B. * - ' - : . -c - - H A LAMENT. H | In the dreary distant northland 1 kcj a utehty oak did grow. B For a hundred peacohil summers H Through it did tho Holt winds blow ; B For a liundrpd Inngthy wintprn. ' On it fell the rold , white snow , 'Nenth it roved tlio doughty cliioftuia H While his dusky lovo ho woo'd Proud and Btutely grew tho oak tra * In tho northern solitude. B Lot tho mighty now have fallen , Fallen from their high estate ; On tho pavement * of the city Has the onk . trce banged of late , Through ilio nir in graceful motions H Does it circlo and gyrate. For tho oak iins been made into Cuncn that are used by tho dudes ; * Fullen is the mighty monarch Of the northern Holitudes. M Now York Herall. HH i I DB. KEENE'S STORY. RANK Howard was ono of my most intimate friends. I met him one summer in the Catskills > whither I had betaken , myself for a week'8 • change and fresh 1 air. I put up at a lonely farm house , where H " Howard , stop. H ping for a day to await the arrival of B some friends , was so unfortunate as H to sprain his ankle. It was nothing serious , but it compelled him to re- H Inain quiet for a few days. His B iriends , arriving , proceeded on their H way , leaving him in my care. H Frank was a cherry , happy young H fellow of 20 , and took his mishap H " with uncommonly goodjsrrace. I read to him from my small store of books H and papers , and we had long and in- H teresting talks. Frank was full o * H the enthusiasm of youth , and I , eight H or ten years his senior , was , my Hj steady going colleagues would have H said , a visionary , romantic boy. H .Those few days made us better ac- B quainted than we would have become in months of intercourse in the city. When Frank was able to rejoin his B s ifriends my time was up and I return- I ad to town , regretting thenecessity I iihat compelled me to part with the B pleasant young lellow. B He did not forget his promise to look me up when lie returned to the B city , and from that time on we were B * * - the best of friends. I had , I am sure , ' more of his confidence than did any ; < one else , and I talked to him in a ! way that my medical brethern would I , ' Iliave pronounced wild and unpro- B -fessional , but he took it in sober earnest , no matter how wild , believ ing in my theories because I aird \ • them. My friend was a good looking young fellow , tall , well made as to : figure , easy and graceful. He had blue gray eyes , a well shaped brow : i -and rounded chin , dark hair which , : " * however , was quite thin , giving ] promise to early baldness , a nose perhaps a trifle too long and an up- -per lip a trifle too short. * His front teeth , though white , were not well ] rshaped * Greatly to his sorrow he ! -could not raise a mustache , try as - J , ! hard as he might , and he has tried I y very hard , indeed , investing many a " ' 'M dollar in nostrums warranted to pro- \ M . duce the desired result. 'M- ' Frank well knew what an improve- . M ment a mustache would be he did ! m mot hanker after whiskers , a mus- J H * tache was all he wanted for he had i R -worn false ones upon several occa- 0 % ; sions when taking part in private Wl theatricals. He was quite clever , fj and played very well for an amateur . U but often accepted a part , I verily j I believe , more for the opportunity it j gave him to wear a mustache than IB Jbr any other reason. I H He was well situated financially. Hi Ifis parents were dead. His father H' ' . ihad left him a good business , which , I H .however , had so far demanded little < H < of his attention , as his father had 1 H also left him a partner , a shrewd , i H steady bachelor , without near kin , * H who was devoted to the young man. t H Considerable property outside of the i j [ business added a good deal to his s Bf" income. Like myself he had few i relatives , but then he had hosts of I I ifriends , and was a great favorite in * I -society. There were plenty of nice f K -girls who would have become Mrs. c H Howard one at a time , of course 1 B ? had he asked them , mustache or no * I anustache. No one thought of his c S lack of one as he did , and none but I r B .knew how he felt about it. B We had been discussing various S B .experiments one .evening when he c B "had dropped in , as he often did , on f B this way to a reception. After a * B -silence of some moments , evidently t B 'spent In deep thought , for he had H notseemed to hear one or two of t H any remarks , Frank broke out : v H "See here , doctor , can you transI H plant a bit of some one ' s scalp to c H my lip and make a mustache that c H will grow ? You read or told me I H -lomething one evening about such H an-experiment or else I dreamed it. v H ft. have been wanting to speak to you s H -about it. I'd gladly Kpare some of v H mv own scalp if the hair on it wasn't H so " awfully thin. I'll give you a H thousand dollars if you can manage n H at and pay all expenses. Think it I , H over and see if there isn't some way v H ito do it , and now I must be off. r H 'Good night , old boy ! " c H I laughed at the idea , but after he r H . | jad r0ne I could not help drinking i H .boutit. A thousand dollars was I .certainly tempting. My practice did I I ! - - „ . , . . , , , , , i.iin l m mM- ! \ . jk.i.rZ Si SSSS VSi not Increase so rapidly as I could have wished , and of course , like many another foolish young fellow , I had married a nice girl when scarce ly abb to keep myself comfortably , and the tiny , olive branches' had.a dreadful way , sweet as they were , of appearing all too frequently for a poor man. I'm not saying , mind you , that I've ever regretted my marriage or been willing to spare one of the boys and girls now grow ing up so fast around me ; but money was very scarce in those days , and a thousand dollars seemed too much to let go withort some effort to earn it. it.I I did a lot of hard thinking for a fjw days and spent all my spare time over some old books in a musty , out of the way library down town. I finally told Frank that I would see what could be done if he would give § 500 , the rest if I succeeded in the under taking. He agreed at once , so I put a carefully worded "Want" in the Herald , offering S OO for a bit of scalp from the head of a healthy per son , a young woman preferred , and naming an hour for applicants to call at my office. Well , I had u good many answers , in person and by letter. The letters I paid no attention to , and those who called did not suit , until I be gan to think I would have a good deal of trouble to find the right per son , when my small boy of all work ushered in a young lady. I knew she was young , though she was heavily veiled , by her slight , girlish figure and low , sweet , tremulous voice. Her dress was neat and plain and fitted exquisitely. Her gloves and boots were not new , but they were the gloves and boots of a lady. Wavy dark brown hair was worn in a heavy coil be neath a little round hat , and I thought "Here's the very girl at last ! " I questioned her closely , and ex plained to her more fully than to the others just what I wanted. She was nervous , as was quite natural , but had evidently made up her mind to win the § 200 if possible. She was perfectly healthy , shesaid , and so far as she knew , came of healthy parents. Her father was dead. Her mother was usually quite well , though not very strong. She was just now suf fering from injuries received in a fall on the stairs. "The doctor says , " the young la- dy went on , "that my mother will soon be as well as ever , but we need I money very badly at present. On ac count ot my mother's illness I lost ' my position in that is , I am out of employment , and as I am the ! bread winner for our family I am ' willing to do anything honorable ' ' that will not injure my health to ] earn money. I must stipulate that my face shall remain covered , and ' that no effort will be made by any - * one to discover my identity. " 1 "Can you endure the operation < without the aid of an anaesthetic ? " | lasked , "You must know thatyour J confidence is sacred. " ] But , no. She insisted that her nerves were strong enough to endure ] the ordeal , so I appointed an hour next day for the operation , and bowed her out. I then rushed oft to , inform Frank of my success. He \ was charmed with my dsscription of j the girl and delighted with her pluck. ; "Give her § 500 , " he said , "whether l the operation is successful or not. She is a bravegirl to do such athing A For her family. "Great , hulkingboys , c no doubt , some of them. Now I l naven't much family , but I am sure I y tvouldn't part with any of my scalp j for all of my relatives in a heap. " " The young lady was promptness * tself. I had just shown her into an ) nner room when Frank arrived , liter the operation I sent him away irst , and then put her into a cab , , making care to withdraw before she javethe driver his orders. . No. I'm not going to tell you low I transplanted two bits of scalp , rom the back of the girl's head to j ; he lip of the young man. I have . lever told any one how it was done , rat it was a success. . The young couple were as brave as c jossible. The girl lay face down up- „ ra a lounge , her luxuriant , wavy mir streaming around her. I could a lot but admire the dainty shape of v ler head and the pretty neck , with ; iny rings of hair curling down upon f , t. Just below one shell-like ear a j imall star shaped spot showed white lpon the now rosy skin. It would c webably not be noticeable usually. e Che young lady came to m3 * office or some days until the wounds were juite healed. As she was young and n lealthy it did not take long , but I lever got a glimpse of her face , nor jj lid I try to do so , having too much espect for the courageous creature. fVhen I handed her § 500 instead of ? 200 she had expected she was quite vercome with joy. Her voice was t < iill of happy tears as she clasped ft ny hand in both of hers and falh ered : & "Oh , doctor , I do not know how t * o thank you ; you cannot realize t' vhat a help this money will be to us. d t is a perfect godsend , and I don't w > ne bit mind the pain , which , I'll tl onfess now , was rather hard to " a > ear. Mv own needs enabled me to qurte t mderstand her feelings. My thouT and freed me from many a present d rorry' and before it was gone I had si secured quite a paj'injr practice. t I attended Howard in his own t ipartments. When he was sufficient- y recovered he went abroad for a h virile. He returned after some b nonths , pleased with his trip , and e lelightpd with his handsome brown t nustnche , which certainly added t nuch to his good looks. He was so a msywith social arrangements and c ; was so fully occupied that for some n monthfllsaw very little of him. The fault was chiefly mine , however , for Frank seemed to think more of me than ever , and I often.found his card upon my return from a professional call. One evening he cama and found me at leisure. "So glad to find you in , doctor , " he said ; "Fvo come to be congratu lated. I am going to marry the dearest girl in the world , and want you , my best friend , to wiBh mo joy. " I did congratulate him heartily and asked if I knew the lady. "No. I think not , " he replied. "She is Miss Mildred Faye , a mem ber of tho company at theatre. Don't look so surprised. Not a nicer girl lives. A breath of slander has never touched her name. Her father died when she was about 18 just out of school. He was thought to be very well off the family had al ways lived in good style but at his death his wife and two daughters found themselves almost penniless. Not even their home belonged to them. Mrs. Faye , a delicate little body , unused to work of any kind , had no idea as to how they were to make a living , so Mildred had to take the lead. Kate , three or four years younger than she , must be kept in school , and the three must be provided , somehow , with food , cloth ing and shelter. Mildred had been fairly educated , but not thoroughly enough to attempt teaching , so she determined to go upon tlie stage. She had a good deal of experience in amateur theatiicals , and had been warmly praised for her acting. I had heard of Miss Faye's talent , but never happened to seo her. At the beginning of this season , Mildred got her present position. A very good one , if she was going to remain upon the stage , which she's not , you " know. She is going to marry me two weeks from to-day. I wantyou and Mrs. Keene to come to the wedding. Only the family , a young lady friend of Mildred's and my dear old partner will be there. The rooms are too small to have any one else. We go away at once. Mrs. Faye and Kate will take posression of our house , which I am busy fur nishing. You know I've never had much of a home , and I feel awfully happy over the prospect of having such a nice mother and sister and the sweetest wife in the world. And now good-by. Don't forget tho day ! " And the happy fellow went away as if walking on air. The appointed hour found myself and wife knocking atthedoorofMrs. Faye's cozy little flat. Frank pre sented us to his future mother and the minister Mr. Haine3 , Frank's partner , we knew already and then stepped to the door of the next room and handed out the bride , who was followed by her sister and her friend. The bride wore a simple white gown with a veil falling over her face. Aliss Duncan , a pretty blonde , was in blue. Kate Faye , a slip of a girl , lark haired and dark eyed wore pink. The minister soon made the aappy pair one , and after the bride's mother and" the young ladies had kissed and cried over her a little ivhile my wife and I stepped forward to be presented and offer our con gratulations. The new Mrs. Eoward was all that ler lover's fond fancy had painted ler. A graceful girl of medium leight , with soft brown eyes , a love- y complexion , a sweet mouth about vhich played pretty dimples , and vavy brown hair worn in a heavy : oil at the back of a shapely head , md falling in tiny rings upon a low , vhite brow. When my name was nentioned she looked up with a deep ) lush , which quickly receding left her rerypale. In a low musical voice vhose tones were strangely familiar : o my ear , she thanked us for our food wishes. After some simple refreshments the wide went away to put on her trav- ling dress , and as they were about o depart I stood beside her for a noment. She turned to speak to ler husband , and I saw what answer- d my question. "Where had I heard hat voice ? " Just below the left ear ras a tiny , star shaped spot , show- og white through the rosy blush ailed up by her husband's tone and ; lance. They went away a happy couple , nd returned more in love , if possible , rith each other than before. I have teen settled , aay ou know , in this place or a number of years. I don't seo 'rank Howard very often nowadays , > ut our friendship has suffered no ' hange. I do not know though wheth- r he and his wife , devoted as they are 0 each other , have exchanged con- dences on the mustache question or o. They have made no sign. Nei- her have I. Mrs. Juliette M. Babbitt 1 Gotham Monthly. . i tm Her Duel with the Doctor. An extraordinary duel is reported o have taken place in Vienna * A $ w days ago a girl , aged 16 , chal- mged a young doctor who had of- mded one of her friends and refused o apologize. He was challenged in he usual way by two seconds , a stu- ent and an officer of reserves , and , • hen he ridiculed the idea the girl | hreatened to horsewhip him publicly. The challenge * was then accepted ndameeting , "with seconds and doc- ors , took place in a hired room in a rienna suburb. All the rules for a uel with swords were strickly ob- erved. The doctor first acted on he defensive , but was soon obliged o fight in earnest , and left off after hesecond round with a wound in the ? ft side , which was declared not to e dangerous. The girl , a Croatian ducated in South America , is said > y the seconds to be the best fencer hey ever saw. After wounding her .dversari' she left the place without asting another look at him. Wie- ler Tagblatt. - The - First - National - Bank. - . " \ CAPITAL AND SURPLUS : | HHoM HI AUTHORIZED CAPITAL : I 'C B H BV H HB'i MdflH I BB B lH Bp GEORGE IIOCKNELL , President. B. M. Jt'KEES , Yico President. W. P. LAWS0N , Cashier. j i A. CAMPBELL , Director. S. L. GREEN , Director. _ j MH/H t Q Wm General Banking Business. j RANK - IW - MrfifMK PETER PENNER wishes to announce that bis stock of Sner Lap Holies ail Matt is complete , and also directs attention to his line of WHITE RUBBER TEIMMED HARNESS , . finest ever brought to "Western Nebraska. West Dennison St. McCOOK , NEBRASKA. $30,000.00 ! TO LOAN ON Improved Farms in Bed Willow County 8i AT 8i PER CENT. 8 | McCook Loan and Trust Co , . { "Office in Eirst National Bane. Sircte Front ktverij iStafrf e GRAY & EIKENBERRY , Props. The Best Equipment in the Republican Valley. 1 Fffi k MM Her Co. n ! png IN = LUMBER ! Sash , Doors , Blinds , Lime , Cement , HARD AND SOFT COAL C. H , BOYLE , I LAND - ATTOKNEY , M SIz years' experience In Government l | Laud Cases. * | Heal Estate , Loans and Iesine , II NOTARY PDBLIC. f J CSTOfllce upstairs In the Ecott building , i M south of Commercial Hotel , McCook , Neb. ] | THE • COMMERCIAL HOTEL ; 1 GEO. IS , JOHNSON , Prop. V B McCOOK , - NEBRASKA. [ H This house has been completely renoTatoft B and refurnished throughout , and is first-class v H in every respect. Bates reasonabd. j B . " ' B A. J. IUttexuouse , W. R. Stabr , i H McCook. Indianola. H BITTENHOUSE & STARK , H Attobneys-at-Law - - , > OFFICES AT I H ITIcCOOK and UVUIADTOLA. J B J. BYRON JENNINGS , | H Attorney atLaw Will practice in the sj&tc and United State * Ij B courts , and before the" U. S. Land office , U B Careful attention given to collection . ' ' | Office over the Nebraska Loan and Banking H Co. , McCook. ] V H iH THOS. COLFER , Attorney - at - Law ! AND NOTARY PUBLIC. jj H Real Estate Bought and Sold and Collec- d H tions made. Money I.oaucd on real estate t l ' I and linal prrof. A gmt Lincoln Land Co. i l Office in Phillips-Meeker block. : | B HUGH "W. COLE , ' | LAWYER. ITIcCOOK , NEBRASKA. H Will i ractlce in all courts. Commercial M and Corporation lair a specialty. J l MONEY TO LOAN. H Rooms 4 and 5 First National Bank Buildjn B Dr. A. P. WELLES * jH HOMEOPATHIC M PHYSICIAN AND SUBGEON , H McCOOK , NEBRASKA. M Special attention given to diseases of03 n H and Children. The latest improved methods 61 | Electricity ned in all cases requiring anch trea > H ment. Office orrr McMillen's Drug Storo. Be- H idence , North Miin Street. H B. B. DAVIS , M. D „ M PHYSIGIANandSURGEON M 3TcC00K yEBRASKA. M OFFICE HOURS : 9 to 11 a. m. , 2 to 3 p. m. , 7 M to 9 p. m. I have associated with me in practice , H I > t. c. n. JOAES , • H who will answer calls promptly in town or V ? ? B country. Eooms : Over First National Bank. * H buckzix's ajzsicj. saltk. M The Best Saltz in the world for cats , braises , > B tores , nlcers , salt rheum , fsver tares , tetter , H chapped hanfa , chilblains , corns , and all ikia B sTaptions , an-1 positively cares piles , or so pay H required. It is guaranteed to ( rive perfeot s U > B faction or uoney rCTunded. price S $ ceats p H bos. ForaAUUilIcMillea. . H