The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-12-30

mere was wintry whitenesS aud
through the purple shadows of tho
coming night shono lew lights. like
stars. Each light represented Il
farmhouse, and each house. like the
one IN whtch Noll was staying, was
Inll OF happy, noisy people
And Nell was not happy, she want.
cd quiet. Like a hunted animal she
looked this way and that for some
place where she might be- alone. On
The crest of the hill, Tar up the road,
stood the schoolhousc where she
langli. Il was closed now and dark.
= viii 10 there Nell said to her.
sell, ana Just then Il voice behind
her called: Supper Is ready"
u don't want any, Nell said wear.
ily I'm going out for little while,
Mrs. McCiregor I'll be hack by TO-
The snow began to- fall softly as
She ieI, the house, and by the time
she reached the school It was begin.
ming to drift agaias; the fences.
There was no IRE within, but Nell
lighted one. and when the warmth he
gan to steal into the room. she drew
the hlg chair close 10 the hearth and
Ia the peaceful lone..ness gave her.
self up to her thousn,s
lint she was not 60 remain In peace
long There was a aound of sleigh
bells without. heavy steps on Inc
threshold, and she looked up 70 SEQ
the burly form Of a y0nng farmer II,
The doorway.
We'll, wei, he said Il saw the
light and came H. who would have
dreamed that you would be here
alone?"
Nell smiled wearIly. Il came 10 be
quiet
Then you don't want me
'Oh. sii down she said, somewhat
ungraciously.
But he stood by the fireplace and
looked down al her.
What's TIE matier?" he asked alb
rupily.
Nothing" family,
Ter" =
III ! tell Aou." she asked, you
mustn't give fne any advice. have
Rad so mucT advice hate t.
He sat dbwn beside her, Tell
ahead, he said, ana Iii promise ia
listen like the Sphinx
You see Il Is this way" she said
/ my uncle In town IS rich. He Is a
/ mlsefly old man, and % made me
miserable when lived with him. I'm
not going TO tell YOU now little love
there was in It, ana now was stary.
ed spiritually and mentally, as well
IS physically When / grew old
enough TO understand tnat he could
give me things, and had not becanso
he wanted TO save and save, leIi
him, and came here TO tcacn; and
now he has written to me 10 come
back, and don't want to so, yet h.
! sick and old and alone ! told Airs
McGSegor, and she tells me 20 stay
htee. rnen all the family talked
about II aud everybody advised. They
meant well--bui couldn't slana IT,
IL don't want 20 go, but / must"
He started 10 say some thing, then
checked himself
I'D like to break that promise.
be said.
No, You mustn't, shc said firmly
You've all been SO good TO me here
and II you" she caught her breath
Join the others IN asking ne "a
stay, ii will make II so hard for me
10 so.
lie doesn't deserve mach at youI
hands the man stated,
Il know she said YEARLY. "bui
tomorrow ! begin new yeas, and
don't waut TO begin It wrong. YET
don't know the right
Il don't believe much In say inl
things, tne young farmer remarked
my policy l., 10. do them. And nov
are. you going 20 stay mere In ms
ofely place much longer? Il Is snow
Ing and Il Is late"
4 suppose | ought 10 so. she said
donbtfully, hut IT Is SO lovely here
In the silence"
Look here" he said suddenly
don't you keep your tea things IN
that little cupboard have got tc
20 TO town. and when come bach
III bring something Tor a little sup
per, and wo can watcn the old yeal
out Then III take YOU home In ih'
sleigh"
How good OF you. She held on
her hand 10 ninl You haven
bothered me With advice, and yot
are dong something 10 make me com
! Portable That Is Just like you, Jaei
! Norton"
He blushed little. ttls big kind
: " man, who lokcd uaol the lttli
woman from the city as being from
. another sphere: she was 10 dainty. 81
different from the girls in his owl
Village. a.
I Nell knew what she was doln
when she ,old him not To ask he
: 70 stay; she had known for lon
| time OF The question that tremhle
, ON his lips She knew he wanted {
| marry her. as woman knows xh
. lis wise IA the ways Of men.
; She thought OF the lie she migf
:. lead II sne married dim, a life Ia "a
big farmhouse, sunsalny IN summe
1 and secure In winter. Then sh
b thought Of her life with her uucl
i 10 a dark apartment IN the street
y Of the city She knew that. In wa
: |: was false idea OF duty that wonl
9 take her back. Yet she bad to 9
some force tina, was Ia her seeme
p ilnpelllng her,
1 The wind blew In great bias
!. against the little honse. the sno
= had dflftei up 20 the window sllIs ~
white iiies OF iI pointed across q