''''' k ~ ■ i : i, .'* * . ."'. * . I [Copyright, 1901, by Ho«a C. Eichorti.] , grows darker every dny here on the creek." "I o you, Mrs. Aldine, but not to all the settlers, poor as we are. Maybe your luck will change." "Preachers always talk that way. It's in your training. Mr. Goodnow. Besides, you get about to sec every new face." "And old timers too. If they do not jyJB iu our church doings, I try to take a little of the gospel to them." "7»cll, I for one, am ashamed togo to meeting in the old clothes that I've got. I can t tio it, Mr. Goodnsw. But it's not the meetings and the crowd* that I miss, i':e troubles right here at home. This is Christmas eve, but, alas, where is the Cij.istmas cheer.' She shook her head wearily. Her eyes wondered to the lone liou e they had just left. Mr. Goodnow took advantage of her absent gaze p.r.J r... us:"'.'. 1 his; horse. Believed by that moment or two of retrospection, the widowed Muck woman turned to him again. 'Ah, if I half a dozen boys and girls to marry and bring home mutes, it would bo lively here, for all he is gone!" Some troubles are beyond the consolation derived from words. The preacher of Lt .1 Ilorse meeting house was too wise to plead that Providence ordained Mrs. Aldine s early widowhood or the ambition which had taken Alice Aldine away to oollego, where she and u slip of a brother, more child than man, were the mother's aole support. Poor little Bert Aldine had grown Up moody and dwarfish in the taint of universal loneliness. Solitude and a book, with Gyp, the great St. Ber nard pet, eyuig him lazily from the blinking windows of his cauine soul, made a heaven for the young emigrant, half orphaned just when he wan beginning to long for a fling at life beyond the limits of home. Preacher Goodnow's gaze wandered about the little hillside farm in search of some more congenial topic for conversation. It lighted on the St. Bernard trot ting lazily around the curve above the ridge where the ranch trail hung like a shelf set on brackets. "Now. at my cabin," said he, "your Gyp would be the most welcome Christ mas company that I could bring home." "Gyf> is everything except just your own kind. He feels our loss too. He J loved father, but he just clung to Allie. He was her keeper in childhood and her j romping playmate always." "Come, come: cheer up, Mrs. Aldine. This can't last forever. Bert will set j the ranch booming, and your daughter'M come back. With her return all the | likely fellows iu the Creek will come pouring in over that trail yonder. You'll be holdiug pink teas. You'll look buck on these days as the only days of peace. I tell you, Mrs. Aldine, when Allie comes back there won't be room in your cabin to turn around iu. Put a likely girl on a ranch, and you'll have all the men com pauy you want, and more too." Mr", Aldine smiled at his friendly attempt to brighten her thoughts. He con tinued: "All evils end like the drought, the 'fresh' and the locusts. Yours will too. Cheer up. Mrs. Aldine. Your dny is uot far off." "Bert knows nothing of ranch work. His father died too soou to teach hint how to till the land. The boy's all for education, yet he has no books, and now ' that he's grown larger no clothes for his age—nothing but made over things from f.'.hei's stock. Those, too, will ?oon be all gone," "Allie's hard sense will make him ail right, Mis. Aldine. Girls are quick t* fall into new ways. Your <lattgliter may turn out a first class rauchwoman." "I'm afraid not. Every one of lier letters contains something about a young nmn she has met around college. Every day I expect to hear that there's a match on between them. Young fnlks off alone so don't have proper advice about choosing company." Hut your Allie Is a girl of brains. She'll look out for 'number one,' which includes mother, brother and Gyp." "The I>ord grant that you're right. I have enough religion to pray that much. If Allie comes back, there will be joy on this ranch." "Don t you worry; she'll come, Sister Aldine," urged the preacher, gathering up the And now, Bert, 1 he added, turning to the boy, who came saunter* jng behiud Gyp, "I say again, you're welcome to the few books I have. But yo» kuow a poor emigrant dominie can't boast of a library equai to a town minister's.*' "Have you auy that tell about blizzards?" asked tho lad eagerly. "Something like that among our young folks, and you shall have it too." "I've read about a book ou blizzards, and'l want to see one. May I go ak>n» now and fetch it for Christmas?" "Why, Bert." said his mother, "It's most night and coming on chilly." Mr. Goodnow glanced skyward, shook his head dubiously, then cautioned Bert to wait u day or so. Said he:"The wind is freshening, and it comes frota th« -1 aii lie II Dtt = Is when you step into our store to buy your supplies for the family larder, i. We have the quality of goods that "taste like more," and at prices that gives you a chance to buy more, and a —— larger variety than atany other grocery. _____ (Jrocerios of all descriptions, Maple Syrup, Sauer Kraut, Huckwheat Flour —— and I'illsbury's Best Flour, Butter, . Fggs.Cheeseand Vegetablesofallkinds. We can supply your wants for the holidays, both in groceries, meats and ____ poultry. Our market is stocked with turkeys, I>ueks, Chickens and all kinds of Meats—fresh and juicy. Mince-meat, Sausage ami Smoked - Meats constantly on hand. Prices the lowest, quality considered. Come in aiid convince yourself with a trial ——— order, livery thing miM be salisfac tory 01 n.one} refunded. FRANK SHIVES. I 1 [ I r 1 i i -T— --i : i i : ! 11 L_L ■ AMI k»N coI;NTV l-KKSS, THURSDAY, DKCKMBKR 25. 1902. ocean too. That means a storm. Who knowH, we may have a real blizzard for v oriHtmas. "It's about getting lost in a blizzard that I want to read. That must be fun to get snowed under. I wouldn't rare, with Gyp along." Dint s well putin, 'with Gyp along.' Gyp's an Alpine life saver. Guess I'd better be traveling along. Looks as though it were coming soon." He clucked to his pony, and as he turned to the friends be was leaving he called out earlv "* merry C hristmas, and many of them!" The varying scone along the creek made fruitful study for the artist-minister an his sturdy mountain pony clattered over the sandy trail. The dog Gvp almost fell over himself as he sniffed the air at all points of the compass, lingering lon gest at the northwest, with his sensitive nose toward the peaks of the Rockies. If he read the weather signal, he made no further sign, but, doglike, accepted Bert s challenge to a race as the boy darted down the house trail shouting- Hoorny for the blizzard! I ain't afraid!" The widow likewise gave ue sign of having read the portents of that flurry of . clouds MKiiig back of the mountains. Those snowy peaks were still bathed in | sunlight. Ihe scene held her eyes With a strange fascination. The little clouds , increased ami rolled up like a black wall, hiding the hills and casting shadows | across the low country r.t their base. Suddenly the intervening miies of sunlight l were blotted out, and the storm burst orer the plains. Mrs. Aldino walked heavily after the racing boy and dog. In her mind hung an . Plrton* than that which filled the eye. The visitor hud utirreVl deep mem al,d | iI j_ e swiftly lived over the drama of years. First, the shock to John Al < me s health, the sacrifice of business and home, emigration to the plains nnd death within n short year. The scanty fortune had been sunk in a quarter sec tion, with a cluster of modest ranch buildings. Then an eastern relative offered Alice a scholarship, with the chances of earning her expenses for the whole eol <g< <ouise. Bert was then a lad of nine whose sole Idea of the country was a place to romp and have fun with the hayseeds. Out of this sad retrospect the ranchwonian was shaken by the noise of the gathering storm. The cold became I intense. Snow as fine as salt sifted down before the wind, stinging the bare face j and hands like needles. \\ ith Fort's erratic help, the live stock of the ranch was i turned in for shelter just as darkness came down. As the boy and woman rushed with lowered heads from the stable to the I nearest i.oor of their cabin Gyp bounded alongside in high spirits, his nose often | to the keenest blast. Indoors, the dog took bis station at the window, with paws on the sill. Fre quently he turned his pleading eyes on the others, watching their every movement With curious gaze. At length he set up a low whine to call their attention to the storm. Gyp wants to tackle it, ma," said Bert. "Tomorrow him and me'll have a C hristmns trip up the creek. It'll be fine fun!" He sniffs trouble, and so do I. The last two days I've seen scraps floating in the creek. That means tenderfoot camp up above. Bits of straw broken buckets, scraps of newspaper, hsrse combings and the like don't come down the J creek from nowhere." ••Somebody's coming for Christmas, ma?" asked the boy, with widening eyes. I ravelers, most likely, who can t make port ahead of this storm. Only for the dark. I'd take Gyp and guide them in." "Let me go, ma—Gyp ami mo," "Tomorrow we'll all go." The rflnchwoman slept little that night. Bert dozed by the fire alone, for he couldn't coax the dog from his vigil. Next morning Gyp's emotion was beyond his control. When let loose, he ran from place to place, constantly snitfing* the northwest air from up the creek trail. At chorctiine he disappeared. Bert shouted lustily for him, but got no answer. "JTe's off in the blizzard, ma, to hunt the snowed nnders. and I'm going too." In an hour we 11 start together." Mrs. Aldine prepared some brandy left from John's supply, also strips of blankets and mufflers. She drew on trousert and boots nnd John's greatcoat. It was a man's task to wade that deeply drifted snow. Carrying the bundles between, they brayely faced the storm. The wind cut across their faces and drove the freeing snow into their blind ed eyes. Bert soon lost his vim. Mrs. Aldine realized the perils af the trip, and they both turned back. After thawing himself out Bert said. "Herenfter when folks say its colder than Christmas I'll know they never struck a Christmas bliz zard on tho Led Horse." ~ T ° war d midday, with the sun sliiniug brightly on high, it looked warm from the windows of the ranch. "I can goon now, ma," said Bert. "Gyp's stuck it out, and so will I." * bll " ur(1 d °s; you're only a bouse boy; quite n difference on a da* like this. * Reaay for Fall and Winter Coats, Capes and Cloaks. A the cold weather I season draws near, yon must.be prepared to meet the winds o the chilly winter, and vte now ready with a much arger stock than heretofore, to meet your wants. The very latest styles in Ladies' Coats, Capes and Cloaks. If you fail to see our large stock and get our prices you will be the loser Furs In tlle fu r w . c lca<l in this county. We • have anything in this line that can be desired and the prices are sure to make ready sales. Call and see our large stock. Shirt Waist Patterns. terns, as our large trade in this line fully demonstrates. We arc now ordering carpet by samples and can surely I please you from our large stock of patterns We can furnish I you from the cheapest to the most expensive. We invite the to visit our store and jM*t our I prices. Von will receive cordial treatment whether you I purchase or not, M. C. TH IS. * * 1 ' **him • trr .i- i , „ u . "Well, I won't be 'only a house boy.' I'm going after Gyp aad the snowed unders, if there are any." i',P rP o, , lKht t( ? b( ' back I,y this said Mrs. Aldine. Meanwhile she had q u tly made ready for another trial. She added to her stock extra mittens for herself aiid Bert and a tin bucket filled with dry kindlings for making hot tea in tne open. Bert earned the blankets strapped to his back. They had proceeded but a short distance through the deep snow when Bert began to tire. ought to be here to carry this pack and make a trail, shouldn't he, ma?" lle n ;« v bo <lom * better work where he is." Bert faced it more bravely than before and began to sec things more clearly. His mother '-is snow white, ?nd he knew that he, too, must be covered with the powdered frost. "All you lack is a beard, ma, to be a big Santa Clans. I'm just a dwarf, and your reindeer has run on ahead." "Yes, and his tracks lead up the hill along yonder ridga. The <vind haa the snow away there, and we can trail him easy. He's found something, or he'd keen hack long ago." Gyp's tracks gradually became fainter, but the ridge itself was a guide. The dog would take the shortest route, and Mrs. Aldine believed that travelers caught 111 the storm would make for the shelter of an oak clump a few miles up the creek. Now aud then she shaded her eyes and searched the line of the creek far nhead. The wagon trail ran along the valley, but that was drifted even with snow. At last they sighted the oaks, and there the keen eyes of the ranchwonian could outline a peculiar snowdrift, with patches of color Hung over it. Was it a low ctbin or a log pile snowed under? Gyp's tracks led to the strange drift. Its sbape was irregular, nnd something besides driven snow held up the even crest. •'There's a stugc or a wagon," said Mrs. Aldine. "What next?" "I don t see," said Bert, shading his straining eyes. "You will in a minute. Gyp's there too." Speechless nr.d oagerly they made that last spurt. Arched over with snow, they saw some spokes of wheels and above them the profile of an emigrant wagon thickly covered with icy snow. Beyond, partly hidden by winglike drifts branch ing right nnd left and half buried in snow, were the figures of four horses the wheelers of the team almost upright in the heavy bauk, U »»J iLc- l CU un in lliu not of rearing to mount the crest of a monster drift. In frantic struggle they had | perished from exhaustion and cold. Gyp's tracks led around over the horses' bodies nnd the driver's seat. Bert was instantly changed from boy toman. The storm had promised him a Christ mas picnic Here was tragedy. Death might lie beneath that mysterious mound. Reaping ahead, he dashed to the torn end of the canvas cover, looked in and with drew his head long enough to shout, "Ma, it's Allie!" thca plunged through the hole made by the frantic Gyp. "God grant we're not too late!" cried the mother, the full burden of her pre sentiment surging heavily upon her heart. Between barricades of boxes were two figures buried in robes uuu biankets. One was Alice, and close to her waxen face lay Gyp's. His eyes were rather hu man than canine and seemed to say, "I have done the correct thing and saved her. He had burrowed under the robes to give the freezing girl the warmth of his own thick coat and the heat from still warmer blood. "I wrote you of my marriage," murmured the girl faintly after the victims had keen thawed bnck to life. Mrs. Aldine almost dropped the cup of hot broth she was giving the loyal driver, Yankton Bill, whose white and blistered hands were useless stumps. "Then that letter was lost on the way," said she, and for the first smiled on the robust tenderfoot whom Gyp had also kept from perishiug as he snuggled in beside his freezing mistress. "i'cs, I wrote that, but I didn't tell you that we should cross the plains for our honeymoon. I wanted to surprise you Christmas day." Bert and Gyp putin a lively holiday week bringing to the ranch the contents of the boxes stored in the blockaded wagon. They were filled with clothing, books and blankets, a timely donation to the Led Herse meeting house folks from the King's Daughters of the Ohio town where Alice had so effectually looked out for number one. On the last trip to the drift the tenderfoot nnd Yankton Bill helped haul the sled home, for it was weighted down by a large trunk bearing the legend, "It. R., Grangeville, Minn." When opened, the trunk disgorged a motley pile of stout workiug clothes very unlike a college boy's wardrobe. Mrs. Aldine turned to her daughter with questioning eyes. "Oh. it's nothing, mother," said Alice, "excepting that my Christmas present :s » born anil bred farmer to run the land. We're here to remain, if you'll have us, Ralph Ralston and Alice, his wife." ROSA C. EICHORN. Get the J For Your Husband, Sweetheart or Brother. While looking around endeavoring to find something to give fMfi your husband, brother or sweetheart, John Cruics, 3 Who manufactures and keeps a choice line of Cigars of his own manufacture, as well us all the popular brands oi SinokiiiL atiu wftl Chewing tobaccos an<l Smokers articles, will help you make a wise r&'i selection. His new line of ♦ SMHKFRS ARTIPI FS including Merer haum and Prinr ?I»I it ll»LuO. Pipes, i.the fliu t line ever ex. h ,MI "d hero /k » bo * °f "Spanish Arms," the 0.-st ten cent cigar on the ' * T Hl*' ''it *? ,ar a ,or . an - v : or M bo * °f "Cyclone," the leader, fci.oo lor 4<i fifty. No better in th«* county All nuiokcrH IIHO them mid on- , L W UORMO their elegant flavor. Ciive UH your order early. Joiin cnuicE. ]'•%".ss .>
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers