Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-03-13

ceased. He left the neighborhood and
lived in the city for several years, and
it was only within the last few years.
when apparently all gossip had ceased,
that he returned.
On this momentous morning he called
very formally and requested his neigh
Dor. with great Formally, TO sell him
little wood. He 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
HerInine 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 neighbor lad 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
a suggestion of warmth and cheer that
captivated the neighbOr. He rose to
go. and then resumed his seat when
Hermine went 70 the Kitchen door and
called to Rachel TO ask her whether
she could spare little wood. At the
door she whispered: Hurry I'm with
pot of chocolate and nice buttered
toast. Look surprised when you see
Mr.. Gray, and make 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 1t in" said Hermine And then,
turning to Mr.. Gray, she went on .
"You see, | usually have chocolate at
this time on cold mornings. Rachel,
another cup please. Oh please, Mr.,
Gray, let me give you a little-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 a little
wood they actually had no fuel TO
cook dinner. Hermine looked puzzled,
She said the wood was In a 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 ::
won't you share my own very simple
dinner? l believe Rachel is roasting a
chicken. II 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 a bite with her in the kitchen"
MIR. 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 barrier that il 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 br0iler Of bacon was spit
ting on the fi;e. Rachel was laughing
to herself-or rather to old Moses, who
sat watching in admiration. with Il
growing appetite, at one side of the
stove.
Hermine did not even ask her neigh
Dor to stay 10 tent seemed to be
such matter Of course for him to re-
main there In the glow Of her fire
rather than TO go home to his own
barnlike abode to feed upon cold meat
and damp, chilled bread.
When Rachel had cleared away the
things Mr.. Gray drew his chair closer
TO that of Hermine. You're a wonder
full woman. Hermine," he said. 81
made up my mind once that you were
cold; but you've been thawing out my
heart today-my heart and incident
ally my fingers. / know II Is only
charity on your part. You are doing
ii in the same spirit that you had the
factory girls here last night. The
worst part of going home isn't the fact
that it is as cold as a barn-it's be-
cause Til have to leave ycu."
Hermine's expression showed com
plete amazement. She told MIR. Gray
that never In the world had she i'm
agined that he might want to marry
her-the fact was that Mr.. Gray had
not expressed his sentiment in just
those words-but she did hate to have
him 20 home in the cold. Her guest
room was very warm Rachel kept
fire there. She wondered whether II
might not be arranged for him to stay.
And that is how it happened that
about eight o'clock that night Denslow
Gray and Hermine Whlpple reused the
minister from where he huddled by
his own meager CRATE FIRE. We've
been intending 10 be married for some
years." Denslow explained, "and now
we want to spring Il surprise on the
neighbors. Yes. il is rather cold" he
answered. "but an old bachelor doesn't
have time to think Of the temperature
on his wedding day"