The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-01-12

bringing IN It's stead about tWen-
tieth of it's value, ten-dollar bill.
lie began to prepare for a siege of
cold, for what they call down there, in
their ignorance of cold values-a bliz-
card.
First the cupboard was provisioned
eggs, canned soup, tea, milk and
beef-steak were stored on the shelf,
not forgetting sugar. butter, bread,
and a bottle OF catsup. Then load
Of wood dry oak and fat pine-was
bought and piled up in the recess be-
side the fire place. A couple of
boxes Of Old Virginia fine-cut was
his next thought. Last, but not
least, he brought in the black jug.
He would, if he saw fit, be comforted
with fagons during the blizzard.
Then he went out and bought roll
of illustrated newspapers-the last
cry of luxury and extravaganza.
By the time he had seen to all this
it was beginning to snow-a soft lit
tie furry at first and then a steady,
fall. Before night set in the Pink
Church was wrapped in a white man
tie, and all the dirt and blackness of
Church street covered up in ermine.
Copthorne felt cheerful. He car
ried some of his wood down to lame
man on the first floor. He handed
in some eggs and a tumblerful of
whiskey to the consumptive across
the hall. With an unexplained ac-
tivity he began Strengthening his be-
longings. He made up the daven-
port; wheeled before the fire stuff
ed chair. He even swept the hearth
clean when he had banked up the
fire. The leaping flame-light trans
! figured the room.
He gave the kitten some milk and
began preparing his supper, wonder
ing at his curious lightness of heart.
81 must be fey" sad Copthorne,
snllng to himself.
Slowly, painfully, with icy fingers
that faltered from numbness, Miss
d'Almy dressed herself, as she did
on Sundays for church, arranging her
, hair, carefully pinning her collar.
She put on everything but her hat
and coat Every detail of her pow
crty-stricken attire was neatness it
self. She even tucked a fresh hand
kerchief into her belt.
"They must know, when they. find
me, that | am lady," said Miss d.
Amy. She looked about her.. Ev-
erything looked proper, seemly, as
BETTING the last surroundings of
gentlewoman.
1t was bitterly cold. There was no
light in the room, and the daylight
was passing quickly. No food, no
fire. Early on the preceding day
she had eaten her last crumb of
bread and drunk her last drop of tea.
She knelt by the window and tried to
lock out, but the panes were frosted
white and she could see nothing.
She covered her face with her hands
and knelt so a few minutes. Then
she rose and stood looking hard at a
picture over the mantel, her own
work of long ago, faded water col
or sketch.
"Mother!" said Miss d'Almy, and
kept staring at the indefinite outlines
Of the sketch. Then she turned back
the covers of her bed and lay down
to die.
A knock, light and hesitating
sounded upon the door.
"a dream" said Miss d'Almy. 81
am very weak, and so l dream half
awake. If I were not so cold,
could sleep"
Again the knock. She hesitated.
"If it comes the third time" she
said, 81 will answer"
1t came the third time. She tried
to say, 81 am coming" but no sound
passed her blue, stiffening lips. She
tried to rise and succeeded, but half
way across the room she fell, faint
ing.
Copthorne-it was he-heard the
f"1' I'D rut his shoulder TO the door
to bre0k it in. 1t gave easily, with
ont noise He picked up Miss DIAL
my and carried her down the corri-
dor to his room.
When she came to herself she was
living in the stuffed chair, in the de-
,iciora warmth Of glowing fire,
end Copthorne was kneeling by the
hearth. 1ubhinr her numbcd feet in
thc'r iotric9taly darned stockings
with strong, warm hands. He put
them gently down and brought her a
Gun Of boiling tea.
"Tou drink this" he commanded.
"Dor't saw a word"
Miss danny tried to drink, but be-
can to cry instead. She wept soft
ly behind the providentially provid
"a hon gI1-o-aL;of