The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-09

made them. When ! got TO the shelter-
house II was in a wild state of ex-
citement. Mrs. Dick, with her cheeks
flushed, had gathered all her things on
the cot and was rolling them up in
sheets and newspapers. But Mr.. Dick
was sitting on the box in front of the
fire with his curly hair standing every
way. He had been roasting potatoes,
and as / opened the door, he picked
one up and poked at it to see if 1t was
done.
'Damn!" he said, and dropped it.
Mrs. Dick sat on the cot rolling up
pink ribbon and looked at him.
III you want to know exactly my
reason for insisting on moving tonight.
I'll tell YOU" she said, paying no atten-
ton to me 1T is your disposition"
He didn't say anything. but he put
his foot on the potato and smashed it,
IF l had TO be shut in here with
you one more day." she went on, I'D
hate you"
why the one more day." he asked
without looking up.
But she didn't answer him. She was
in the worst kind OF a temper; she
threw the ribbon down, and coming
over, lifted the lid Of my basket and
looked in.
Ham again!" she exclaimed un-
gratefully. Thanks so much for re-
membering US, Minnie. dare say our
dinner today slipped your mind!"
Il wonder if it strikes you. Minnie, ."
Mr.. Dick said, noticing me for the first
time, that If you and Sam hadn't been
so confounded meddling, that fellow
Pierce would be washing buggies in
the village livery stable where he be-
longs, and I'd be in one piece of prop
erty that's as good as gone this min
ute"
was in a bad humor, anyhow. and
I'd had enough. l stood just inside the
door and told them I'd done the best
| could. not for them, but because I'd
promised the old doctor, and if I'd
made mistakes I'd answer for them to
him if / ever met him in the next
world. And in the meantime | washed
my hands of the whole thing, and they
might make out as best they could. |
was going.
Mrs. Dick heard me through. Then
she came over and put her hand on
mine where it lay on the table
You're perfectly right" she said. "T
know how you have tried, and that the
fault is all that wretched Pierce's. You
mustn't mind Mr. Carter, Minnie. He's
been in that sort of humor all day"
He looked at her with the most mis-
cradle face l ever saw, but he didn't
say anything She sighed, the little
wretch.
| plodded back with my empty bas-
ket. l had only one clear thought
that l wouldn't have any more tramp
ing across the golf links in the snow.
wanted to get back to my room and
go to bed and forget.
But as l came near the house I saw
Mr.. Pierce come out on the front
piazza and switch on the lights. He
stood there looking out into the snow,
and the next minute | saw why. Com
ing up the hill and across the lawn
was a shadowy line of people, black
against the white l thought for a
minute that my brain had gone wrong;
then the first figure came into the
light, and it was the bishop. He stood
at the front OF the steps and looked up
at Mr. Pierce.
81 dare say" he said, trying to look
60 b,y
pected us!"
Mr. Pierce looked down at the crowd
Then he smiled, a growing smile that
ended in a grin.
"On the contrary" he said, I've
been expecting you for an hour or
more"
The procession began to move
gloomily up the steps. All of them
carried hand luggage, and they looked
tired and sheepish. Miss Cobb stopped
in front of Mr.. Pierce.
do you mean to say" she demand
ed furiously, that you knew the rail
road was blocked with snow, and yet
you let us go!"
"On the contrary, Miss Cobb" he
said politely, u remember distinctly
regretting that you insisted on going.
Besides, there was the Sherman
house."
Senator Briggs stopped in front of
him. Probably you also knew that
that was full, including the stables,
with people from the stalled trains"
he assartad furiouSIv
Two by two they went in and
through the hall, stamping the snow
off, and up to their old rooms again,
leaving Slocum, the clerk, staring at
them as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
Mr.. Pierce and l watched from the
piazza, through the glass.
We saw Doctor Barnes stop and |
ook, and then go and hang over the
news stand and laugh himself almost |
purple, and we saw Mr. Thoburn bring |
ng up the tail of the procession and |
rying to look unconcerned. l am not |
/ revengeful woman. but that was one
If the happiest moments of my life.
We gave them good supper and
Mr.. Pierce ordered claret served with
,ut extra charge. By eight o'clock
hey were all in better humor, and
when they'd gathered in the lobby
Hiss Summers gave an imitation of
Marie Dressler doing the Salome
lance. With the exception of Mr.. Won
invalid, not one of them really wanted
o go.
At eleven o'clock we had the clam
,alze with beer in the kitchen, and Mr..
on invalid came, after all They were
eally very cheerful, all of them. At
he end, when everybody was happy
nd everything forgiven, MIR. Pierce