ht with the elements.

It seemed an age to Mandy, but it was in reality not more than five
minutes, before Hiram and Swiss reached the kitchen door and came into
the room.

"Come out into the back room," said Mandy to Hiram. "I don't want this
snow all over my kitchen floor." So Hiram and Swiss were taken into the
big room and in a short time came back in presentable condition.

"Now, Mr. Maxwell, if you have recovered the use of your tongue, will
you kindly inform me what sent you out in such a storm as this?"

"Well," replied Hiram, "I reckoned I'd git down kinder early in the
mornin' and git back afore dark."

"That's all right," said Mandy; "but that don't tell me what you are out
for, anyway."

"Well, you didn't suppose," said Hiram, "that I could go all day long
without seein' you, did yer, Mandy?"

Mrs. Crowley chuckled to herself and went into the side room. Even Swiss
seemed to recognize that two were company and he followed Mrs. Crowley
and resumed his old resting place in the corner on the pallet.

As Mrs. Crowley went about her work, she chuckled again, and said to
herself, "It's a weddin' I'll be goin' to next time in place of a
funeral."

Upstairs other important events were taking place. Quincy had gone to
his room directly after breakfast, and looked out upon the wild scene of
storm with a sense of loneliness that had not hitherto oppressed him.
Why should he be lonely? Was he not in the same house with her, with
only a thin wall of wood and plaster between them? Yes, but if that wall
had been of granite one hundred feet thick, it could not have shut him
off more effectually from seeing her lovely face and hearing her sweet
voice.

There came a sharp rap at the door.

"Come in," called out Quincy.

"Ah!" said Uncle Ike as he entered, "I am glad to see you have a good
fire. The snow has blown down into Alice's room and her fire is out.
Will you let her step in here for a few moments, Mr. Sawyer, until 'Zeke
and I get the room warm again?"

"Why, certainly," replied Quincy. "I am only too happy--"

But Uncle Ike was off, and returned in a few moments leading Alice.
Quincy placed a chair for her before the fire. This cold wintry day she
wore a morning dress of a shade of red which, despite its bright color,
seemed to harmonize with the golden hair and to take the place of the
sun, which was not there to light it up.

"If Miss Pettengill prefers," said Quincy, "I can make myself
comfortab