The Washington herald., 1921-03-20

To the north rose a gentle hill: to the west
and weeds made cultivation impossible
Through this land a stream coming from
the hiIls, trickled easily In all weathers down
to a big pool that froze In winter and In
summer became deep and small in an en-.
closure Of thick mud. Hills were all around,
some green, some rocky. The district was
very deserted, because 1t was largely barren;
but James and Agatha both knew it SO faInr-
iariy now although both had belonged to
Lawton) that the quiet solitude had never
until the present moment affected them The
whole countryside was gray and green, with
its mixture of stone and vegetation, not rich.
but pleasant to see and to live with. There
were hardly any trees In the garden there
were few apple and pear trees: but James
found potatoes and other vegetables Of more
use in the house. and although later Agatha
might find fruit bushes material for jam
making. she at present and for several
months had done little preserving. 1t had
not been customary In LAwton, and she was
not yet a countrywoman.
The cottage was of stone-very small and
very square, buit to defy the wind and the
troublesome winter weather. 1t had four
rooms only. all very small and square, with
small square windows and small squares Of
bright carpet The kitchen. where they sat
IN the evenings. had q big crate, and a rug.
and very little furniture excepting an arm
chair and a smaller chair which Agatha had
been used to regard as her own. 1t was q
beautifully cory kitchen which they both
loved. In summer the door stood wide open.
80 that Agatha in the evening could see
James a mile away, his head moving above
the low hedges; and in winter, when the door
was closed. they spent the short evenings
happily talking or sitting silent Ge reading
and she sewing or knittingl until bedtime or
until a meal had to be prepared. They
worked for each other devotedly, and loved
each other with undemonstrative kindness.
often saying nothing, but each glad of the
others proximity.
II was winter now, and snow lay upon the
distant fells. Already there was a roaring
wind. and blank clouds were lowering heavily
above the district The stones gave q gray.
ness and baroness to the fields about the
cottage. The light was bad. and the days 80
short that there seemed always to be shadows
everywhere.
In the cottage It was 20 dark that even
the cheerful fire could not destroy the sense
Of glocm- Agatha sat beside the hre with an
uncomfortable shiver. She had on a red
knitted shawl. and was pale and lethargin.
From time to time she turned her head al
most tmpatientiy, listening for, the sound Of
James bicycle bell or his footstep. But with
the wind gathering outside and the sense Of
coming storm she could hear nothing.
Upon the table was preparation for his
meal. roughly laid Before the fire the meal
itself was keeping hot. Seven o'clock wheezed
from the old clock which had been given to
them by James mother, and Agatha knew
that her husband must be nearly home Her
mouth was drawn with impatience at his late
ness: she was on edge. inclined to cry, in.
clined to say sharp things, irritable at any.
thing that hindered the smooth progress of
habitual doings He did not come.
The clock licked on. and steam rose from
the big black kettle. and the fire glowsd and
whirred behind its podsy bars. Agatha rose
from her chair and went to the window. AZ
she did 80 she gave an exclamation The
storm had burst Snow was thickiy falling.