Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-12-20

q +: :: !; !:
the crisp wind had
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.
ney and shimmered away into moth
ingness.
Loring tramped YEARLY up the path
and turned the corner by the clump
OF lockwood where little side porch
jutted out to the south. There was a
window here filed with red geraniums
and the brilliant color seemed to Inn
part warmth to his benumbed body.
The steps had been swept clear Of
snow and he was careful to scrape his
boots before he knocked at the door.
The whirring of sewing machine
stopped suddenly and quick steps
came across the floor. The door few
open and revealed two faces: that of
Miss Anne, timidly expectant, and the
fair face of the young girl. hopeful
and eager.
"Oh!" they cried in unison and their
voices betrayed bitter disappointment.
1--WE thought it might be the express
man." added Anne In explanation.
"I'm sorry to disappoint YOU" said
Loring courteously as he barred his
head. "'As a matter OF fact. came to
beg nights lodging. l have rather
bad knee and it's gone back on me
In the midst of long tramp. / won
der"
Come in" interrupted Anne hos
pitably IT'S bitter cold out to-day
and the drifts are awful. We haven't
as man. Ire: as we used to keep. but
you're welcome to sit and get
thawed out"
Robert Loring entered the low
ceiled sitting-room where small cyl
inder stove gave forth welcome heat
In the center of8the room. The cor
ners seemed chill and dusky, but in
the circle Of warmth from the stove it
was very comfortable. A sewing ma
chine was drawn within the magic
circle and there was low rocking
chair and beside 1t huge work basket
Overlooking with bright bits of silk.
Anne pushed a big rocking chair
close to the stove and motioned Lor-
ing into 1t. "Sit close to the fire and
get thawed out. Grace will fetch you
glass Of currant wine-or maybe
you'd rather have cup of coffee?"
She beamed Hospitality at him over
steel-bowed spectacles that were the
color OF her silvery hair.
II would say coffee II 1t were not
so much trouble" hesitated Loring.
5'"'It does seem an imposition for me
to drop in on you in this manner, but
as I was explaining"
1T will be no trouble at all. Grace
will be glad to make you cup Of COT
fee"
The fair-haired1 girl FASTENED to .
tiny cupboard and brought out small
canister and coffee pot. Miss Anne.
excusing herself for moment, rose
and left the room. Loring watching
the young girls graceful movements
was suddenly impressed by painful
fact. His hostesses were unmistak-
ably poor. The girl had shaken the
last grains of coffee into the pot and
filing 1t with cold water placed it on
the top of the cylinder stove. Then
she stepped to and fro from cupboard
to table, laying a 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
gies upon his lips. Just then the door
opened to admit Miss Anne muffled in
shawl 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
pened? That-that-he's gone!" Her
thin hands few 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
1 looked at him. How do you suppose
he got away?"
Il 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
afraid your coffee will get cold. Sit
down and eat your supper, sir"
Thank you" said Loring. as he
obeyed. II 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 going to have for our Christmas
dinner? had him penned up safely
and 1 just went out now to have look
at him and he is gone-the hen house
is empty"
THAT is too bad. Cant catch an
other one for you or was the white
rooster especially fattened for the oc-
casion?" asked Loring.
Miss Anne hesitated and looked at
her niece. But the girl busted with
her bright silks did not lift her eyes:
a faint color glowed In her cheeks.
"There isn't another chicken about
ESsSsszI ErxXx<S<z =
m = : a7e