The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-12-30

around and get them up to the old
Annabelle Smith place, where there
was a telephone, and they could call
up Windyheath.
TITS only n~ine-thirty," Gregory said
reassuringly. "And we don't get an
adventure every day. Let's CO."
The Smith place was dark when they
reached 1t, but the driver knocked
Justify and finally there was a faint,
frightened voice from the inner side
of the front door asking who it was at
that time of night. Gregory explained,
with the drivers help, and they were
admitted.
"But you can't get word through to-
night. The wires don't work. They
never do after a big storm on these
here party lines" said Miss Smith,
holding up a big oil lamp. "Just step
right out into the kitchen and you stir
up tie fire, Ira. Make yourselves to
home, folkses. Ira can drive back and
maybe telephone from the village up
there"
Winifred never forgot that New
Years V e After Ira had gone, they
sat out in the CHEEKY old kitchen,
drinking tea, eating nuts and apples
and mince pie, and getting fearfully
well acquainted, as Miss Smith put 1t
laughingly. Gregory carried in wood
and split kindlings for morning, and
locked up for the night. While Miss
Smith went up to look after her old
bedridden father, they sat together by
the fire, and somehow talk died away
The old clock up on the chimney man.
tel softly struck twelve in the silence.
Winifred looked up and smiled, her
head leaning back on the cushioned
top of the old black rocker.
Happy New Year!" she said. isn't
1t the queerest thing, our being way
up here miles from everyone we know,
and not knowing each other even, and
starting off the new year together?"
Its great" Gregory clasped his
hands around one knee, seated on the
woodbox under the big Dutch oven.
I'm not superstitious, but after ramb-
ling for a year over there this seems
oN1dIlJ AAidNl1 WILLIS 4Ou huOH
I'd almost begun to think, If you won't
mind my saying so, that there wasn't
anyone like you in the world"
Miss Smith hurried through the en-
try way.
"Ira's back with a bigger team and
he's going to take you through all
right, he says. He drove wei that
bad spot in the roads and broke it for
you. And he's telephoned to Mrs. Del
mar that you're coming"
1t was nearly two when they reach
ed Windyheath. All of the windows
of the big country house were lighted
up, and Anne herself, wrapped in a
wonderful velvet and fur housegown,
ran down the steps to meet them.
ooh, my dear, my dearl" she cried
when she had Winifred safely upstairs
in her room. "You poor child"
I'm not poor" Winifred said ra-
dainty. "I've had the most beautiful
adventure of my whole life, and I'm in
love. I agree with you and fate this
time"
But it isn't Gregory I want you to
meet" faltered Anne. "You haven't
gone and fallen in love with dear old
Gregg"
Il have" Winifred laughed happily.
Both of us have. l never believed in
love at first sight before, or anything
like it, but I've made some wonderful
resolutions for the new year this
time"
Now listen to me and the whole
comedy. Anne curled up on the bed
confidentially. "The man you were to
marry is right down smoking with
Rolf this minute. He's Madison Forbes,
with money, position, everything, my
dear. But he didn't think you'd try
to make the trip such a night, so I've
been 'phoning madly everywhere to
find out if you had arrived and where.
Then l would have tried to get to you.
We sent out a car and it couldn't get
through, and the horses couldn't Ell
ther.'
Don't worry" Winifred smiled at
her reflection in the triple mirror at
the dressing table. 81 don't give a rap
about the money or position or any,
thing, Anna. We've been right out in
to the primitive world together, lost
in the snow, and I'D go with him to
the ends of the world if this blessed
old world had any ends. He said, just
as we were driving in here, it was the
most promising New Years he had
ever known
SHERIFF'S SALE.