Aunt Grell

WELVE -SEARS," murmured Aiint Grell, as she gazed thoughtfully out through the misty pane at the faliing d rizzle that was rapidly chanf?ing to snow. "I don't know, Ineverknew exactly how it hap])ened, but we were havinga good time at the New Year's party under Farmer Holmes' roof, and - but w h y hould I think of that, time now! Twelve years ougtit to hcal the old wound, and it oes. I'veenoughon my hands, enough to jack my braiu witliout becoining sentimental." With a sigh Aunt Grell came to her feet, crossed the plain rag carpet, and stood at another vvnidow. Pust this the road ran, and beyond was a m ss of trees and bushes cf recent grovvth, the whole rapidly becoming crowned with white partióles that feil laster and taster, as the cóld north wind congealed the drops of rain. It was not a pleasant scène. The sullen woods and long sweep of country road, unrelievod by farm buildings, gave the scène a lonely aspect. Tho Wecds vvere poor people. An epidemie of scarlot fever had passed through the neighborhood. Many of tho first families üad lost their little ones, and Aunt örell had boen like a ministering angel among them. When the fever feil upon the Weeds no on e ventured near save the country doctor. Mrs. Weed was an invalid, and ker husband an indifferent nurse, clumsy, yet good-natured and willing. When she learaed of the situation Geraliine Ward weut at once and offered her services. She was kind, patiënt and capaWe, and none in that country ncighborhood appreciated her tender regard for the suffenng as did tho Weeds. Johunie and liadge passed through the fever and were onvaleseing when the dawn of New 'ïear's iay found Aunt Grell, as Miss (ieraldine Ward was termed, musing in her room at the Weed farm-house over the past. This was a sol mn, sad New Year to the patiënt old maid of Burktosvn (Jorners. While she stood at the windovv, the snow swirled about, and sifted against the narrow panes in a way that indicated a sudden fccrease of cold in the atmosphere without The brown eyes were fllled with a yearn■hg that remained unspoken even to the iumb walls of the room. The face of this (jood angel of the Corners was not beautiJol, not even good looking one might say at Srst glauce, but were you to mention her name to a citizen wn'hin teu miles of Burklowii Corners, you would be told that Aunt Brell was tho handsomest wooian in the world. Miss Ward did not linger, but hurried toto the mxt apartment, where she heard a lowvoice calling her name. It was Mrs. Weed, who reclined in an easy-chair, pale and worn, -et with a grateful glow in her fcollow eyes. " I am sorry we can not pay you for your services, Miss Ward," said the invalid. "Madge ami Johnnie are beyond danger, Ihe doctor tell3 me, and we owe it all to you." Tears filled the mother' ves at the last. Beralditie stood calmly by '_. side and moothed her faded with tender touch. "I am glad if 1 have been of service, Mrs. Weed," returned she. "Of course, it is best for me to go now, but I shall always hold a kind regard for you and the children, that bas grown in my heart during my two weeks' stay with you." Then Aunt Grell leit the room. The erunch of wheels on the f rozen ground reminded her that Mr. Weed w s without, and would convey ber to the Corners. Kisstog the in valid, and Roing once more to the Éhildren, Aunt Grell made ready to depart. "Don't go, aunty, don't go,1' sobbed üttle Mwlge, who was only four, and as sweet a ehiltl as the kind old maid had ever held to fceryearning heart That appeal, and the pitiful, pleutling, upturned face, brought the tears to Aunt Grell's eyes. "I must go now; but I will come again," jaii she. "To-day?" queried Johnnie, a boy ol tíght, wHo clung to Aunt Greü's skirta and looked up with bright eyes into her lace. "Not to-day, dear, but soon." "But mamma says it's New Year's, Aunt ftrell, and- aud when we was so sick jest Ohristmas, she said when New Year'a ome we'd getsomepresents- me'n' Madge. Mamma says the doctor'9 to pay, and we can't get 'em. I thought- " "That inight bring you sometuing?" ried Aunt. Grell, quickly. "And I will, my éear children. Belore bed-time to-night Jtok for something, and novv good-bye." Botij children stie kissed aguin, and then lwrried from the room aud the house. Mr. Weed assisted her to a sent in the old buggy, and soon the tvvo rattled awuy, two pairs ol hriRht oyes watching tho depftrturej while wo noscs were üattened against tho cold window pnne. " Shü's gone, aunty's gone." sighed little Madjje. dolefully, and when tlio fallingsnow hid the travelcrs, Johunie uttered a prolonged whietle to keep down his ieelinp', and walked iway to see his mol her. He longed to go out and tr.v the snow, but this was strictly forbidden for the present, and the boy must needs hkie histroublcs under n Blrof ndifference, whittl liedid by whistlin; and stamping his feet loudly on the Boor un he wa'bovj " I must tind something for the Weed hiltli-i-n, ' said Aunt Grell, passinfc before the store Windows in ihe villaje. " Poor dears. they ii've so httie. U 1 was only rieli how ai' h Rood 1 couki do But I don't ■etuii lo lie utyiiig niuch by, and I'm alreadj lOWiiiR olrt. Ah, here is gfnething." Miss W'ard liiistent-d Into the store and pricfd -.i Mod and pair of skates tnat hung totli.M-. r.Uow. Sbe found ibem almost too SlpU for 1:it gU'odt-r purse. bul could find 'nothing elso suitable, and purcbaaed bota. articles, aDd a flaxen-haired doll for Madgo. The next thing was to get the articles to the Weeds. lt was novv late in the day, and the Weed farm was tour miles from Burktown Corners. Besides, the storm of the morning h;id increased. until a foot of snow lay on the ground, and the wind was piling it in hugh drifts about the fence cornersand about the trees. Mr. Weed had returned immediately after landing Aunt Grell at the Corners. Aunt Grell couid not afford tohire a conveyance, and no teams were passing to-day. New Year's was a day when the peorle of that oommnnity cnjoycd thetnselves at home or around the tavnrn flre. "I'll go myself," suddenly resolved Aunt Grell. ÊÜo boarded when '-at home" with a widow, Mrs. Casper, in the outskirts of the village, and here Aunt Grell made her way witta her purehases. On reaching the huinblo home of the widow, Geraldine found the door loeked Having been absent two weeks Aunt Grell did not know that her friend liad left town to visit a son soma miles away a few days before, and would not return till after New Year's. The snow whirled about the slender form on the widow's step, and seemed to defy her to face it. Bui Aunt Grell was brave, and she formed a sudden resolution. She would return to the Weeds and carry the present herself. Her heart leaped at the thought of the pleasure she was to give the little Weeds on this New Year's night, for already the short winter afternoon was drawing to a close. "lts four miles by tho road," thought Aunt Grell, " but I know the path through the woodB, and l'll take that." Passing a neighbor's house shc mentioned the fact that she was going to visit the Weeds, and then she hurried away, bur! dened with armful of presents, she having added several small packages of confections to the articles already mentioned. " I had no idea the snow Aas so deep," nttered the venturesome Miss Ward, as she entered the woods. " I wonder if I stiall have any trouble m following the path." The snow had ceased to f al), and Aunt Grell found liltle difflculty in making her way durmg the first half of tho distance. Then night feil, and the wind increasod, while the snow was swept in great sheets about the form of Aunt Grell, its fiercenes9 at times almost lifiing her from her feet. "Mercy! Ihadno idea of this," exclaimed the slendcr woman, leaning gaspingly against a tree. "lm out of the path, and it's a wonder if I ain't lost!" After a short rest she moved on again, but soon feil lioundering in ahollowthat had been fllled with snow. " ühl ohl" she gasped; "I owe all this to my foolish haste to get away from the Weeds. Simple John Weed did not know ■why 1 left them so prooipitately to-day. Ha nrged me to keep New Year's with them, but how could 1 when he was coming, and bringing his wifei" Once more Aunt Grell struggled to her feet, and leaned, weak and faint, against a tree. The Winding snow al most suffocated her. Where was she? Heaven only knew. She had lost the path; her hat, torn irom her head, was now scurrying away into the darkness, while face and hands were stift with the cold. Lost in the woods, with the mercury almost at zero, no wonder a feeling of despair lied the heart of the courageous little woman. Once more she essayed to move on. Her limbs, however, seemed numb and asleep. She staggered a little distance and came near falling again. She yet clung to the presen ts she had bought for the little We ds. "I must find my way out somehow," moaned Aunt Grell, with a sickening despair in her heart. It was a terrible New Year to her. The dawn of another day would see her stiffened fiom lying under the trees half buried in snow I This thoueht took possession of her, and she was on the point of sinking helplessly, when a sound feil on her ear- the jingle of bells. Bhe must be ncar the road. With a last desperate effort she reeled toward the sound, caught sight of a dark object moving throuiih the woods, then feil fainting in the snow. "Eh, what is thisï A woman, by piterl" Rbert "Waraen sprang f rom his comfortable seat under the robes, and lifted Aunt Grell into his cutter. She still clung to doll and skates, the other presents having been droppi d by the way. "Ahí I understand," muttered the gentleman "It must be Geraldine Ward. Heavens I I hope she's not dead." Theo he lushed his horses to a gallop, and ten minutes later entered the Weeü farmhouse with Aunt Grell m his arms. A littlo later she opened her eyes to find a bearded countenance leasing over her. She attempted to cover her face. but be held her hands. ' Geraldine," he said, ' have you no welcome f or me, and New Year's night, too?" "Roben, oh, Roberto" "You knevv I was coming. Mra. Weed, my sister, has told me of yourrefusal topass New Year's night under this roof because I was expected." "No, no; I d;d not tell thein that,'' she faltercd; "I-" " But that was why you left, I know. You meant, to keep your word to the children, and I saved you from pcrishing in tlie cruel snow. Geraldme, the lifo I saved 1 claim, and-" " But, sir, remember your wife- " "ís a myth. I'm an oíd bachelor, and was once a'fool I" He bent and lnssed her, just as the clockannounced the end of what proved a good New Year's Day after all.