Category: Short Stories

The Open Window: Tales of the Months

I. THE MARKIS AND THE MAJOR _January_ II. THE STALLED TRAIN _February_ III. THE VANDOO _March_ IV. THE IMMIGRANTS _April_ V. TREE OF LIFE _May_ VI. WIND IN THE GRASS _June_ VII. THE SIMPLE LIFE _July_ VIII. THE ADOPTION OF ALBERT AND VICTORIA _August_ IX. GROUNDSEL-TREE _Septe...

Chapters

8. Part 8

“Though this was my forbears’ homestead, I was born out in Ohio on a little farm in the Muskingan River Valley. Seventy years ago it was hard living there as far as indoor comfo...

16. Part 16

As soon as father accustomed himself to the light, he saw he was in what is commonly known as a den. A low book-case filled one side, above which hung some good sporting prints...

9. Part 9

“Nonsense; I know very well what I _don’t_ wish to have happen. Wray is worth ten of the pretty boys that lounge about nowadays, and haven’t enough grip either of body or brain...

5. Part 5

“It is one of the many cases that come to us all, and especially into the life of a country doctor, that prove how foolish it is for people to make plans for those who come afte...

10. Part 10

“You know English couples often borrow a country house from friends to settle in for the honeymoon, if they’ve none of their own,” she continued. “There is nothing lovelier than...

7. Part 7

Ivan slunk off behind the station, head down and the old stoop to his shoulders. He had eaten no dinner and his head reeled. Stumbling into the general store close to the statio...

4. Part 4

Back over trestles and track flew the girl; past the station, from which suddenly awakened men were stumbling up the track calling; past the overtasked wife of the station maste...

18. Part 18

Margaret added some ordinary words of greeting before she looked at the figure who rose from the settle back of the stove and bowed, without offering to shake hands, as a native...

13. Part 13

“I didna suspicion—I _kenned_; Potowski bought a bag o’ biscuit like them the bairns had, the night before at the village store! But Dochtor, _mon_, ye’ll never breathe the thou...

19. Part 19

The March days flew by rapidly, and it was almost April. The willows were showing yellow stems, and the river swirled under them with new fervour. Hepaticas bloomed in the wood...

6. Part 6

“She wants grandpa’s name to be given to the first child that is born in this house,” said Mrs. Terry, in an awestruck tone, “and that seems to me like a loaf and fish miracle,...

2. Part 2

“But there is no need of this,” father replied, as, clearing his throat and wiping his nose, he tried to look severe and judicial, (dear Dad! how well I know this particularly i...

11. Part 11

The German girl’s name was Gertie, and her American assistant, apparently without good and sufficient reason, was called Sapphira. The latter slipped into her costume with compa...

12. Part 12

“‘Come next Sunday, moreover, I’ll have them baptized Albert and Victoria to give them a fair start, even if their poor dead parents as is dead and gone did see to it, as most l...

3. Part 3

Then as Randy under his guidance dropped the lumps of sugar in the pail (cup and saucer lacking), he suddenly formulated for the first time the fact of her refinement and the di...

17. Part 17

As he looked about his rooms he almost smiled at his few possessions. Some long shelves of books, a rack of music, a few pelt rugs, a high-post bed behind an alcove curtain, cha...

15. Part 15

“Beloved,—my heart flower,—your mother went alone, and yet I have stayed until now. Do you know what she said when she knew that she must first tread the path and she laid you i...

14. Part 14

Presently a floe of ice clouds high in air crossed the sun, and at the same time something passed over Jane Mostyn’s face. Dropping her hold of the basket, she fell back a few s...

1. Part 1

I. THE MARKIS AND THE MAJOR _January_ II. THE STALLED TRAIN _February_ III. THE VANDOO _March_ IV. THE IMMIGRANTS _April_ V. TREE OF LIFE _May_ VI. WIND IN THE GRASS _June_ VII....

20. Part 20

Only four rooms were to be used at first; a sunny kitchen, and sitting-room, and two bedrooms above. One of these was to have a blue paper and the other an old-fashioned chintz...