Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-09-14
BELOW ZERO
By OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER

taliSt, but a genius as well, so the
combination was rational to degree.
To the little community of Newton he
was known as Jarvin Morton, new
conner, living in a modest cottage
with his mother and reputed to be an.
artist. In the live and active world
his newspaper pen and ink sketches
had begun to make him name.
He was standing at the window of
cold and cheerless room. but not
gazing outside, for the frost lay like
blanket across the panes. The mer-
est excuse for fire spluttered In the
CRATE. On an easel was a drawing
board with sheet of paper tackled to
1t. The outline of fair girlish face
showed, but only half finished. Too
cold to continue careful work, but the
creative impulse always seeking ex-
preston, he applied the pencil tip to
the frosted pane and began sketching
that same face.
Amid his abstraction he had not
heard a knock at the frosted portal nor
footsteps in the hallway. The door Of
the room was timidly pressed open.
IF you please, If you are Mr.. Nor
ton" commenced a pleasing voice, and
its owner, girlish and attractive,
faltered. Her glance had fallen upon
the limned face on the easel and its
more finished duplicate on the window
pane. Surprise. pleasure, wonder
mani ord admire tinn hIapIad
Jarvis Morton turned to instantly
recognize the original Of his art eff
fort. He had seen her across 'W0 va
cant lots several times, but had never
spoken to her. He spoke now. with
an encouraging smile. for she had be-
come timid and embarrassed.
II am Jarvis Norton" he said.
"You are our neighbor. believe, Miss
Illsley?"
Eyes, Marian Illsley." hurried on the
girl, fiuttering. IF you please, your
mother sent me over. 1t is so cold and
slippery outside that / wished TO save
her exposure and discomfort. She
came over to use our telephone TO
hurry up the load of coal you ordered.
The dealer says they haven't pound
of fuel in the yard, and mother says
that this coal shortage makes us all
like one family, and the weather man
says the cold snap will last for week,
and you people are to bring over some
We'll do the rest"
"And what beneficent rest =" re-
Joined Jarvin brightly. ''This isn't
mere hospitality. It's a real rescue
from freezing to death / was just
thinking of splitting up couple Of
chairs and muffiing in all the blankets
In the house and alternating until the
zero menace was gone"
His joyousness was manifest, and
she entered into the enlivening zest
of the occasion with demure, but pref
ty graciOusness.
"You see, we managed to just Craze
the famine by getting ton of coal
delivered yesterday" she resumed.
"Your mother insists on bringing over
whatever there is cooked in the
house."
- won't you help me rummage the
larder?" suggested Jarvis, and they
laughed and chatted like two happy
children as they loaded up clothes
basket Then Jarvis went to secure
the blankets. When he returned
Marian stood surveying the easel
sketch.
"How nice to be able to draw like
that" she ventured, detected at
studying her own presentment.
"And how fortunate was l to catch
your face as a study while you were
cleaning the snow. this morning." said
Jarvis. "When the sketch Is finished
/ shall call it The Snow Queen The
newspaper, asked for something win
terry, and that graceful twirl OF the
snow shovel and the shimmery flakes
forming an airy veil just filed the
bill"
"Oh! it won't be printed, will It'll"
marveled Marian. "Me In the paperi
How strange 1t Will seem to me! 1t
must be delightful to be able to make
the world look at whatever you wish
to draw"
"Bless the coal shortage!" uttered
the artist and lover after four days
sojourn In the coy Illsley home, for
the latter he had unconsciously be-
come, and tie fulfillment of cher
ished ideal of loneliness, artless inno-
cence and silent but sweet devotion
had brought bewlldering joy to his
impossible heart. 1t seemed as If his
mother had emerged from direful lone
illness into perfect enjoyable comfort
and companionship, shut in from the
outside world with happy-spirited Mrs.
nlsley. Marian fitted about the little
house with smiles and bright sayings,
making 1t delight to Jarvis to hear,
to see and to cherish her. He frowned
when the cold moderated. he grOwled
when he realized that they must soon
leave this eden of perfectness.
"What a happy four we would all
maker he soliloquized one day, and.
musing at the window, he began trac-
ing on lightly frosted pane, as
Marian CHANGED into the room.
"Come here, please" he spoke, with
a bright sparkle in his eye. AT the win
dow she had first seen him. at win
dow she now Joined him, and as he
handed her his pencil she flushed and
trembled, as she read:
81 love you"
Then, in pretty embarrassment, but
ecstactically quiet. she traced the
true, simple words:
81 love you, tool"