THE COURIER- U : ,r ? i.-9 t Stories in Passing. Without, the wind screamed around the corners and whipped the falling enow in gusts against the window panes. In spots where a plank or a barrel or the wall of the gutter offered obstruction, ehe said, "he doesn't give a word of ex little drifti were bu Idine. But the planation." dinner table that evening. She had al ready dressed for the party (a little way she had of pleasing her father and the boys) and when she read the note, there were tears stealing into her eyes. "I wonder what can be the matter," tlimMmMIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIMMIMUMIIIIMMIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIMI.IIIlill pavement was still bare enough for the rattle of hurrying carriages to be heard distinctly. The engine whistles down in the yards, screamed shrilly in the frozen air. Shutters and loose boards and the beer signs or the door po:ts rattled fitful ly in the wild wind of the night. Within the little saloon, a few men with unshaven faces and rough over coats, sat about the stove in which the tire roared up the loDg rusty pipe so furiously that the metal was a fiery red about and below the damper. The tablee and the wine rooms at the side were all deserted. The keeper mopped off his bar and counted the cash sale3. It was about eleven o.clock then. The door opened end a woman entered. She was not young, nor was she old. She wore an old, blue wool skirt and a faded pink Bilk waist. A pair of dirty dance slippers were on her feet, and as she walked across the room, the skirt flapping back and forth, revealed her bare ankles. Her face was deeply rouged, and her hair done high, was covered by a ragged scarf. Her eyes were un naturally brilliant and cinstantly wandering in every direction. "Hello, Nan!' said one of the men. "Good evening, gentlemen yes. Milt, bring me a small drop over here in the corner whiskey. Xo, Bill, I drink alone tonight." When Silas Cbapin came out of his front gate early oce spring morning, he saw his friend Homer Marlitt also turn ing into the street. The two were past fifty, had been friends from boyhood, and for over thirty years had walked the street of the little town to business in this way. Chapin was of medium height with iron gray hair, sharp black eyes and fierce Napoleons. Marlitt was The bar keeper served her and came of large frame with bald head and clear back to bis accouute. The men about blue eves the stove melted away. Others came in for a drink and went out again. The bar keeper was busy and quite forgot the woman in the corner. At midnight the storm had increased to a gale. The snow covered the street and was piling in great drifts at the cor ner. The electric lights blinked hazdy and were ciught acd swung about by the wind. The cold was so intense that the last few men who came into the saloon found their faces frozen in little white spots, and their Angers and ear tips icy cald, even within the heaviest covering. Toe bar keeper finished bis counting and locked the money in the little iron safe under the bar. Taen he began clos ing up his place for the night. He bank ed the fire and drew down the shades. Then he locked the rear door and started to turn out the lights. As he turned to ona of the side lights the figure of the woman caught his eye. He went over and found her asleep. Her limbs were stretched out under the table and her bead rested upon her folded arms. He touched her roughly on the shoulder. "Come get out of this!" She stared and looked up at him be wildered. Something in her attitude touched the man "Come, Nan,'' he said more kindly, "it's time to go home." She arose and fol lowed him still half dazed to the door. "What'd you say," she asked stupie'ly. "It's midnight time to go home," he repealed. "Home home," ehe answered vacant ly, and then with a terrible laugh "oh, of course home.of course home home my God!" And the wind howled on unceasingly, beating the snow against the panes, and tsa'ing and tugging at the signs and the roof-; and racing and plunging along the streets and around tbo corners with fiendish glee. He was a queer sort of a fellow and it was just like him to send her a note the day of the Junior Promenade saying, "it was impossible to take her" and vouch safing no reason for his action. Her father had given it to her at the "Mornin, Homer." "Mornin', Si." "I heard a rumor last night, Homer, that you were going to run agin me this election." 'Yes, Si, you heard correct. Some of the boys said you'd been mayor of this town fifteen years and it was time to have a change. I didn't want it, but they kept talking so much of my being the only man who could down you, and that it was duty to the town, and the like that I gave in to get rid of 'em.' "Well. I'm glad it's you. I'm about tired of the place and was goin' to re sign. I'll keep in the race just to please my friends, but you'll win sure. And I'll be glad of it." "But Si. 1 know I won't win. I'll just bet you a new hat I won't." "Well, I'll just bet you a hat you do,' replied Chapin. And the two old men shook hands on the wager and parted. Every morning as they walked down, the two chaffed each other good natured Iy about the coming election and their bets became known through all the town. As the election approached it became evident that the Marlitt opposi tion to Mayor Chapin was assuming threatening proporti. ns so much so that Chapin was as happy as a boy, while Marlitt became greatly agitated for fear he would really receive the office which his friend had held so long. The night of election, Chapin went homo in a tranquil mind and went to bed. But Marlitt was so afraid that he would be elected that he remained at the polls until all the ballots had been count ed. It did not take long in the little town to reach the result. At ten o'clock it was determined that Silas Chapin had been reelected by a majority of eight votes. Chapin had just retired when be was suddenly aroused by some one running hurriedly up the walk and ringing the bell violently. He raised an upper win dow and asked who was below. "It's me -Marlitt!'' "Marlitt! Have you won? Have you come for jour hat?' "No Si. I've lo3t the bet. Get into F. A. KIIRSMEYER PLIB1 1 111 CO "Perhaps he was called out of town unexpectedly,' suggested her father. "Or, he didn't have the cash for a carriage," said one of the boys. "No, he thinks Helen's too little for him." "I'll bet he's got another girl too bad." "Yes, just as Helen's got a new dress and has been fixing all the afterncon." She was accostumed to this teasing, but was in no mood for it just then. Her lips trembled uneasily and her lashes were wet. She halt rose to leave thp dinner table. Just then, Fred, the youngest boy of the family, who had listened gravely to all the talk broke in. "Well, he's a darn fool, whatever the reason is, to give up taking the best and prettiest girl in town to the party. I'd like to pound his face." "And at that she sat down again with a smile upon her lips. 1 Contractors for PLUMBING, STEAM AND HOT WATE HEATING. Wholesalers of PUMPS, IRON PIPE, SEWER AND CULVERT PIPE, 125 SO. 1ITH. ST., LINCOLN, NEB. IMMIMIHIMMIIIIMIIIIMIMIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIMMIMMIM(MMIIMI Do you know where PALACE BEAUTIFUL Is? Well, it is the place to get a A GOOD SHAMPOO or your HAIR SINGED AND TREATED. This eradicates dandruff and will make your hair SOFT and GLOSSY. It is the place to get a good MASSAGE to keep your skin soft and white. Also BODY MASSAGE and VAPOR BATHS to build you up and clear you skin this time time of the year. MANICURE and MASSAGE for the hands, to shape the nails and make the hand soft and white. The FACE BLEACHED, FRECKLES and PIMPLES removed, leaving the skin clear, soft and white. The hair dressed and beautified or powdered for parties, The best line of Switches, Curie and Bangs, Toilet Waters, Perfumes, Triple Extracts, Powder, Hair Tonics, Soap, Hairpins, real Shell Ornaments, Combs etc. Wigs, Switches, Curls or anything of the kind made to ord)r. Near Oliver Theatre. 121 so 13th your c!othe3 and we'll go down and get that bat at once." In ten minutes the two old men were walking down the street, aim in arm, talking and laughing and singing as boys of twenty. "Say Si, I was darn 'fraid you weren't going to be elected." "So was I. I even bought a hat thiB morning to give you. Well, I'll have two now." A silence fell on the two for a moment which was broken by Chapin. "Homer, old man, I guess I might as well admit I'm rather glad after all that the election turned out as it did. After fifteen years it'd be pretty hard to step out. Yes, I'm glad." "So am I. Si-damn glad!" And the two passed into the hat store which was still open. H. G. Shedd. I j-In CI NEW TOURIST CAR LINE. Weekly Personally Conducted Excur sions to Portland, Ore., via Burlington Route. On February 17 and every Thursday thereafter at 6:10 p. m. Pullman touribt sleepers in charge of our own excursion conductor are scheduled to leave Lin coln for Portland, via Denver, Leadville, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Oregon Short Line, passing through the grand est scenery of the Rockies and stopping several hours at Salt Lake City to allow a visit at many points of interest there. Berths, tickets and full information may bi obtained at B. fc M. depot or city ticket office, corner Tenth andO. Geo. W. Bo.n.nell, C. P. &, T. A. (First Publication January 29.) MASTER'S SALE, Docket R No. 348. In the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Nebraska. The National Life Insur-) ance Company or Alont- pelier, Vermont, com plainant, J-In Chancery. vs. ; Margaret A. Fedawa, et. j al., defendants. J FORECLOSURE OP MORTGAGE. Public notice is hereby given that in pursuance and by virtue of a decree en tered in the above cause on the 20th day of December, 1897, I, Samuel S. Curtis, Master in Chancery of the Circuit Court of the United Statee, for the District of Nebraska, will, on the first day of March, 1893, at the hour of two o'clock in the afternoon of said day, at the east door of the county court house building, in the city of Lincoln, Lancaster county, state and district of Nebriska, sell at auction, for cash, the following described prop erty, to wit: All of Iota number three (3) and nine (9) and the west half of lot number ten (10), in block number thirty two (32) in the city of Lincoln. Lancas ter county .Nebraska. The ato ve described real estate will be offered in parcels as follows: Lot number three (3) as one parcel, the north thirty-two (32) feet of lot nine (9) and the north thirty two (3l) feet of the west half of lot ten (10), as one parcel; and the south one hundredand ten (110) feet of lot nine (9) and tho Eouth one hundred and ten (110) feet of the west half of lot ten (10), as one parcel. Samuel S. Curtis, Master in Chancery. S. L. Geisthakdt, Solicitor for Complainant, Gueet Waiter, bring me a dozen fried oysters. Waiter Sorry, sab, but we's all out o she'ln'sb, 'ceptin' eggs, sah. H. W. BROWN Druggist and Bookseller. WtUtlnsi Fine Stationery and Calling Cards. 3 9 3 w t ni&do this 1 C 127 S. Eleventh Street. 6 Gobang, -How do C PHONE 68 "Well," said her A recent caller at a handsome home was asked, "Can you tell me the style of this room, so many people want to know." "I think it is Colonial.' "I don't think so," was the prompt re joinder, "we've been in Cologne and did not see anything like it there." hat myself," said Mrs. you like it?" her candid friend, "I hope it is 09 cheap as it looks.