The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1917-01-04

| inIS IooReu Derrer TO INN rnan III the /
Did world put together. Even In the
darkness the pine trees stood out, their
branches heavy with snow, and before .
them here and there in the fields were
clumps of white birch and red oak,
with dry leaves still clinging to their
boughs The stars shone famously up
IN the winter sky.
/ Gregory half turned in his seat and
talked. They had many friends in com
mon. He lad known Rolf since they
were boys back in Denver. Neither OF
them noticed after five miles had been
covered that the horses were walk
Ing. breasting the drifts and literally
wading through, until they came to
dead halt and the driver jumped out
They couldn't go on. he said The snow
was up to the top of the fences as
I far as one could see. He could turn
around and get them up to the old
Annabelle Smith place, where there
was a telephone, and they could call
up Windyheath.
It's only nine-thirty." Gregory said
reassuringly. "And we don't get an
adventure every day. Let's CO."
The Smith place was dark when they
reached ii, but the driver knocked
Justify and finally there was a faint,
! frightened voice from the inner side
of the front door asking who Ii 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 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 the 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 eve. 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 II
laughirgiy. 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 Yearl" she said. isn't
II the queerest thing, our being way
up here miles from everyone we know,
and not knowing each other even, and
starting of the new year togetherY'
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
awfully much worth while. You know
I'd almost begun to think. If you won't
NUind 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 over that
bad spot In the roads and broke 1t fol
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 q
wonderful velvet and fur housegown
ran down the steps to meet them.
~Oh. my dear. my dearr' she cried
when she had winifred safely upstair,
, In her room. You poor childr"
I'm not POOR" Winifred said ra
dainty. I've had the most beautiful
adventure of my whole life, and I'm IL
! love. I agree with you and fate THU
time"
But II isn't Gregory I want you Il
, meet" faltered Anne. ~You haven
{ gone and fallen in love with dear OLD
GregT-
} 81 have" winifred laughed happily
Both of Us have. never believed ii
) love at first sight before, or anything
, like 1t, but I've made some wonderful
, resolutions for the new year thil
: dme."
"Now listen to me and the whole
. comedy. Anne curled up ON the bet
confidentially. 1.-The man you were Il
. marry II right down smoking witt
, Rolf this minute. He's Madison Forbes
: with money. position. everything. m!
dear. But he didn't think you'd tr,
to make the trip such a night, SO rv'
, been 'phoning madly everywhere Il
/ find out II you had arrived and where
Then would have tried to get to you
We sent out a car and II couldn't &c
through, and the horses couldn't 81
/ ther."
: Don't worry" Winifred smiled q
her reflection In the triple mirror a
! the dressing table. II don't give q RAJ
: about the money or position or any
} thing. Anna. We've been right out In
: to- the primitive world together, los
> In the snow. and I'd go with him e
the ends of the world II this blesset
I old world had any ends He said. jus
4 sx-<> xx-ox<, <a,i In here IL was fhl