The Washington herald., 1921-03-20

so that the air was opaque with falling flakes.
She could not see a yard from the house. A
chill seized her. James must be riding
through this! No wonder he was so late!
With a quick sense Of his probable wetness
and cold. she toiled mp the stairs TO their
bedroom and laid out some other clothes for
James to change into
She was sitting resting upon the edge Of
the bed when she heard his bell and his
CHEEKY whistle Instantly her expression Of
strain was relaxed and a slow smile Of happi-
ness appeared in its stead She reached the
bottom Of the stairs as James entered the
kitchen. white from head to foot with the
tumultuous snow and holding and clapping
and blowing upon his hands to restore the
circulation to his numbed fingers.
well my lass" he cried. and his tone
was inquiring. ARE you better this evening?
Eh. but it's showing! I've never seen a fall
like It Snow, snow snow. So thick couldn't
see the road By the morning there won't be
q road to see."
And you've to go through that" she e1-
claimed passionately.
My word! Why, I've done it before. I did
it last winter He was astonished at her
vehemence. Its no worse
1T q worse. And I've to go through II"
Agatha proceeded
-Nonsense!" He drawied the word re-
assuringiy. Mot for another fortnight. A
good fortnight-more like three weeks And
all the snowH be gone by then. But I've
been thinking, Aggie-couldn't Matte taks
you next week? was worrying about you
today-about your being alone, and that
thought II you'd go to Matte's sooner I'd be
quieter in my mind"
"Nay!" cried Agatha ~Iu not go. III
not go TIL I must. I'm all right here. I
couldn't bear to be there, with Matte wor.
ntting. Eh, you've no idea how stupid she
is. Stupid! I'm better alone. She'd make me
angry and Ill dozen times a day"
James jerked his head doubtfuliy He was
warned BY Agatha's peevish voice that he
must not argue with her overmuch.
was only thinking it might come on
sooner than you think for" he said gently.
However. I'll change my things bit. Look
there. now; there's pool round me already"
He took OF his wet boots and stomped up
stairs in his slippers. Within FIVE minutes
he was again in the kitchen, warm and dry,
eating his savory supper and every now and
then casting an anxious. protecting eye at
Agatha He was determined that she should
60 at once to Matties The snow had inter.
fered with his plan; but he had been delayed
this evening by call in Lawton on this
same business. The notion had come to him
during work; while he watched a long bar Of
white hot steel rolled and pressed into an
other appearance altogether by the powerful
engines employed for the purpose he had
suddenly thought Of Agatha alone.
Something had made him realize that It
was madness for her to be alone now. It
might mean her death. He had been so afraid
that he had instantly made up his mind. He
had left his work early had called to see
Matte. and had even spoken to a man with
covered cart who would come out to the
cottage and bring Asatha into Lawton.,
But the dificuIt task Of persuading her to
make, the Journey nearly fortnight before
/. she had reckoned upon her trial had yet to be
tackled in earnest. He knew that he must