A Kentucky Cardinal
Dedication This to her from one who in childhood used to stand at the windows of her room and watch for the Cardinal among the snow-buried cedars. I All this New-year's Day of 1850 the sun shone cloudless but wrought no thaw. Even the landscapes of frost on the window-panes did not melt a flower, and the little trees still keep their silvery boughs arched high above the jeweled avenues. During the afternoon a lean hare limped twice across the lawn, and there was not a creature stirring to chase it. Now the night is bitter cold, with no sounds outside but the cracking of the porches as they freeze tighter. Even the north wind seems grown too numb to move. I had determined to convert its coarse, big noise into something sweet--as may often be done by a little art with the things of this life--and so
She shook her head.
"Please not."
"But he's the one who must go away. If I could have a few minutes with
him alone, I think perhaps I could make him see that."
"Please not," she repeated.
"What's the harm?"
"I don't think it would be safe--for either of you."
She raised her eyes as she said that, and for a moment Monte was held
by them. Then she rose.
"After all, it's too bad for me to inflict my troubles on you," she
said.
"I don't mind," he answered quickly. "Only--hang it all, there does
n't seem to be anything I can do!"
"I guess there is n't anything any one can do," she replied helplessly.
"So you're going away?"
Dedication This to her from one who in childhood used to stand at the windows of her room and watch for the Cardinal among the snow-buried cedars. I All this New-year's Day of 1850 the sun shone cloudless but wrought no thaw. Even the landscapes of frost on the window-panes did not melt a flower, and the little trees still keep their silvery boughs arched high above the jeweled avenues. During the afternoon a lean hare limped twice across the lawn, and there was not a creature stirring to chase it. Now the night is bitter cold, with no sounds outside but the cracking of the porches as they freeze tighter. Even the north wind seems grown too numb to move. I had determined to convert its coarse, big noise into something sweet--as may often be done by a little art with the things of this life--and so