DE WINTER DREAMS. The ruddy sunset floods the hill Til one old apple-tree drowse Feels once again the spring-time's gladdening thrill, : And clustering blossoms hide his stiffened boughs. orchard in blissful Beyond the orchard’s pathless stretch of white, Beside the frozen road, a snow-halred man Cheers on the coasters in thelr merry flight, And for a space he 1s a boy again. Emma C. Dowd, In Judge. “Little Pete's” Courtship. A Romance of Life With the City Workers. Nearly a year Dan Murphy had been trying to prevent his sister Mary from marrying beneath her, and had succeeded, but Mrs. Ritchie said it be- gan to look as if he would have to give in and make the best of it, or else be at outs with the girl for the rest of his days. Ars. Ritchie came to this conclusion when she saw Mary walking down the 80 far in the foundry as “Little Pete” Mary was looking tenderly down at him and he was looking up at her as tenderly. Moreover, there was triumph in his walk and a carnation in his but. tonhole. There are circumstances un- der which a man may walk on Arbor street with a carnation In hole and yet not | dudes that perish. Murphy was foreman o “Little Peter” was but “dubbed ings and flasks, baking cores, : Tr his button- classed with the nos around,” carr for his superiors mere he only that, but he was weak-eye and somewhat bandy-legged. Murphy could not for the life of him see there was about the little rat to ake the fancy of a girl, but that is thing that has been puzzling brot fathers and rivals since the world gan. Perhaps Mary fancied because he was so distine from Brother Daniel. Brot was masterful and subject to Ls of ho anger that found in smashing at home and lurid talk in t foundry. Mary had been dominated by him all her life. and although she had never been anything but submissive there were thes when re bellion was in her ir Peter was bandy-legged and small he was at amiable, Mary was large girl wi washed-out plexion and i deliberate of wovement. a r 1s 1. meek what ROLE 1eTS, Tl 104 4 SOace crockery. © strong bosom, least ley eyes, o slow of speech and It was at a picnic oters park that L Pete first met All the boys from the foundry there and Dan introduced the “he to his with a good-natured « descension of mauner that Peter as perfectly natural and proper. Mary smiled kindly and a little when Peter took heart of grace to pro- pose walking oversto where the foot aces were to take place. Bi however, and as Brother Dan away with Myra Hanson it came at Sharpsh ttle Mary. Wer Toor sist or On- TOOK blushed 1 went, to the day. that demanded a man's entire tion, Dan did not notice the ur able way mistak tioned it the netx day as they sat in open before them, concen! his blushes when they did so she thought this was the most delight. ful picnic that ever was. that when she returned home she was for a very long time smiling at the wall-paper garlands when she ought to have been in bed. ribbon with the emblem of the Amal. gamated Gravel Roofers blazoned thereon in letters of gold. Before she did go to bed she opened a locked drawer and took from it a box which contained a little gold baby chain, a coral necklace, a tiny turquoise ring, a cheerful expression and a tintype por- trait of Mrs. Murphy, deceased. Among boyant badge and then locked the box up again. When Murphy came home from work wore more ribbons than usual and that looked as if he noticed It “Expectin’ company?’ he asked. There was no question about her col or now. “Mr. Rutter sald he might call this evenin',” she admitted. “Mister who? You don't mean ‘Lit tle Pete’ 7" “Is that what yon call him? that's who I mean” “Well,” said Murphy, with fine scorn, “I like his gall, How'd that come? Why didn’t you tell him you was goin’ to jump the town this mornin’ an’ wouldn't be back for eleven yeasr?” “Because 1 wanted him to come,” said Mary, truthfully. Brother Dan laughed. He thought it impossible that she could be In earnest, The next day Dan heard something Yos; {at the foundry that made him change his mind about Mary's not being in | earnest, Still he had the gooa judg- | few days later, when the ribbons ap- | peared again—cherry-colored forecasts tof Peter in a black diagonal cutaway j coat too long In the slesves and too | high in the collar, but sutliciently Im. | pressive and declaratory. | Then Dan lost temper and judgment {together and told Mary he ashamed of her. | “Why should you be, Danny, dear?” | asked Mary. | “Don't ‘Danny dear’ me,” sald her | brother, angrily, “Take up with a | skate like that and then ask me why was Bu! ain't that's all that now, He don’t come here { It's enough just to look at him. { that's neither here nor there, 1 | going to stand for It and about it. You understand Mary, don’t you? i no more.” “1 suppose that means you'll him?’ sald Mary, meeting his look. “That ain't my style an’ you ought ito know it,” sald Murphy, with some indignation, *I think I can keep any man from coming into my house with out making a club of his job. Ain't I father and mother both to you?” “I don't think father or mother would have objected,” sald Mary. But the end of it was that she went sadly upstairs to her room and Dan sat out on the steps and smoked while he wait. ed for “Little Pete” Rutter, Presently the little man came along, whistling, and opened the He fire gale stony face, but he gave him a cheerful “Good evenin'.” Murphy made no pretense of civil he sald, “1 mi as well tell around here, It'll save me trouble a you trouble If you keep away got anythin’ against you, but I don't want vou around.” Peter but he stood his i boldly, “1 didn't {r. Murphy,” be said. you didn't,” returned Mur- “That's the trouble, I in’ to beat about the bush. you come see Mary, but you