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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. M What?" Raid Amy, seeing Frank hesitate, M Young ladies," wid he. " There, now, I knew you were making fan of " I wonder when the little creature got into the rfxira," laid Mrs, Harrington. " It came from toward the fire place," Amy re plied. " Then it mut have come np through the hearth." And true enough, when mousio was frightened, he ran to the fire place and disappeared down a hole in the hearth. Owing to the accident, the family circle broke up earlier than usual, ami with many regrets from Amy for Frank' injury, the good nights were said, and they retire!. As had Uvn predicted by Mrs. Har rington, the rain turned to snow, and by morning aUut four inches had fallen, and it was still coming down in Urge flakes, covering the shrubbery and (round with a Uautiful mantle of pure white. When Amy awoke, ilie sprang from her bed and ran to the window to a whether her mother's prophesy had Ik-!! fulfilled. As her eyes beheld the trees and ground covered with snovr, she clapped her hands with delight She hurriedly dressed herself and ran down stairs, where ihe met her mother, who was al ready up and busying herself with her household du tirs. "Oh, mamma! Isn't it beautiful?" "What, dear?" M Why. the snow. Has Mr. Von Iirean come don)et?" M I think not; at least, I have not seen him." " Wheu lo makes his appearance, I am going to snow.ball him," said Amy, as sho put on her hood and mittens. She then went out on the jwrch, where she pro pared so.ra! snow balls, to I in readiness for the attark. Khe was not kept long in waiting, as sho had scare ly cUvl th Ur lK.Ljnij her whon prRnk,g f.otteHi wore heard descending tho stairs. " (iood morning, Mrs. Harrington," said he, as ho entered the room. M (!oul morning, sir. I hope you rested welL" " QoiU well, thanks to your care in dressing my wound! thumb. The camphor has relieved mo of ail pain, and I hardly u alio that I was hurt I sec your predictions regaiding snow have leen verified." ' Ye, Amy will got her sleigh ride now." M 1 onder," said Frank, that she is not up now enjoying the sight of the .now as it falls so gently to" the ground, casting it with iU .oft, white covering." M .W is out now, enjoying R run thr h th now," rcplxx! Mrs. Harrington. " Indeed, then I have been playing the elagg&r and, with your permission, will go and look her up.M He went out on the front veranda, and not seeing Amy, started around the house, and as he turned the corner, spat, spat, two snow balls hit him in the back, and Amy's voice was heard laughing in great glee, " Oh! but won't I pay you for that," cried Frank, as he turned and started toward her; but as he did so, another ball took him in the chest, and as Amy threw this one she started around the house on a run Frank after her with his hands full of snow, declaring he would wash her face. Around the house ran the pursued and pursuer, until Amy saw that he was gaining on her, when, darting among some shrubbery, she managed to elude him for a time, and before he could straighten himself out again, she took the back track around the house. Frank ran in the opposite direction, and as each turned the corner they met, when Amy stopped suddenly, picked up a handfull of snow, and before Frank could prevent it, rubbed it over his face, then continued her flight, screaming with laughter. The breakfast bell called them now, and Amy obeyed it immediately, leaving Frank to follow at his leisure. Upon going into the house, he found Amy, in the family'sitting room, standing by the old-fashioned fireplace warming her hands, her face burning with a healthy glow, and her eyes bright and spark ling. Frank thought he had never seen such radiant beauty before. The snow came down all that day, and soon the jingle of the sleigh bells was heard mingling with the merry voices of young people, as they enjoyed their first sleigh ride that winter. " Won't we have a jolly time now? " said Amy, as she and Frank stood looking out of one of the parlor windows, watching the large flakes piling one upon another as they settled gently down. Frank was standing close by Amy, so clode that he could feel her warm breath as she turned to speak to him. He felt that he must speak of the deep love which was consuming him. But now that he had made up his mind, he found it difficult to frame his thoughts into words. He stood looking at her for some time, then managed to say, " Miss Harrington." Amy turned her eyes toward him, and instinctive ly her womanly nature told her what was coming. She made no reply, but averted her eyes and stead fastly gazed out of the window. Her dream came back to her now in all its dreadful distinctness. Sho saw Tom with his face pressed sgainst the window pane, looking at her, the warm blood oozing from be neath the bandage about his head, and his lips were parted as he tried to speak to her. Amy covered her face with her hands to shut out the ghastly sight, and