r
Semi
IT "FT .
EKXY
THE NEW?, EstabJshed Nov. 5. 1S01. ' ConsaHdatrl i i
THE UEUALD. Established April 10, iSGt fWnSOiwated Jan. 1,1895.
PLATTSMOUTH, NEB., DECEMBER 2(5, 189G.
VOL. V. NO. 30.
CHRISTMAS.MOHEY.
By MAETHA H'CULLOCE WILLIAMS.
(Coi yriyht. lc,r., Ly Author.
A rtozi-n heads turned to look as Bet
ty went up the streri to lawyer West
field's office. Though it waa coining on
to noon of a bright December day there
was still a biting touch in the air. The
Critical louiltrprs hn0Pl tha ciimir ui.la
n ret - - - ' ' ' " ,
of the street and even there the wind
made them shiver though to one in
rapid motion the day was a delight. I
Some of its frosty vitality seemed to
radiate from the girl.
"Steps pretty high, oonsiderin," one
of those who watched her said to his
gossip as the slim shape, lithe for all its
huddled shawl, jias-ed out of earshot.
The girl had locked neither to right nor
left. Her cheek were habitually the line
red it now showed, but the most casual
glance saw a hardening of the lines
about the mouth and below the eyes.
"Yes, consider in most of all that she'j
got ter walk back the seven milea
home, " a third man said, coming up to
the two. He had lurched down the street
in Bett3"'8 wake further, he was her
close neighbor, John Hurley, known to
his intimates tin Toad.
"Now mind whnt you say, Toad,"
the first speaker admonished. "Miss
Betty she don't b'ar 3-011 no mighty good
will, an solid as she is with her lawyers
you better mind how you cut your notch
es, else you might git yourself an the
rest o' ns in er label 6uit."
"Aw, go 'Jong, you Doc Green. We
all know you'd be skeered out o' seben
years' growth ef she jest looked hard at
you," Toad returned with a great guf
faw. "I ain't like you. I know whut
I'm talkin erbout, an shore's you're
knee high to er grasshopper that gal has
done sold Lightfoot an her cyart an
steers too. "
" Wh-e-ee-w ! That every hoof o' stock
thar is on the Walton place," Doc said,
digging his 1: tnds deep in his trousers
pockets. "It must be she's goin ter quit
the ranch. "
"You hush," some one whimpered
violently, clutching at Doc's coat and
nodding toward another who came
swinging ah :g the pavement. He was
tall, with broad shoulders and level
looking eyes that did nut fall to the
faces about, though he gave the group a
comprehensive goed morning. He had a
fine ear too. It had caught the import
of their talk, but he made no pause fcr
further speech.
"Ain't he in erswivet this raornin?"
Doc Green a.-k; d sarcastically. Toad
notlded assent. The third man, Tobe
Pellew, said with u judicial half clos
ing of eyelids:
"Shet up, you fellers. That's young
Lawyer Westneld, an he'd have yon ter
understand the We;f'tlds ain't get no
use fcr common f:dks, except round
'lection times, when they want our
votes."
"Be 'shamed o' yourselves, you all.
You know as well as I can tell you thar
ain't nobody o' clearer grit uer less
stuck up than Ned Westhcld. Lock how
he fought an hung on f( r pore Sam Wal
ton, an know in all the time he wus
bound ter have his trouble fcr his
pains," Uncle Lilly Trotter Faid severe-
The ripple cf sarcastic; laughter hush
ed itself to a sudden eiuick shame. Toad
shifted uneasily upon his feet and said
apologetically behind his hand:
"He did that. Pore Sam, 'tain't a
year yit sence ho went erway, an I'm
thinkin this'U be er tnrrible Chris'mus
fer him. Whatever else he done Kam
thought a heap o his childern an give
eni Chris'mus money."
"Yes, he did. Pore old Kami They
had er dead open an shet case on him,
but nobody can make me believe he wus
sober enough ter know whut he wus do
iu when he took that critter," Doc re
turned in Toad's key, studying the pave
ment as he spoke.
"He never took it," Uncle Billy said
with emphasis. "Whisky don't make
men mean. I tell you it jest lets loose
"YES. CONSIPETUS 510ST OF ALL THAT SHE'S
GOT TEH WALK. BACK THE SEVEN MILES."
the natchul mean in er fellow. Now,
while Sam wa'ut no saint, neither cut
out, an called fer no missionary, he nev
er had er mean way erbout him, ner
nare drap o' low down thief's blood in
him. I told his lawyer so, an wanted ter
git on the jury, but the state's attorney
wouldn't have it. I'm glad now ho
wouldn't. That thar nmtton headed
judge frum up country hilt 'em down
bo ter the law an the fac's they couldn't
do nothin but fetch in er verdict 0'
guilty. But in spite o' everything I
couldn't sleep o' nights ef I'd had any
hand in makiu of them Walton chil
dren a heap worse'n orphans. "
"But see here, Uncle Billy," Tobe
Pellew .protested, "now jrst look at
them "fac's. Tnree wituessosfhat didn't
wanter do it had ter sw'ar they seen
Sara er his ghost onhitch that critter
frum the rack, mount au ride off; then
he wus found with the beast an his
own that wa'nt wnth nigh as much
right whar he'd been seen ter leave it
in the morniu. I know he tcUl er lame
tale erbout er strange man ovcrtakki
him, bauterin bim fer crswap, an whev.
they had traded galh.pin back the wav
-A AV
fie had come, but though Ned West
field raked the county with er fine tooth
comb he couldn't find nare 'nothcr soul
that had saw the other man."
"Still Sam Walton ain't no horse
thief," Uncle Billy said stoutly. Pel
lew twiddled his lingers and said tenta
tively: "That ain't neither hero ner thar.
Say, you all, it's jest two weeks tell
Chris'mus. Somethin oughter be done."
All the rest gathered about him and
fell into eager consultation. None was
more eager than Burley. As he marked
the looks of surprise in the other faces
he said, a curious grayuess settling
about his mouth :
"Lemme carry it ter 'em. llaybe it'll
fetch me luck. I ain't told you before,
but I've sold out, stock, lock an barrel,
an am goiii ter Texas about old Chris'
mus day. "
"H-m-m-m! Who'd you sell ter?" Un
cle Billy asjd a trifle sharply. "It
cain't, though, be nobody else but that
I THINK OF NOTHING ELSE DAY ANI NIGHT."
HETTY SAID.
rip tearin Johnny Gates. You an him
have been as thick as thieves ever senca
he come inter his pilo o' money last
year. ' '
Betty walked the vacant office with
quick, impatient steps. A leaping fire
crackled in the grato. Uncle Edom, the
black manservant, had drawn the easi
est chair beside it, but nothing could
induce her to rest in it. She had pencil
blossomy cheeks now. Uncle Edom had
told her, "De o!o big boss, ma'am, he
done goned fer er week, but Marse Nei
he'll be down in dest er little while."
She wishe d of all things to escape a:i
encounter with Ned. She could never
make him understand her father and
his had been social equals, class and
college mates hence the old man would
have known intuitively how impossible
it was thutht-r father's xlaugbter should
leave his defense to be ranked among
anybody's charity cases. His son Bet
ty's thought went no-farther the rac
ing blood made connected thought im
possible. She stood mutinous, trem
bling, wishing herself 100 miles away,
yet in nowise repenting the thing that
bad brought her. There was a back door,
of which she knew nothing. Ned came
through it and took her unawares. He
walked straight up in front of her, say
ing with a little frown:
"Betty, why will you do such very
foolish things?"
"I I do not quite understand you,"
Betty faltered.
"Who bought Lightfoot?" he demand
ed, his voice still hard.
"Who says I have sold her?" Betty
asked with spirit.
"I know. It was because of what
Johnny Gates said when yon refused
him again," Ned went on relentlessly.
Betty flung off her shawl as though
its weight stifled her. Her eyes sparkled,
her voice was an edged flute note as she
said:
' 'Air. Westtield, is there anything in
the relation of lawyer and client to au
thorize questions such as you have seen
tit to ask?"
"I am moro than your lawyer," Ned
said stoutly. "Betty, this is no fit time
or place, but yea know I love you, yon
know I mean to marry you as soon as I
come into my grandmother's legacy and
am independent of my father. I told
you that over and over in the summer.
Then you at least listened; now you try
to shut me away from your concerns.
You have stripped yourself of work
stock. You livo on a farm alone with
the children. They must have fire and
food and clothes. You have perhaps a
right to sacrifice yourself and me, Bet
ty, but not the children. Do have a
thought for them."
"I think of nothing else day and
night," Betty said. "But but can't
yon see? Oh, do please take the money
for your father. It is not much, only
$200, but wheii it is paid people cannot
say"
"Let them say what they like," West
field broke in. "Betty. Betty, marry
me at once. You shall not starve, dear.
I"
"Please, please never say such things
again," Betty entreated. "Think of
your father, of how good he was to mine,
and his pride, and how it would break
his heart to know his only son had mar
ried a convict's daughter"
"Stop!" Ned said, speaking low and
hard. "I have been over all that, Bet
ty., but if ro a l.ovc me anything is bet
ter than knowing you us yott are, wim
nothing between you and the crush of
things."
"I do not think so," Betty cried,
dropping the roll of bills on the desk
before him and hurrying away. She
dared not trust herself to listen fur
ther. If only she could rush home
away from everything. But that was
impossible. She had still to deliver
Lightfoot. Trab had her now Trab,
who was nest herself, though five years
younger, and just fairly in roundabouts.
They had stopped that morning cpon
the sear common where it made a Bort
of bay up among back gardens and sta
ble yards. As Betty came up to him she
noted with a cheke in the throat the
tear stains all over his thin, wistful face.
"You yon staid a long time, Bet
ty,", he said, pressing his face close to
the mare's glossy neck. Lightfoot was
4
thoroughbred and Betty's own proper
ty, a gift from one of her father's boon
companions, who found the foal, then
lese than a week old, a serious hin
drance to his pleasure. He did not
dream the newcomer could bring up his
gift. He did not know, as Betty did,
how wise and kind was Sook, the bell
cow. After a suit! or two and one faint
protesting moo Sook let the colt suck
beside her own new calf quite as though
they were twins.
Next year Lightfoot came out in her
glossy new coat as fine and lusty a year
ling as stepped on four hoofs. The chil
dren frolicked with her, talked to her
and shared their dainties quite as
though she had been human, which
they more than half believed she was.
And what a famous 3-year-old she made
bridle wise, full gaited and handsome
as a picture. Betty began to ride her
then. Today it came back to her how
her father had looked at her frayed,
worn saddle and housings and said :
"Ah, Betty, you could show off your
mare if only you had a father worth
even hanging. "
Her dear father I He had been always
the pattern of kindness so long as he
kept at home. A pattern of industry
and thrift, too, until the restless fit
seized him; then he rode away, drank
and gambled or indorsed other men's
worthless paper, which later his own
household was pinched to pay.
"I 'most thought you had forgot us,
Betty," Trab said unsteadily. "If if
you had staid a little longer, I meant
to take Lightfoot back home again.
Have you taken the money for her, Bet
ty? If you haven't" A sob finished
what he could not say.
"Yes, I took it and spent it," Betty'
said huskily. "Mr. Lane had the money f
all ready. I told him you wo-nld bring
her" nodding toward the ncire "and
he said next week would do."
"Let's take her back. Ill bring her
then. Honest I will. Oh, Betty, how
can we part with her?' Trab wailed,
burying his face in his hands. Betty
had taken the halter rein. She let it
drop and flung both arms about Light
foot's neck.
"I don't quite know, Trab," she
said, swallowing hard. "But we must
not take her back. That would be like
dying twice over. We will comfort our
selves thinking how much she has
gained such a nice warm stable and
no mere hard work."
"But nobody will love her like we
do, an she don't mind work for us.
Why, last summer, when she plowed to
hard, she would frisk about when I turn
ed her loose an look at me, as if sho
said, 'See. I ain't tired,'" Trab said,
wiping his eyes. "Sho knew how w
needed her urok, iimiiu. 1 am goi"n
to ask Mr. Lane to keep her until I can
work an buy her back."
"He will keep her. Bo bravo now.
linn along with her, then meet mo at
his store. I know a boy about your size 1
who deserves some new boots," Betty I
said, trying to smile. Trab sighed and
again wiped his eyes.
"So you've got the money Buck an
Brandy brought to spend," he said. "I
thought a heap of them, but nothin
would bo hard if if wo could only take
Lightfoot back home for good."
Seven o'clock that night found Betty
safe at home in the big double log
house that her grandfather had built.
It belonged to her mother's children,
else would long ago have been swallow
ed by those security debts her father
was always making. Betty was infinite
ly glad of this assured shelter, though
her best friends had begged her to leave
it, scatter the children about and give
herself the distraction of a new neigh
borhood, but she had steadfastly refused.
All through her father's trial she luul
hoped against hope that his innocence
would be miraculously proved. He had
said to her, "Betty, I have done nearly
all that was wrong to ruy poor children,
but I am no thief," and she had be
lieved him. AU through the long day
she had sat, leaning forward, her eyes
fast on the judge, the 6trange, stern
judge of whom even the sheriff was
afraid. He had not seemed to see her,
but at the last there was a break in
even his cold voice as he said, "In con
sideration of all the circumstances of
the case, I sentence you to imprisonment
for three years, the shortest time allow
ed by the statute under which you are
convicted. "
Then, when those about looked to see
her faint, Betty had pressed up to where
she could touch her father and whisper
in his ear:
"I believe in you just the same.
Three years is not so long, aud you shall
find us all here when, soa come back. "
So you may guess wfiat answer she
made to her advisers. If they shook
their heads, they let her take her own
way. Tonight the way did not seem so
hopelessly hard for all the stress and
strain of the day.
ji
-.
"We must believe, after this, in spe
cial providences," sho said to Patty.
"To think how we got home. Mr. Pel- 1
lew's wagon brought all our bundle?., j
It just happened to bo coming our w:y, f
aud nothing would do Uncle Billy Trot- I
ter but to fetch us both to our gate in- f:
stead of dropping us at the big road,
two miles away. And then my iuo;.ey
held out so. I have bought all we real
ly need shoes, frocks, rugnr. salt, nails,
spelling books, a new hcxxl for Marian,
a red tin cup for Tess and ha-ve two
whole dollars left for Christmas, anor.ey.
ana 4 win buy such u heapttf things. "
"Will pappy come homo Christina:'"
Tesa asked, nestling her head against
Betty.
"You little idiot! YTou know he
won't," Marian broke out. "I wish I
was where he is, " she sobbed. "Tom
my Adkin said today at school he
wouldn't even dare to shosv Jiis face here
again; he was a jailbird."
"I'll kill Tommy Ad&in," Trab
shouted, his eyes fia.shhug. Marian
laughed, though shu was sobbing hard.
"He won't say it again," she said,
putting up her hand to hide a long
scratch on her cheek.
"Hush! Somebody's ccmin. Hear
how King barks," Pete said, walking
to a front window. The curtains there
wero drawn, but at the back they hung
so far apart it was easy to see from the
outside the group in front of the nre.
" Twas just some wagon passin. Old
Ring is u big story teller, " Patty said,
looking up from her new linsey frock.
"He don't tell s-tojies. He smells
somebody sure, an Le kuows 'em.
'causo ho barks inph.ee o' growlin,"
Pete returned. Tess s-U up and pushed
the yellow curl3 out of; her sleepy eyes,
then broke into a pass?tu of weeping.
"Pappy! Pappy! 1 want to see my
pappy, oh, so bad." (!
Patty and Marian ,th caught her in
their arms, sobbing in unison. The
boys, too, were crying but Betty had
dry eyes. She had been through so much
that day she was lik"etie frozen.
"Hush, dears," she taid clearly. "It
would kill father to see you now. Be
brave for him. It i3 all we can do. "
Trab held up a hand for silence.
"There must be somebody about, " he
said after a minute. 'I heard walkin
like somebody was tryia to step easy."
"Ho! It's jest that old blue dawg o'
Toad Burley 's. Yonder he goes, streak
in it down the front Jot," Pete called
from the window. Ontside there was
brilliant moonshine. The tree shadows
lay in fairy lace upon the frozen earth.
"Ah, ha! He came, after eggs and
didn't get a one," Prtty said trium
phantly. "I do hate a suck egg dawg.
Wonder what does make Toad keep that
ugly thing?"
"He is not quite as ugly as his mas
ter," Betty Faid, laugiJng. "I dare say
both cf them admire each other. " Then
sho shook her purse till the silver in it
jingled and said, trying to speak gayly :
"Now for a Christmas council. Ke
tnember, everybody has one vote and
majorities rule. "
As the last word left her lips some
thing came clattering down the big
wide throated squat chimney and rolled
to her fee-t. It was a round tin box,
wire fastened aud bearing upon one side
a bit of paper with the words, "Not
dangerous," laboriously printed upon it.
"Well, this beats all," everybody
said in a breath. Then Trab cried out,
"I knew there was somebody," and
Marian began to plead, "Oh, Betty, do
open that. "
"I know how it got there. Somebody
climbed up th big treo and threw it
tlown from the limb that hangs over,"
Pete said as Trab undid the wire that
bound the lid. Ha shook the box over
Betty's lap, and five half eagles fell
from it. They were wrapped in a pape-T
upon which some one had written :
Tor the children's Christmas. Make
it a happy oue. "
For the first lime. H-
uiuppeii ln r bead and cried.
Whilo sho sobbed a man was rushing
away outside as though pursued by fu
ries. He hiid been hanging about ten
'WELE, Till
BEATS ALL." EVERYBODY SAID
IN A HUE ATM.
minutes He had seen and heard what
went on within. As ho came up to his
tethered horse ho was shaking nil over,
but not with the cold.
"Lord, O Lord!" he muttered, fum
bling with the saddle girths. "How
that little gal cried! I cain't stand it,
yit I must. Thar ain't no other wry,
not unless I"
He broke off there and galloped furi
ously away. For perhaps a mile he held
his course, then turned square about
aud went toward the county town at
the same breakneck pace.
The day before Christmas shone warm
and moist, with a blue sky so soft and
springlike the nipped chrysanthemums
under the edge of tho south piazza perk
ed themselves up with a semblance of
blossoming anew. Human nature seem
ed in like kindly mood. All day a
stream of wagons had rolled up to leave
logs cut in fire lengths at tho Walton
back gate. Then Uncle Billy Trotter
and Aunt Nan had come, their big bug
gy loaded down. Such a big, splendid
bronze gobbler as peered from between
Uncle Billy's knees, such a thiok frost-
-ed p
her 1
bugg
ed round cake as Mrs. Trotter hem in
ap, such old ham and pickles, tno
gy box disgorged, not to mention a
pig for IVte and pair of pullets for
Marian!
"Hearod you had started in the chick
en business, " Uncle Billy said, pinch
ing the child's ear. "So ma an me
thought may!e ycu'd like seime o' our
red game I reed. You're sorter game
chicken yourself, ch, Marian?"
' ' Yes, I fight when I have to," Mar
ian returned. "An I am goin to raise
eggs an chickens next year. We all said
we'd put the money ttvt fell tlown the
chimney in sumethin we could work
with an try to buy back Lightfoot."
"You'll git her," Ui-ie Billy said,
chuckling hard, while Aunt Nan said
asid? to Betty :
"Ef it's fitten weather, Betty, I'm
comiu in the carryall nest preachia day
to take you all to church."
Before Betty could answer a black
lad rod. up with big basket before
him. Dropping his hat. he said cheerily:
"Miss Betty, Miss Sairey Pellew say
here's er piece er fraish botf an some
minch meat she done made petickler
good, 'case Chris'mus don' comes but
once or year."
"I don't know how to thank every
body," Betty said to Mrs. Trottt-r, with
1 1 7 :
t.'ct eyelids, when Hie boy had gone
awuy.
"Don't try, honey," that good wom
an returned, bending to kiss Tess' rosc
buil month. Then she drove away, snug
and smiling at her husband's elbow, '
leaving Betty to receive yet other raa- :
terial tokens of the day of peace aud j
good will. They came from every hand
fat sacks of meal and flour, apples,
potatoes, preserves, homemade wine, !
flake crusted pies and sugary crisp I
sweet cakes.
Some way the superabundance wound- j
ed Betty, albeit she knew it was but
some slight exaggeration of the friendly (
neighborhootl custom. She was, in fact, '
a trifle morbid. She would have re- j
ceived as graciously and gracefully as
any might but for thinking that the
giving had the spur of her supposed ne-1
cessity. J
"There is nobody else to send any-1
thing. We can rest u little while,
Trab said after supper, but even as he
spoke there came a thundering knock
at tho front door. Noboely was there
when it opened, but they heard wheels
rolling away.
"Bah! Blind gooses! Don't you see
the box? There 1 At your feet," Marian
cried, darting past Trab and Pete to
snatch a square wooden something from
the floor in front of her brothers. When
she had wrenched it open, there lay,
amid wrappings of pink and silver pa
per, all manner of Christmas cakes and
Christmas toys, fireworks galore, ondl
at tho very bottom a scrawly slip, I
"Tommy Adkin wishes his friends!
Trab and Pete and Patty and Marian
and Tess a very happy Christmas."
"And I am left out entirely, though
Tommy useil to claim me for his sweet
heart when he wore dresses," Betty
said, laughing to save herself from cry
ing. Marian kicked the box contemp
tuously, saying :
"Wo must ha gettin populai when
Mr. Storekeeper Adkin thinks it worth
whilo to be good to us."
'Marian, Marian," Betty said. "What
a speech, and Christmas too! I am
afraid I must mr.keyou write and thank
Tommy, and remember, dears, Christ
mas means above everything peace on
earth and good will to men."
"If Christmas makes folks good, why
don't they let pappy come home?" Tess
asked with round, we t eyes. Patty waa
staring hard in the fiie. Without stir
ring she said over her shoulder: "I be
lieve he will tome, and Lightfoot too.
There is a road in tho lire a long one
and a man aud a horse coming along
it"
Betiv slept niMmi'''' tl -.-
oac rul'tiie next day she was tho prey of
nameless terrors. Her mind went back
constantly to the beginning of the trou
ble. It seemed to her it hael truly be
gun when Johnny Gates, the richest,
idlest, most dissolute youngster in the
county, came courting her and was sent
about his business. Yet he it was who
had brought her word of her father's ar
rest and iy tho same breath had beg
ged ht-r to marry him. When she gave
him a frantic refusal, he looked at her,
his face growing hard and white, his
eyes burning, to say : "Whatever your
father sutlers, Betty, it will lie at your
dooi ou might save him, and you let
him be disgraced, and all because you
fancy Ned Westfield loves you. Maybe
he does, but I can tell you ho will not
marry you. His father would sooner see
him dead. "
She lnvl turned from him in silent
scorn, but how his dart rankled. It waa
the smart cf it, with a later taunt that
the Westfields fought cases for either
love or money, that had impelled her to
6ell Lightfoot and pay a counsel fee.
Yet only three weeks back Johnny had
come, humbly entreating her to let him
take her burdens and promising vague
ly great things for her father.
One little minute Betty faltered; then
her heart h Id her in tho right way.
She shook her head and left him, and
when he ran after bade him never name
marriage to her again. Ho went away,
crying and cursing. She had not 6eeu
him since and was devoutly grateful for
the fact.
As it drew on toward sunset Betty
strolled out to the orchard. Her moth
er s grave was there Desiue it sne
might dream a little of last year and
the creamy, heavy hearted roses some
one had sent her upon Christmas eve.
Sho had laid them upon the green
mound, though knowing well their
source. Ned's first gift, they were sa
cred and belonged by right to her holi
est place. Snow fell and covered them.
They were beautiful for weeks. Now
as she looked at the flowerless swell a
great sob rose in her throat. She knelt
anil prayed wordlessly with her face up
on the earth.
The children were in the back yard
full of joy in what their Christmas mon
ey had bought. The boys had yearling
steers, Patty some beehives, Tess a
Ft--
i
is- rVw. y v
.'-.. ri
"I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK EVEKVDODT.
young sow with four teeny weeny pigs
and Marian a flock of hens with red,
red combs and fine glossy neck feathers.
"Ain't they beauties?" she asked,
watching them teeter and coquette in
their roosting tree. It was a cherry, big
and branchy, and already half of them
huddled in twos and threes affectionate
ly on the boughs.
m mm'
ftfieffy ul7risiiT)as..
Bang up boomletsfor hubby and
brother and the other "feller."
There is no pleasure so sweet,
so satisfying, as the pleasure of
making others happy, and espe
cially of doing" the right thing by
those we love the best. The heart
reaches out after those at Christ
mas time and would enshrine all
within its holy precincts. WES
COTT &SON are doing whatthey
can to make happy the auspicious
event of merry Christmas. Prac
tical presents, appreciative ap
parel, good gifts something: to
last and wear and be a continual
joy. Warm Gloves and Mittens,
with hot, July lining. Night
Shirts to make vou dream of fairv
land. New Neckwear too lovelv
to
describe. Mufflers too sweat
for anything. Collars and Cuffs.
The latest and best of everything
in clothing, all at prices to corres
pond with corn at 13 cents per
bushel. We shall delight in serv
ing you with the best grades, the
latest styles, the up-to-date stuff
in our lino.
One Price and No
"That
Ciui
! :.!
. i .
ive r;-ht." Mar-
'( SMlt.j.M'd tO
1 I-' pig as sho
"1 like Sarah
I l i s cn't go
. ....
: ! lia l
ian said d
scratch the i
answen-d
Li.a'.x I li
r
ef
1
on a tree. "
"Oh, s:iy, v.i
iVt.- said Ji!
net r. i 1 i
"An pet 1'
send f( v i
presents. My,
Both his e.-' s v.
15' tty, v;j:i;
her li; s f v g
she sir, :.':( ir ihr
I -
ro! : u
.'j'i'lbatf 'hi-
him.
: it a -
I.;;-!
::tl" r
V eu ¬
tn them, t . 4
tuous arms.
"Come in to t !;
thought you v. :s
five, si-i. r. I 'l.io-t ;
-t,"T(.-s u.
nestiinc: close f;i r. owner. Then poor 'load, as tne agent
"Yes! d. ,:: e. I rut an egg to v-.-.-t of the Christmas conspirators, had seen
for vou," Marian said, cauhing ti: and heard what had sent him straight
other hand f.i.-t. while Tra'j tuil dVsecu- ! to Ned Westfield and confession. "Of
tcntedlv: "I wi-di it would get od an J course I let him go free," Ned wound
dark JIv lirecr;;ckers are ju.-t aehiu to up. "He is safe in Texas now, but bis
8oolT." " name is net Burley, and we will wish
Patty w i; i-beadv indeor.,. They J him luck. All tho rest was ridiculously
found her again t taring at the t:;e. Mar- ! eay. Fortunately I know the governor
ian pulled her braid, d hair. Trab tlip- i well enough to tell him outright when
ped a chestnut ;:u:-i'i ;f her ch; t k; still ' I am in a hurry for anything."
she did not iv,;-:e'fie-u h- r r.n r eontetn- I "But Ned ain't told you yit, Betty,
plation i!!,r;l ):utv nr and s'nid softly, ; how he took an chased off like er streak
"What is it, P.itiy, d. avi" i o' lightniu ter the Eeleuoy, found that
"It's allrumhird down," Pattv said j t'other feller an got his affydavit," Un
with a little impatient s -h. "But tha j cle Billy said with a fresh and more
. vigorous chuckle. Betty gave him a
J " -1
'-;-
i
i I 1 , ,
"PATrv! I'AITY" l'AI'I'V II f M I". IIOM !.!" '
same road win in the (ir. the samo
man an horse ::n it v ( n i . in" that I
can't find or.? if they are nrnii here."
"We'll r.V v. heri they get here,"
Trab began. A hail outside cut hir.i
slcrr. Ring, the watch-leg, gave a
long, joyeais how J that s-nt all pellni'dl
to the door. Thro-tgi) the du-k they
could make out newing fur.n s at tlie
gat It swung in. soni- one darted
t!:-ough at:d caught IUY and Tes.? in
the claM of t;-":ibl in nuns, while the
iiie hip
Pam v!
,
other children shcu'ed wildly:
Pap
t.v! Panpr tin' eoie t--.v.' :
A
j o le.n;e(t li -ttV Ned W
, i
fUeitl
caught heri.u:id. II- meant only to give
her friendly greeting, but Lii"!o liiny
Trotter beliind hint sung out, "Lf ye
don't kiss her right h- re an now, Ned,
I'll never vote ner 'lection'-er fcr you
never in the world."
o Ned kissed her handsomely i?i tho
face of them all. His father at his back
said with a beaming smile:
"So yr.n thought, Betty, I did not
want yon for a daughter."
Tess, high in her father's arms, broke
in gravely, "Betty is cur daughter, an
nobody else can't have her, but if you
come in we have got a heap of Christ
mas, au yon may have soi.j fcr bringin
pappy heme. "
"They n;;! have it r.ll fer bringin
Lightfoot," Trab said as he clung fast
to the neck of his rccocred treasure.
Betty turned to Ned.
"Tell me, ism I awake?" Eho asked.
"I have dreamed so often. Tell me, too,
when you be gan to work miracles. "
It ain't nothiu short tv a merakle
anjbody gittin that rorc Inu Toad
1 -,mm
s. I . I : I ' ' i X
COTT&SON
Monkey Business.
iranev ter speat the truth,'" Uncle Bil
ly said, taking Tess from her father's
clasp. As Mr. Walton met Betty's in
quiring gaze ho smiled and said:
"STou will have to let Ned tell you,
dear. All I know is that this morning-
ftvaited"" outside, and there I
found Ned, To bo Pellew and Uncle Bil
ly, and all bent on bringing me home
With a hurrah. "
Then Ned told brieflv vet clearly how
! Burley had plotted with Johnny Gates
! and a reckless stranger whom they later
spirited away against tne gooa iiamw ui
rorf. h u b-foio I Betty's father; how Burley had person
,' v in ui:-;:i!- j ated Mr. Walton in carrying off the oth
er horse, and afterward put the beast
the stranger had got in the trade back
where it had b"en first stabled by its
j heavenly smile, then put her arms again
about her father's neck, saying:
! "So long as we have him home free
and sound and safe it does not matter in
the least how it came about."
1 "Yes, it does," Marian said, clinch
ing her fists hard. Then through a rain
cf tears: "I I cain't hate anybody,
' not even Johnny Gates, like I want to.
I am so glad to seo pappy again, the
1 linte nil slios a Wav. '"
"But love and peace abide torever,
Ned whispered in B; tty's ear, and Trab
said slowly as they all went inside:
'There never was in the world such
l another happy Christmas."
(Vlfbrntion f CIiriatmaM.
The celebration of Christmas is said
by the church historians to have been
formal! v instituted by Pope Telesphorus,
wlio diMl A. I). 18S.
! TriT1YTTT?7T?TTTHnnnnnnTfTtTTfTTTTmttTTTTTT
iiiiUiiJiiiiiuaaiiuaiiiiuuuiiuuiiuuua
j Less Than Three Weeks
before CHRISTMAS
Jlatl )'mt Thought of It?
"h.i'iir'it . .( the Riits that you will give, in or-
' .......v... .
'' "ie! r-coi c on your purchasing list that
j v.; have the larRCt st-ck of beautiful, usefal and
I pi.Kli';'l M MHiay puis m me lii :
I .. ... . : ,:.. ;
It Will pay yon u e.euoic oui nut lilies ii
I (iaiiioiuN. .(Uhes, Clocks, Jewelry, Silver
ware, Cut 'l.i-.. "Sterling "silver Novelties, etc.
i;r.t le roo.Is only. As for prices, there is
no such t hini a eoinpet.tioii when quality is
ronsi.Icrc 1.
Early ca'llcrs enjoy many advantages over
t: ..-e who put it ott till the la-it few days.
You are cordially inv ited to call on us and
see the nianv beautiful things that we have tilled
.;ir M'ne with, in preparation for the holidays
tie!
V ear.
i-.yes tested free by a graduate optician.
Snyder, The Jeweler,
506 MAIN STREET.
TVTfYTTTrTNWff'T
aaatiaaa u iuauaaiiuuuauiiauuii
B. F. BRENDEL, M. D.,
Physician and Surgeon
Cal'.s Dron-.ptly attended, either
DAY or NIUHT.
MURRAY,
NEBRASKA