The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-03-15

! Ut lUe interference tnul lne calls nON
ceased lie left the nelghborhood and
lived In the city for several years, and
II was only within the last few years
when apparently all gossip had ceased
that he returned
ON this mOmentcus morning he called
very formally and requested his neigh
Dor, with great fdrmallty, to sell him
n little wood. lie regretted having to
annoy her, but he had heard from
Moses that she had plenty, and, owing
TO the coal shortage, he was actually
suffering from the cold. AS he spoke
Ilermine led him to the corner Of the
living room nearest TO the cracking
embers on the hearth. The only chair
available for him was the comfortable
one the good nelghbor had found so
inviting. The fire was unusually in
viting, and the rows of Temple lilies
that bloomed on a stand near a sunny
window at one side of the room gave
suggestion Of warmth and cheer that
faptivated the nelghbor. He rose to
go, and then resumed his seat when
| Hermine went to the kitchen door and
called to Rachel to ask her whether
she could spare little wood. At the
door she whispered: "Hurry in with
pot of chocolate and nice buttered
toast. Look surprised when you see
MIR. Gray, and make a move to take
the chocolate away. Hurry Rachel"
Hermine walked slowly back to the
fireplace. my woman is looking TO
see whether we have any wood
chopped" she was saying, and then the
old woman entered with the tray. She
started at the sight of the caller and
pretended to return to the kitchen.
That's all right, Rachel you may
bring it in," said Hermine. And then,
turning to Mr.. Gray she went on:
"You see, 1 usually have chocolate at
this time on cold mornings. Rachel,
another cup please. Oh! please, Mr..
Gray, let me give you a llttle-it is
so warming"
A half hour later when the caller
rose to go for the third time, he asked
Hermine whether he might send Moses
over at once with a basket for little
wood; they actually had no fuel to
cook dinner. Hermine looked puzzled.
She said the wood was in shed at
the end of the garden, and that the
man who came to carry the wood had
the key. She was sorry, and then
Wont you share my own very simple
dinner? / believe Rachel is roasting a
chicken. 1t is beefless day, you know,
and Rachel is very patriotic. She has
made crullers-I can't offer you very
much. Please stay, and Rachel will
call to your man Moses to have him
get bite with her in the kitchen"
Mr.. Gray accepted the invitation,
though as he did so something that he
mistoOk for his conscience pricked
him. He felt that he was breaking
down a barrier that it had taken him
ten years to build up.
At six that afternoon Mr.. Gray still
fingered. He was playing cribbage
with his spinster neighbor before the
fire, with the light of a skilfully ar
ranged bracket-lamp that threw just
the right shadows on the board and a
mellow, becoming glow on Hermine's
face. In the kitchen Rachel was max
ing savory coffee. A pan of johnny
cake was browning beautifully in the
oven, and a broiler of bacon was spit
ting on the fire. Rachel was laughing
to herself-Or rather to old Moses, who |
sat watching in admiration, with a
growing appetite, at one side of the |
stove.
Hermine did not even asR her neigh
Dor to stay to tea-it seemed to be
such matter of course for him to re-
main there in the glow Of her fire
'ather than to go home to his own
oarnlike abode to feed upon cold meat
md damp, chilled bread
When Rachel had cleared away the
hings Mr.. Gray drew his chair closer
o that Of Hermine. you're a wonder
ul woman, Hermine," he said. II
made up my mind once that sou were
old; but you've been thawing out my
cart today-my heart and incident
lily my fingers. l know it is only
harity on your part. You are doing
in the same spirit that you had the
actory girls here last night The
1orst part of going home isn't the fact
hat it is as cold as a barn-it's be-
ause I'll have to leave you"
Hermine's expression showed COM
lete amazement. She told Mr.. Gray
nat never in the world had she i'm
gined that he might want to marry
er-the fact was that Mr.. Gray had
OF expressed his sentiment in Just &
lose wOrds-but she did hate to have
Inn go home in the cold. Her guest
,om was very warm; Rachel kept a Z
re there. She wondered whether it !
light not be arranged for him to stay. q
And that is how it happened that 0
oout eight o'clock that night Denslow
ray and Hermine Whipple reused the
mister from where he huddled by h
s own meager CRATE fire. "We've
zen intending to be married for some
.ars," DenslOw explained, "and now
e want to spring surprise on the
,ighbors. Yes, 1t is rather cold" he
lswered, "but an old bachelor doesn't
we time to think Of the temperature