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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 1900)
"Well , well , so this is New Year's day , " said Mr. Spoonor. "Do you re member how wo quarreled this day one year ago ? " "Remember ! I think I do ! " cried his wife. "Why , the cards were order ed when It happened , and I didn't know whether I could have your name taken out and Dick's Inserted , In case I changed my mind. " "In case I changed my mlim , you mean , dear. Strange that I never sus pected how much poor Dora cared for me until that day. " "I'm sure she had concealed It very well the way she ran after Dick , as if ho ever had eyes for anybody but me ! Ho never told his love , but a wo man's Intuition was " "A synonym of vanity , dear. Of course , I couldn't help knowing that she cared for mo when I met her In the boarding house parlor , with her eyes full of tears , on the very morning after you had told Marie , her dearest friend , that we were to bo married In a month. " "Humph , that girl would cry about anything ; I've known her to cry when the villain in the play was killed as if a villain could expect anything else In the last act. But as soon as I saw Dick that morning I knew that he knew it. Why , his necktlo had slipped around under one ear and his voice , as ho wished me a happy Now Year , was so sad , that I felt guilty , though my con science told me that I had not encour aged him. " "You've forgotten how you used to praise the shape of his head. " "As If that meant anything ! A girl only praises the shape of a man's head when she can't find anything else to flatter him about. It It means no moio than it does when she tells a .small man that he resembles Napoleon. But when I remembered that you had once gone down on the floor in your new trousers to pick up Dora's hand- Jcerchlef I knew that I had been cruelly deceived. So when you reproached me about Dick , I " "I remember how badly I felt when she replied to my New Year's greet ing with the remark that happiness for her was over forever. And before I could comfort her Miss Marie came in and I could only go sadly away without telling her that I should al ways bo a brother to her. " The new leaf that very seldom gets turned over Is the ono in the diary. Some men claim that they see the old year out and the new ono in by getting so drunk that they can't see anything. By New Year the silver plating wears off many a Christmas present. A good beginning is half the battle except in the case of keeping a diary. The new date Is as hard to remem ber as the now leaf. Even though the arctic explorer never discovers the north pole he de serves credit , for he always keeps a diary. New Year gives us a chance to re- clprocato to those who unexpectedly gave us a present nt Christmas. Seeing the old year out puts n man In a fit condition to swear off the next day. N. Y. WorlU. The JVctv year's Greeting. "You look worried , Brown , " said Green. "Worried ! I should say I am , See those ? " And ho drew out of his over coat pocket a great bundle of state ments of accounts. "Ha ! ha ! " laughed Green , "you will make Christmas present to your wife , will you , without counting the cost first ? " The lines around Brown's eyes deepened and his mouth drooped sad ly. "No , " ho said , "that's not it. These are not for presents I made , my wife. " "Why , what are they for , then ? " asked Green , wonderlngly. "For the presents my wlfo made me. " And the men shook hands in tender sympathy. Detroit Free Press. -Satc your Mirth. , It Is not wise to have so merry a jUtrlatmas that you cannot have'n uaypy New Year. Chicago Tribune. "And poor Dick , I asked him If there was anything I could do for him ; he replied : 'Yes , ' but just then the maid came In with n note for him , and ho % ld he must go nt once I think ho wished to bo alone with his sorrow. Then you came in , and , Instead of sharing my pity for him , you accused me of flirting with him ! " "I or don't remember that. But wasn't it odd that before I left you for ever , Miss Marie should como In and tell ug that Dora and Dick were en gaged ! I've often wondered how it happened that they decided to console each other. " "And so have I. Why , here Is Marie now perhaps she can explain. Sit down , Marie , do. Tom and I are just going over old times. Do you remem ber last Ne-.v Year's day , and " "Indeed I d.o. 'I've just been to see Dora , .and she was talking about it. She and Dick quarreled last New Year's Eve about the date of their man-Inge , and almost parted forever. "SHE AND DICK QUARRELED. " They think you both must have guess ed it. I remember that Tom was In the parlor with Dora when I ran in on New Year's morning to tell her of your engagement. She had been on the point of asking him to help her to make up with Dick. And when she told me about It , I wrote him a note tolling him that I believed she would forgive him If he came at once. That note found him at your house , Irene , where he had gone to ask your aid as peacemaker. Odd , wasn't It ? " A Happy JVcto A happy New Year ! " Hqw many people realize the meaning of the words as they go about with this familiar greeting upon their lips ? "I wish you a happy New Year ! " Doss U not seem that the wish carries n blessing with it ? And I believe It does when spoken by friends whose words are always true and sincere. For the benefit of those thoughtless ones who never read between the lines , let us analyze this significant greeting. In the first place we wish our friends happiness , and the next question which naturally suggests Itself is , what con stitutes happiness ? A little friend of mine tells mo that It is to eat all the candy he wants and not to 20 to bed until he wants to do so. Another friend of more mature years says that she would bo perfectly happy If she had all the money she wanted to spend as she liked. Another desires fame , another social position. And so we might go on asking and finding out that almost every ono has a different definition for happiness. If the young lad were allowed to follow his own sweet will and surfeit himself with sweets and late hours , I think the result would be anything but happy. As for wealth , who can blame anyone for wishing for all that ono cares to spend , and especially n wom an to whom a separate Income Is the exception rather than the nile. It Is the spending of It which decides the happiness or unhapplncss of the possessor. I do not believe that any ona was over really happy who used wealth merely to gratify selfish am bitions Fame , too , Is a good thing to pos sess , but how many who have gained this high pinnacle will tell you that It brings happiness Social position is also something after which there is much striving. Yet when the coveted place Is reached it Is so often found to bo barren , and happiness has no resting place there. Social position brings heavy responsibilities with it , and social duties are hard and labori ous without the happy results that follow labor In more worthy causes. It seems , then , that there must bo some special way to happiness not easily found. There is , but It Is easy enough to be seen by all who care to follow Us winding way. Wleor heads than mine found out long ago that only in trying to make others happy is real happiness over gained for oneself. So In wishing our friends a happy lew Year , wo really obligate ourselves to do all that wo can to make the wish coma true ; and for this reason the words should rvor bo spoken Idly , or used no a uvcro matter of form. On the other ha'jJ , to bo sincere in the greeting and to do what the words Im ply , Is certain to bring happiness to all. And now , lot us go on to the next word In th analysis , "now. " Everybody likes now things , un less an exception may bo nmdo to the so-called "now woman. " New gowns , new bonnets , now personal be longings of all sorts appeal especially to women. Whllo "clothes do not make the person , " every ono has learned that appearance lu this world goes a long way toward success. Under the Inspiration of knowing that ouo is well-dressed often ono has done his best and the key note of success has been touched. It is human nature that womankind should love pretty now dresses , new bonnets and dainty BUI rounding , so let no ono accuse her of vanity for desiring them. Now Ideas are sought nfter by the philosopher ; new conditions by the scientist ; now Inventions by the In ventor. Editors eagerly examine new matter ; and that which is truly origin al or opens a new field of thought is never found "unavailable" no matter how poorly It may bo written. Then ? Is n constant hunt going on for something new to further stlmu- late the energies , ambitions and de sires of the world's people ; and never was this craving so apparent as now when we arc closing the nineteenth century. Everyone seems to feel that wo are on the verge of a now era which in splto of the Inventions ot the past is to be the most wonder produc ing period in the world's progress. If the inhabitants of Mars continue to signal us , as has been stated , who knows but what some shrewd , enter prising Yankee will put on his think ing cap , build a flying machine that will overcome all atmospheric con ditions and go sailing over to the planet ono of these coming days ? Perhaps the North Polo will bo dis covered in the same way , although why so many people will risk life and property to llnd n spot that Is almost certain to contain nothing that will sustain life or hope , can only bo laid to their insatiate greed for something ne\v. It Is to be hoped , however , that 'while those greater things are going on , some one may invent an automatic servant that will get up in the morn ing without being called , never let the fires go out , wash our best china with out breaking it , and , from the ve v nature of the Invention , cannot "talk back" when we happen to go into the kitchen and scold a little Household Realm. The /Innual Greeting. "A Happy Now Year to you ! " This is the greeting which will bo hoard on every side as wo cross the thres hold of the new year. It has become a custom to repeat It. In many cases It has little moaning , and is nothing more than an empty compliment or an Idle wish. How much do you mean by it ? It is very easy to repeat the form ula. It is a very simple matter to buy a New Year's card and enclose it In an envelope. But when you send this greeting , or speak It , do you regard it as a pledge or promlso that you will do nothing to make the recipient of it unhappy , and that you will do nil in your power to relieve his anxieties and bring gladness to his heart ? Baptist Union. Crowned evermore In endless light she greets The New Year's dawn , While wo , with heads bowed low and dull heartbeats. Live sadly on. Visions too grandly bright for mortal gaze , To her unfold Blossoms each noble deed of earthly days , In beauty's mold. Tire glory of our Lord her eyes have seen. With undimmcd sight , Safe In His presence dear , she dwells serene And knows no night. She clasps the hands of loved onea waiting theio On Heaven's shore. With them she treads those streets so wondrous fair , In rapture o'er. * In glad surprise , joyous and pure and free , Her soul so blest , Solves the deep mystery of eternity And perfect rest. Isabel L. Boardman , In N. Y. Ob server. Merely an Official Form. He wished me a happy New Year ; The wordj would have tickled mo , but I knew from his bearing austere I was booked for a salary cut. Chicago Record. Forsaking all Others Ik By AMELIA DUGHEMIN * CHAPTER XL ( Continued. ) No ono over know what passed In that Interview. Harvey briefly told his wife ho had bogged for forgiveness and gained it , but the old relations between Gladys and himself would never bo renewed she was through with the life of which ho hud been n part. When Union threw herself In Ills arms In a passion of grief for hav ing done him hurt while striving only for his benefit , ho kissed her sadly. It was all a mistake , ho eald ; ho had been the more culpable of the two. Together they Would take up life un der the new conditions , never allud ing to the errors of the past. Ho was very kind , very gentle ; but there was that In hU manner and look which told her Harvey , the boy , was dead , to make way for the grave , al most stem man who henceforth walk ed by her side through life , affection ate and true , yet with the Ineffable quality that tinges the humblest mar- rlngo with romance forever stricken from his love. Within a year after her departure Gladys was married to a man slightly her Junior , whcsa wealth doubled hers. Her beauty and vivacity made her the center of a wide social circle , and hav ing boon shut away from city pleas ures so long she enjoyed thorn now with childlike enthusiasm. Engrossed In a bcwlldeilng happy present the past became to her a dream , and after the arrival of her first child , a half forgotten one. The house In Rockvlllo was sold , and long years passed before she again saw Harvey. In the careworn man with stooping shoulders she found It difficult to recognize her once hand some boy. He was only forty , but life had gone hard with him. There were many mouths to feed nt homo , and all Helen's thrift could not make one dollar do more than the work of two. Long ago Gladys had wholly forgot- gottcn her grievances , but not the af fection for which she had sacrificed so much. Even now , though she had many cons of her own , she loved her unfortunate boy too well to allow him to endure anything approaching pri vation , and with her husband's assist ance secured to Harvey an annuity sufficient to place him and his family well above need. Phebe , an old wom an then , grumbled when the news was told her ; but really she was pleased ; even her anger could not endure - duro forever. And Harvey had been her boy as well as Gladys' . So all were In their way happy and content all but one. It Is hard for the covetous soul to como near to for tune yet never grasp It ; and even when bettor days had dawned , and want was forever set at bay , the bit ter knowledge that she had doomed her husband to a struggle with pov erty that robbed him of youth and hope and ambition was with Helen Atherton all the days of her life. ( The End. ) There i&no need to mention the name of his regiment hero. That Is a secret that belongs to the army nlonc. Suffice It to say that his comrades are proud of his name. Ho should never have entered the army at all , much less a hard riding cavalry regiment which had a reputa tion to sustain by n yearly tribute of broken necks and collar bines. His proper vocation was that of n linen draper's assistant , and he had filled that occupation very satisfactory till one evil day ho hud fallen in love with a elrl , n silly , shallow girl , at whom no practical man or boy would have taken n second look. He adored her , and she adored sol diers. In their walks abroad she would direct his steps toward the Horse guards or Wellington barracks , that she might gaze in admiration at the fine , strapping soldleis who were to bo seen there , and every time she pinched his arm and exclaimed : "Oh , Jack , look at that lovely soldier ! " hU heart gave him a pang at the thought that ho was only a draper's assistant , with nothing In common with the military but the handling of red cloth ! lie was a dreamer by nature , and fallIng - Ing in love did not lesson hlH weak ness in thlb direction. Dreaming i-i pardonable In n poet , but an unpardon able crime in n linen draper's assist ant , and as ho stood a { , his counter his mind was far away from his work. In stead of listening to the "Forward ! " of the shopwalker he could only hear the short-flung word of command and the blare of the bugles that sounded through his dieam& ; wherefore It was not long before he came Into conflict with his practical chief. A few sharp words passed. Ho threw up In thiee seconds a position It had taken six years of hard , unremitting labor to at tain. Then hc < enlisted. Ho gained his title on his first dis play in the riding school , wheic , after a short ride on the neck of the ilding moflter't pet buck jumper , he turned deathly pale and cried aloud that he might bo allowed to dismount. The horse at once gratified hlH deslio by throwing him on to the tan , where he lay trembling in every limb , mucli to the diversion of a couple of rough riders who were standing by. They were quick to inform their respective squadrons , and , his former occupation being known , ho was promptly cat Is- tcned White Feather. In those dark days It was the Joy of the more hardy recruits to take him aMdo holemnly and request the oorvlco ft three-pence three farthings worth of white feathers. Any morsel of down or fluff that might float Into th" barracks was promptly captured and presented to him with duo ceremonies by Trumpeter Pipes , the low comedian of the regiment. The alder men forbore to Join In with these somewhat tiring repetitions of a stale Joko. They remembered their own experiences In the riding school and recognized that White Feather was a quiet and Inoffensive fellow , devoid of the Impudence ami bad manners peculiar to recruits and respectful and helpful to his seniors. The sergeant Instructor , too , after a tlmo took n fancy to his timid iccrult , and took extra trouble to teach him how to keep his heels out , hla hands down and his head up. . "I've made smart cavalrymen out o * bigger duffers than you , " ho used to remark encouragingly as ho Illcko.l White Feather's horse Into a cantor , "and I'll make a rider o' you , or I'll break your neck ! " White Feather's neck remained unbroken so It 1& to b2 presumed that the Boigoant Instructor fulfilled his word. Presently ho began to lose the hang dog look of suppressed terror with which he had been accustomed to en ter the riding school and to acquire the easy swagger of a cavalryman. Ills chest , contracted by long hours nt the counter , developed under healthy train ing. Fresh air and much exercise helped White Feather's development , which had been sadly retarded by the heavy , gas-laden atmosphere In which he had lived. His nerves acquired tone , and he learned to take a tumble now and then as a matter of course and to fire his carbine without shutting hl& eyes and blanching at the explosion of the cartridge. "Blow me , If ho Icn't going to shape into a man at last ! " quoth the cer- gcant instructor. Then n great blow fell upon him. Ho received one morning a letter from the girl to tell him that who had given him up In favor of a shopwalker who had expectations of being sot up In business by his father. She admitted that she had adored soldlerh1 and that she had caused him to enter the army for her sake. But aha had omitted to state that the soldiers she adored were soldiers who possessed tl\o \ Queen's commission and who wore stars instead of a worsted stripe. If poor White Feather was a physi cal coward , ho was a moral hero. There IH no chance of n display of feeling in a barrack room so , like the Spartan boy of old , ho hugged his trouble to him , slipping the cheap little engage ment ring with which ho had sealed his troth into his pocket without a &lgn beyond the twitching of his white lips. Then he lit his plpo with the letter , not out of contempt , but because there Is little privacy accorded In the correspondence that comes to the bar rack room , and a private soldier Is not provided with a desk wherein to keep his faded flowers and other sentimen tal tokens of the past. The blow was a very heavy one , for White Feather was without the world ly knowledge that should have told him long slnco that ho had fixed his affections' upon a vulgar , selfish and brainless flirt , and he still believed In her. her.For For her sake ho had learned to over come his physical cowardice. HTJ had dreamed of n possible commission in the dim future and had rejoiced In the recently acquired promotion VLB a fltep toward her. For her sake , too , he received the newa cheerfully when the word passed through the barrackH that the regi ment WIIB ordered to South Africa to meet the Boers , Ho knew that ho was by nature a coward , but for the mem ory of her he uwore an oa.th to him self to do his duty without sparing himself in the coming fight. * * * * * * * "Look 'ere , old chap , we ain't going to call you White Feather no more ! " said Trumpeter Pipes ns they lay to gether behind the shelter of a largo bowlder , against the face of which the Boer bullets were pattering llko a heavy rain. In full sight of the whole army their squadion had crossed the Boer front amid a hall of bullets which had brought 20 men to earth. White Feather's lior&o had been shot under him , and , at the risk of his life , he had carried the wounded trumpeter Into the Klu'.lter of the bowlders. Ho was unhurt , but trembled In every limb from fear and great exertion. From between two bowlders ho peeped out and saw , amid the bodies of men and horseu that littered the plain , a wounded mnn erawllng on his hands and knees amid n spatter of bullets that were kicking puffs of dust from the dry earth all around him. It was hlh captain. White Feather watched him for n moment ; then he saw him utou , and Ho down on his side despairingly. Ho could crawl no more. "I will , for her sake ! " Ho murmured between his clenched teeth , and , rising from the shelter of the rock , ho faced the hall of death that pattered to the earth around him. As he walked into the open a faint cheer reached his ears from the Brit ish troops half a mile behind him. The Royal artillery backed him with a' ' shrieking' ' flight ot shrapnel , \vhlchf whistled for a moment overheadthen' ' burst over the Boer Hues a quarter of , a mlle away In a shower of bullets. , that for a moment quelled the storm around htm. Ho reached the wounded man , lifted him on lllft1 back and returned atop by stop to where Trumpeter Pipes lay hidden. Tlio trumpeter nave him n faint "Bravo ! " as he staggered and fell with his burden into- the kindly shelter ot the rock. That won White Feather's reward. On ix dlutant hill the British crtm- mnuiler shut his field glasses with a simp. "Toll the general to keep down the fire on the right there and get those- men In from behind these bowlders , " ho said to his aid. "and bring mo that man's name. If ho In nllvo , toll h'm that I saw It nil and that I'm going to recommend him for the cross. Never saw a finer show of fire discipline In my life ! " added the commander to himself as hl& aid galloped off. White Feather's eyes glistened aa ho received the message and heard the cheer that swept along the lines ns ho was carried In. 'Perhaps I shall got that commis sion after all , " ho sold to himself ; "then she will think more of me ! " * * * Perhaps' It was Just as well that ho died five minutes later this faithful worshiper of a goddess of clay. THRIFTY FEMALES. Thcro nro Munjr Itoiuunnrntlvo Oocupn- tlom for Women. One thrifty woman who had watch "d the vegetables and fruit rotting day by day at her grocer's , and which were a dead loss to him , proposed that they enter into nu arrangement In the fu ture whereby she should preserve and plcklo his ontlro surplus , either for regular pay or upon commission , in the latter case ho furnishing the sugar and apices. Another woman , with sharp business Instincts , a butcher's wife , made up soup stock , and found a ready sale for It to many overworked house keepers. Still another , who know but ono thing thoroughly , and that was cookery , called every morning at cer tain physicians olllccs and formed a list of families In which sickness prevailed. To thcso families aho offered to come every day for an hour or so and prepare - pare In their own homes mutton broth , beef extract , chicken Jelly , panada , gruels , fruit and herb drinks , wluo whey , custard , etc. , furnishing her tlmo and labor cheaper than the arti cles could bo bought nt restaurants or women's exchanges. Some women are specialists In ono branch , such as handkerchief embroidering , lamp shade making , fan painting , feather curling , glove cleaning , and the llko , or can make beautiful neck scarfs , or launder fine laces. Such can costly make their specialty pay , some by the aid of friends , HOIIIO by the patronage of dealers In unch goods , some by n house to house canvass made by them selves. A young girl In ono of the largo eastern cities waa recently puzzled by finding herself left almost helpless and homeless , with no talent In any one direction. There was but ono thing of which she never tired , and that was of children , all of whom seemed to adore her ; so this young girl wont out at HO much an hour to amuse sick and Irritable children. Many a worn-out mother found her presence a , most grateful repose. She was Indefatigable In Inventing new games and perfecting old ones , and her naturally retentive memory came also to her aid as n story-teller. It Is the woman who takea advantage of opportunities , the woman who can plan as well an execute , whom the world wants and for whom It will push its ranks apart to malce place. QHOET SHIP. Hpoctnil Veixul Turin Out To Ilo n Mnr- toloui I'liunnliionoti. The American clipper ship Luzon , from the Hawaiian Islands with a full cargo of augar , had a strange ex perience after rounding * the horn. When off the barren Staten land , In good weather , and with acarcely any sea on , the lookout reported n sail. It was about an hour before sunset. Al though the Luzon was almost becalm ed , the vessel sighted was under close- reefed topsails. This made the Luzon'u inato think a storm was bearing down on him , and ho speedily shortened sail. Rapidly the stranger came near er , and It could bo seen that she was partially dismasted forward. In the meantime , however , the expected squall did not make Its advent. The strange ship passed so close that it seemed a < 3 though n biscuit might be thrown on board. Still her crew paid not the Bllghte.it attention to the Luzon. On the latter consternation prevailed. The appearance of the storm-tossed vessel wua so uncanny that the Luzon's man were beside themselves with terror. Not until It dawned upon Capt. Park that the other ship was a part of the phenomenon known as the "fata mor gana , " whore a vessel is reflected a great distance , could ho restore any thing like order among the men. The most remarkable feature of the Inci dent developed throe weeks later. When the Luzon was nearlng the equator she passed the Russian ship Komlsafoff , bound south , and her men had no difficulty In Identifying her with the mirage they had witnessed. She had the same distinctive lines , and , sure enough , her foremast had been broken off close to the foretop , a jury- mast taking the place ot the missing spar. She had been reflected at least 1,000 miles , and the storm which tha Luzon's men had observed had prob ably wrought the damage. Philadel phia North American. .