I'm not even wearing mittens."
Ed Higgins gingerly clasped the little hand, but it was withdrawn at
once. He found it as warm as toast. Words of love surged to his humble
lips; his knees felt a tendency to lower themselves precipitously to the
frozen sidewalk; he was ready to grovel at her feet--and he wondered if
they were as warm as toast. But 'Rast Little came up at that instant and
the chance was lost.
"Doggone!" slipped unconsciously but bitterly from Ed's lips.
"Can I be your company to the spellin'-bee to-morrow night, Miss Banks?"
burst unceremoniously from the lips of the newcomer.
"Thank you, 'Rast. I was just wondering how I should get out to the
schoolhouse. You are very kind. We'll go in the bob-sled with the
Holabirds."
"Doggone!" came in almost a wail from poor Ed. He could have killed
'Rast for the triumphant laugh that followed.
In the meantime Anderson Crow was preparing to crawl in between the icy
sheets at home. Mrs. Crow was "sitting up" with old Mrs. Luce, who was
ill next door.
"She's a girl with a past," reflected Anderson. "She's a mystery,
that's what she is; but I'll unravel her. She had a mighty good reason
fer sawin' me off out there to-day. I was gittin' too close home. She
seen I was about to corner her. By gum, I hope she don't suspect
nothin'! She's found out that Ed Higgins has a good job down to Lamson's
store, an' she's settin' her cap fer him.
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