Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-01

watching her father and
brother, who were busy with
Il II the late Fall blowing. Across
the room her younger sister
Hulda. was finishing round-robin let
ter to their mother.
i've emphasized the air and quiet
and the view. I'm sure she will hurry
up and get well when she reads this, )"
Huida said.
The Gordons had come to the noun
tain farm barely q fortnight before.
Mrs. Gordon's health added to long
cherished desire Of MIR. Gordon to try
farming, had brought them out of the
city. An advertisement, quick sale.
and the transfer was made from the
small city apartment to the gray farm
house on Berry Brook. Mrs. Gordon
had remained at a friends until she
should be a little stronger.
'Hulda, see who is coming. Hester
exclaimed.
Hulda sprang to her sisters side. 1t
was the first time they had. seen a
passerby, and the approaching figure.
oddly overalled and astride brown
horse, filled tlfef11 with curiosity.
"A girl! / thought at first 1t was
boy. She's coming here"
Hester opened the door. The visitor
had leaped from her horse and stood
on their doorstep. Her dark eyes. set
far apart In her freckled face. smiled
with shy fT-iendliness.
Good morning." Hester spoke CIV
lily. in spite of her amazemeft. She
had never seen anybody like this
What do you WANT" she asked,
rather at loss.
A change came over the freckled
face. CHANGING away in embarrass-
ment. the girls eyes fell upon gayly
towering plant i'm the window.
TT just wondered IL you'd let me
have little piece of that?" she said.
Certainly" But Hester broke off.
the tiniest bit possible. She was keep
ing that plant tenderly as part or the
welcome intended for her mother
Taking the slip, the girl murmured
thanks and went away quickly. The
sisters stared after her in wonder
ment.
"Went right back the way she
came" Hulda said. Wasn't it odd
her asking for that slip? Do you sup
pose that was really what she stopped
for in the first placer"
At dinner she asked the same ques-
ton of her father.
II didn't know there was ancther
soul besides ourselves in this ollow'
he returned, intent on his own
thoughts.
During the next few days the nov
city of their new home began to wear
AWAY. and Hester and Hulda selt an
increasing oppression of loneliness
and silence. But they bravely kept
their feelings hidden from their father
and Don.
The bright. warm weather that had
greeted their arrival in the mountains
had changed and cold was setting In.
The girls were obliged to stay In the
house, and they got, out their school
aooks and began d course of study.
Next year, IL all went well, they would
be able to continue their educations,
and they wished to be well prepared.
There came a joyful day. Mrs. Cor
don had written that she was coming
home. Leaving Don to go on with the
blowing, Mr. Gordon went to the city
to get his wife.
Don took the team and went to the
village to meet his parents the after
noon upon which they were expected
to- return. The train was due at 3
o'clock, but he started early, for the
distance was 10 miles away and the
road very rough.
1t had been gray day with a, nip
ping wind. But still the girls We're
startled at a slash of rain upon the
windows. Then the rain poured down.
The wind shouted around the house,
making it fairly rock on its foundas
items. Darkness fell early.
'They ought to be home by this
time, Hulda said anxiously. 80 j
But they did not come. f-o
When 10 O'Clock came the girls lay
down upon their bed, but without re-
moving their clothes. 1t was broad
daylight when they awakened.
Rubbing her eyes, Hester arose and
went to the window. Next instant she
screamed. +
1ce-ice everywhere, ice that gilt
tered like silver In the rising sun. The
trees were weighted down with their
crystal burden, the ground was a
skating pond. Beautiful but terrible.
The two girls stared, appalled, at the
strange sight. zvs
At that instant the old apple tree
by the porch split asunder and fell
with a thunderous crash.
The barn. gasped Hester. "The
roof will give way, Hulda."
The old barn was very fnfirf11. Mr..
Gordon had engaged a village car
penter to put 1t In shape to Withstand
the SHOWS OF Winter, but such ice as
this was heavier than much snow.
In the barn was the precious cream.
giver, Buttercup. Fully aware of the
danger that threatened the COW, the
girls FASTENED to get her out IL they
could
AS Hester lifted the barn door latch
there came just such another crack
as had preceded the wreck of the
apple tree She drew back, for one
instant afraid Buttercup must have
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