The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-08-23
She Loved the
Snow
BY MYRA r LANE


to play in the snow. don't they" sale
the visitor.
"Laura's SO happy with her sled. Civ
ing the other children d ride" an.
Swered the mother. Il haven't the
heart to call her In. It's funny how
she's always liked the snow, ever since
she used to stretch out her little hands
to 1t before she could talk"
The child loved the NOW She was
born with a love Of nature, but espe-
cially of nature in winter. She loved
to walk In the snow through the woods
and dream her childish dreams there.
She was an odd child, very quiet and
obedient. People loved her, but they
never understood her.
The p~lay-days passed. She was o
a young woman. She helped her moth
er in the house. She was an only
daughter. Her brother had gone West.
Laura was not likely to marry. She
was not the kind Of girl that attracts
men. They were a little afraid of her.
She was odd"
The young Englishman who lived In
the village for a time knew different
ly. He was the son Of a rich man, he
had left home after a quarrel with his
father, but they had been reconciled.
and they we're begging him to come
back. .
Il love you'll"
Laura always remembered that he
said that when it was beginning to
snow-little pearly flakes falling soft
ly down from the skies.
do you love me, LauraY'
"I-I1l tell you tomorrow" Laura
whispered, and fled from him.
From him? From love. From love
that was thenceforward always to be
associated with the snow.
She taught in the schools, and was
the sole support Of her mother; her
had never been heard OF again.
Her mother needed her.
Only that night she had n Of her
attacks. She might live for
Years, the doctor said, but she must
lot overwork herself.
Which was it to bef All her nature,
ienied love, was clam0ring for this
'ulfllment of herself, which had sud
lenly opened as q possibility.
In the end duty t%riumphed. She met
Ter lover next day. \
"You must go home, DEAR" she
aid, "and wait. Let your love prove
tself, and then-then Wen see what
be DONE" i
She told him that she could not
cave her mother, but, If his love
proved staunch, he could wait.
Perhaps a way might be found. 1
He tried to alter her decision in |
rain. He went across the snow 4
protesting that his love would never \
1
She had two letters from him-then \
ilence-a year afterward a wedding 4
announcement. |
That year her mother died. The :
now was falling hard on the black |
earse. 7
Two years later Laura married. 1t i
,as not love, but then-love had gone 7
brewer, and why should one sacrifice /
mes life for vain regrets? She was :
.nd of her husband. They were mar \
ed in June's hard, brilliant sunshine. :
here was hardly any snow that win \
e.
After that the years went very fast, \
cry lnexorably. Laura was nc long :
: "odd." She was spoken Of as q \
apable housewife. Only In a tiny :
)rner of her heart did she keep her \
leer thoughts and notions.
There were three or four children,
up. Nobody would have
.eamed that Laura still grieved for
le first little body that had been laid :
rest In the churchyard under Its :
lnopy of snow. Nobody knew that I
ick, Laura went to the little grave
Id was glad that it was warmly COW
ed.
People must not be "fanciful." Not,
least, until old age brings back a
cond childhood.
Old age was creeping on. Her hus-
was dead. The children had gone ]
t into the world. The old woman,
mfortably well off, lived her own in
rior life again nov Sometimes,
dly, she fancied that she was the
tie girl who had played in the snow. :
e would have liked to have gone out
the sled. !
She felt the unity OF the spirit be- }
ath all the vicissitudes Of life. She
S still that little girl-and the girl
10 had met her lover In the woods.
d she was n with the little body
the churchyard, too. 1t was all one
happiness of unity with the uni
sal spirit, If one only knew. Z
'Grandmother's always dreaming In I
It corner" the youngsters said.
laura sat dreaming, and watching
falling snow. 1t was good to have -
ed. in spite Of everything.
led Color In Solar Salt and arina-