The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1920-05-19
A JANUARY ThAW,
BY LIZZIE M. PEABODY.


There was hint Of snow in the air
and the sky was dark with clouds as
Fred Whitton hurriedly stepped
around the corner and into the side
street that evening in January. Olive
Gays home was on the corner and he
mad promised to call on her and help
her take some goodies to Aunt Deb
oy" as she was called by the people
OF the neighborhood. Aunt Debby
lived alone in small cottage set back
from the street. and the young people
enjoyed going to see her as much as
she enjoyed having them come, for
wonderful indeed were the stories with
which she entertained them-stories
OF time long past. and Of which she
usually was the heroine.
Fred FASTENED along. thinking II
would be best to take hls own bundles
drst and then return 70 call for Olive.
AS that meant that Auat Debby was
either i'll Or very tired. and had gone
to bed. he stepped late the little porch
to place the busAiss in q large box.
which had been % warmly tnteriined
that food left IN It would net be like
~ to freeze duriAg the sight.
AS he stopped IN the darkness t.
open the cover Of the bsx, some one
suddenly attempted to rise. and there
was a moment Of confusion; and
squeats. grunts and the dropping to
the floor Of heavy parcels could be
heard. A frightened woman gasped,
and Fred instantly decided that Olive
had tired Of waiting for him, and had
started on ahead.
Anticipating wild scream, he said
quickly: "Don't be frightened, dear
It's only Fred" and attempted to
steady her by passing his arm around
her slender waist; but to his surprise
his arm did not stop as soon as he ex-
pected it to, but kept travelling on, for
the waist was very large one.
There would certainly be a scream
now. he thought, and poor Aunt Debby
would be awakened, and her nerves
would be upset for the rest of the
night; so placing his hand over the
mouth of the stout lady, he propelled
her to the street.
His captive was Sally Eaton, girl
who dearly loved a joke. For some
time she had been making odd, chok-
ing sounds, but he knew she was shak-
ing with laughter. and If he removed
his hand now her laughter could be
heard for a distance. or else he'd
get a large piece Of Sally's mind.
Neither Of these things happened,
however, as she only laughed softly
now and then after he explained why
he had done as he did. "But I'm won
dering," she chuckled, "did you think
at first that it was I you met on he
porch?" 81 wasn't sure who 1t was"
he answered tactfully, but his face
burned. When she left him at the
corner she called back softly and
mockingly: "Of course. you won't tell
Olive" And Olive. waiting impatient
~ on the back porch with her parcels
beside her saw them. and heard Sally's
words. Without answering. Fred ran
hastily up the front steps and rang the
bell, and Olive passed through the
house to the front door and met him.
and together they started to 60 to Aunt
Debby's cottage.
Olive spoke seldom % they passed
along, and answered Fred's comments
shortly. After while she asked {:
"Why were you 90 lateY' And ne an
swered truthfully enough: II took my
parcels first, SO I could help you with
yours" but he did not mention Sal
ly's name. After that she was more
quiet even. and the return from the
cottage was made almost in silence.
for Freds thoughts also were interest
ing Sally called the next day. and
with the thought uppermost Of paying
Fred for treating her so unceremoni-
ously, she changed the story little In
many ways, and gave Olive the Inn
preston that Fred and she had walked
to the cottage together.
Mischief-loving Sally went away
smiling. but there was an angry
sparkle in Olives eyes. and when Ferd
called that evening she was not at
home. The same thing happened many
evenings. and then Fred stopped CALL
ing.
After that Sally got tired Of teas
ing; and, relenting. told Olive the true
story. II think he thought at first
that 1t was you he met on the porch"
she said with reminiscent Hggle.
That evening, with her wraps on
ready for q walk. Drive watched from
the window OF the unlighted sitting
room, and when she saw Fred passing.
she ran down the steps and, much to
his surprise, greeted him with the
warm smile to which he had been ac-
customed until Of late.
With blush and q laugh, she said !:
Good evening, Fred; cold weatheB
isn't it7'
A warming glow stole over him rs he
grasped her hands. 'For the last tive
weeks It has bean almost cOid enough
10 freeze q fellows heart" he grumbled
ruefuHy, "aAd the few words you have
spoken to me have beea 50 like icicles