the woman In the small cot
tage as to what really was in her
heart. But bravery was a part of Car
RE Danielson's very nature, and nobody
guessed
Il guess Carrie didn't give rap be
cause DR.. White went to Europe"
Mrs. Barnes said to Mrs. Croft. shes
just as smiling and bright as ever!'
"She's getting kind of peaked look
ing, seems TO me-" commented Mrs.
Croft shrewdly
1t was an overturned lamp that
brought disaster to Carrie. Amid the
frantic struggles and shouts of the In
efficient Hillside fire department her
cottage and mushroom sheds burned
TO the ground.
She took it very resignedly when 1t
happened. but the next day, wander
ing alone around the blackened pile.
her nerves gave way. Il
She was crying quietly. sitting on |
The charred remnants of box, when
DR.. White found her. He had come
straight to her from the train. Per-
laps he took courage from her very
'orlornness and encouragement, so ,
different from her usual bright self
'eliance.
I'm glad it happenedr' he said EN- !.
,hatically. "Glad because now maybe
rou'll have time to think OF me 1T
lie bitr'
live thought of you lott Carrie
0anielson admitted as she dabbed her
yes and made instructive passes at
Ter tumbled hair. 1t was good to see
lin again.
DR.. White deliberately sat down on
he blackened box and reached for her
land. Now well talk it overr' he
aid. S