The Arvada enterprise., 1911-12-28
(Copyright.j


3DA ed in ermne and where
the crisp wind hao
blown away the covering the limbs
were darkly sketched against the
bright blue sky. A thin spiral OF
smoke drifted up from the big chin
coy and shimmered away into moth
hgness.
Loring tramped YEARLY up the path
and turned the corner by the clump
Of boxwood where little side porch
Ntted out to the south. There was n
window he"T filed with red geraniums
And a. Ar! ;olor seemed to i'm
jar t,.f . his benumbed body.
Tic steps had been swept clear OF
snow and he was careful to scrape his
boots before he knocked at the door.
The whirring OF a sewing machine
stopped suddenly and quick steps
same across the floor. The door few
spen and revealed two faces; that OF
Miss Anne, timidly expectant, and the
Air face of the young girl. hopeful
end eager.
"Oh!" they cried In unison and their
voices betrayed bitter disappointment
We thought 1t might be the express.
man" added Anne In explanation.
I'm sorry to disappont you" said
Loring courteously as he barred his
Aead. "As a matter Of fact, | came to
oeg a nights lodging. | have rather
Q bad knee and It's gone back on me
n the midst of long tramp. / won
Ter"
Come In" interrupted Anne hos
Sitably. IT'S bitter cold out to-day
end the drifts are awful. We haven't
as many Grej as we used to keep, but
you're welcome to sit and get
ehawed out"
Robert Loring entered the low
ssiled sitting-room where a small cyl
lhder stove gave forth welcome heat
b tho center OF the room. The cor
ears seemed chill and dusky, but In
Che circle Of warmth from the stove 1t
was very comfortable. A sewing ma
chine was drawn within the magic
circle and there was low rocking
chair and beside It huge work basket
overflowing with bright bits Of silk.
Anne pushed big rocking chair
close to the stove and motioned Lor-
ing into it. "Sit close to the fire and
0et thawed out. Grace will fetch you
Q glass of currant wine-or maybe
Sou'd rather have cup OF coffee?'
She beamed Hospitality at him over
eteel-bowed spectacles that were the
color of her silvery hair.
81 would say coffee II It were not
% much trouble" hesitated Loring
1T does seem an imposition for me
70 drop in on you In this manner, but
- was explaining"
'It will be no trouble at all. Grace
will be glad to make you cup OF cof
cse"
The fair-haired girl fastened to a
hny cupboard and brought out small
canister and coffee pot. Miss Anne,
Sxcusing herself for moment, rose
and left the room. Loring watching
the young girls graceful movements
Vus suddenly impressed by painful
tact. His hostesses were unmistak'
oDly poor ne slll Hdu shoh'h NV
last grains of coffee into the pot and
alling It with cold water placed 1t on
the top of the cylinder stove. Then
che stepped to and fro from cupboard
70 table, laying n meal on snowy
cloth. There were fresh bread and
butter, baked apples and some slices
Of cold ham,
When she had invited him to sit
Down, Loring arose with many apollo
aies upon his lips. Just then the door
opened to admit Miss Anne mufiled In
snawl and hood and trembling with
agitation. She seemed to forget Lor'
ing's presence and her words were ad'
dressed to her niece.
"Grace-what do you think has hap
pened2 That-that-he' gone!" Her
thin hands flew TO her face and the
tears trickled between her fingers.
"Oh. Aunt Anne!" The girl threw
her arm around the older woman's
shoulder Are you sure? why he
was there not half hour ago because
I looked at him. How do you suppose
be got away?"
81 guess somebody has taken him
he was so fat, too, Grace" Miss Annie
sank down in chair and slowly re
moved her wraps "oh, dear, I'm
sfraid your coffee will get cold. Sit
down and eat your supper, sir"
"Thank you" said Loring. as he
obeyed. Il hope you are not in
trouble. Miss Anne? Is there anything
that can do TO make things right?'
Miss Anne surveyed him with ap'
proving eyes. All at once her eyes
wrinkled pleasantly and she began to
laugh DO you think you can dis
cover who stole the white rooster We
were roing to have for our Christmas
dinner? had him pennod up safely
and iust went out now tc have n ioos
At him aud he is gone-the hen house
II empty"
"That is too bad. Can't | catch an
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