THE COURIER.
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THE STRANGE FATE OF
LUCY-CAT.
Annik L. Miller.
All night tbo enow bad fallen in thick
Hakes, and now lay softly massed over
the landscape The gloomy and dire
fully BUggostivo garb of tho old fir trooB
near the gate, had boon changed to
dazzling bridal attiro. Tho patient
tread of tho busy wayfarors slowly
formed a path to tho village; each pass
erby left tho track a littlo moro distinct
and marked his labors with tho impress
of another foot. Soon theso prints
would cloBoly overlap and tho path bo
complete.
Lucy-cat sat on tbo windowsill gazing
up tho road for her mistress. The morn
ing had been long for her. Each favorite
cushion had been tried, but oven tho
old faehioned charm of turning about
three times and plucking the warp into
slender irregular loops, had not brought
lasting reBt . For hours she had stretch
ed her golden tortoise-shell length be
fore tho tire, and closed her eyes until but
a line of topaz light was faintly visible.
Lucy-cat was a beauty and she know
it. It whb her habit to paBB through
the rooms with deliberate, arrogant step
and apparent indifference. Nothing
escaped her sleepy eyes. A keen ob
server could detect her emotions
through the curve of her sweeping tale.
That beautiful long appendage was
capable of more expression than tbo
countenance of many a human being.
Sometimes, stiflly bristling, it resembled
a large furniture brush; then again tbo
yellow fur lay softly, insidiously in place,
but the angle at which the tail curled
meant much to those wise in cat lore.
Her tawny coat had table, tiger-like
markings, and deep brown mountings
brought out the golden flicker of her
yellow eyes. Now a gleam of interest
mingled with the mystic Hashes of those
great orbs.
Far up tho road a young girl could bo
seen, in a red cloak and" hood, carefully
picking her way thiough the drifts.
"You dear old Lucy cat," sho cried, on
coming in, and gave her pet a hug..
We shall have sleighing, Lucy! sleigh
ing! and now it will last all winter.
Come and run in the snow!''
Out through tho open door went rahi
tresB and cat. Mary gathered a hand
full of soft snow, threw it .playfully and
stooped for more. Already a yellow
form was. moving away over the white
carpet, carefully planting each velvet
paw in, the indentations and footprints.
Lucy-cat vanished behind a snow drift
and was seen no more.
Weeks passed of weary waiting to
Mary, but the- goldon beauty did not
return. The snow fell again and again, -and
was packed in firm, frosty smooth
ness on the highways. The sleighs spBd
merrily over the surface, and boys and
girls with sleds and skates joined in tho
winter's happiness.
In the seat next to Mary at tho village
school, sat a boy of her own age, named
Charlie Marsh. He had long been a
silent and unobtrusive adorer, and now
wished to show a visible proof of his
affection, Occasionally the laughing,
merry girl allowed him to carry her
books a part of the way home, but never
far for fear of the ridicule of her own
.family.
Charlio had planned when tho snow
came, to take her for a sleigh ride. It
was a fashion among tho boys to have
unique robes of furs for such occasions,
and he wished his to be the rarest and
finest. All the boys had been collect
ing the skinB of animals in the hills and
tanning and arranging them in patterns
for sleigh robes. The skill and process
were usually rewarded by the prettiest
girl being tucked beneath tho prettiest
robe.
Charlie said nothing but eagerly
ought bis trophies. The labor wbb
finished and theday for tho sleigh ride
arrived. Mary joyfully tied hor hood
and ran gailly down tho walk. With
ono foot on tho runner sho first bw tho
robo.
"You havo killed my Lucy-cat," she
screamed. Tho boy did not understand.
"You killed her, you did," sobbed
Mary, pointing to tho center of tho robo,
"and I hate you!''
There on a background of dark polts
lay a magnificent tortoieo shell skin,
with Biiblo murkings, Tho four paws
radiated into tho other furs, and tho
head had amber glaES oyes with a sinis
ter glare. A beautiful und striking
robo, but there was no sleigh rido that
day.
Years lutor Mury learned to forgive
and to speak to her old friend, but ho
tweon thorn still lay tho indehblo mem
ory of a lovely form with soft golden fur,
and tho reproachful gjeam of topaz
oyes. Lucy-cat was avocged.
MUSICAL MENTION,
John Randolph.
On Monday evening January 23rd,
tho third Philharmonic of tbo present
winter, was given at tbo Oliver theatre.
It is a pleasure to be able to record so
highly creditable a performanco as was
this concert. Lighter in some respects
than usual, tho program was not so
popular as to be cheap, while it was
enough bo to command tho undivided
attention of a good audionco. I was
not able to be present until after the
conclusion of the first two numbers;
but in tho part of the program to which
I listened there was more certainty of
attack, better intonation and noticeably,
a more ready response from the players
to the efforts of the conductor. There
havo been times when Director Hage
now has had tho sympathy of every
musician in the audience times when
his artistic efforts were defeated by the
lack of plasticity of the band. But in
this concert director and orchestra seem
ed to understand ono another, and the
result was a happy and harmonious ono.
It would be possible to detect and point
out certain minor faults which in an
orchestra composed of professional play
ers would be lees admissible but when
tho results were so pleasurable and with
al so beneficial to the musical life of our
city, it would bo an ungrateful taBk.
Mr. Hagnnow is to bo congratulated
upon his success a success 'not Iobb
dear no doubt, because hardly earned at
the price of arduous reh tarsal. Nor wps
tho director less felicitous in his selec
tion of soloists. Mr. Will B. Richard
son, the first trombone player of the
orchestra, was heard to much advantage
in the well known "Evening Star" selec
tion from "Tannbaeuser," and as an
encore in a ballad of Arthur Sullivan.
Moreover, Mrs. E. Lewis Baker, another
Lincoln artist, was heard in the great
"Ah Petfldo" aria from Beethoven. I
ueo the term "artist" advisedly, for, bar
ring certain peculiarties in tone produc
tion from tho physiological point of
view, and in regard to which thero is
room for difference of opinion, Mrs.
Baker is a most finished and artistic
singer. Thir performer does not sing
like'an amateur but like a professional
artiBt. Hor temperament, dignity, re
pofao and othor excellent qualities, com
bined with admirablo control of tho
technical resources of a largo Rnd reson
nnt voice of agreeable quility, make her
easily one of tho foremost singers in the
state of Nebraska. Mrs. Baker was
heard later in a group of songs, accom
pained at the pianoforte by Miss May
Belle Hagonow, and was compelled to
yield to the demand of the audience for
encores. The program of tho concert is
apponded as a matter of record.
March "Love is King," Innes.
Overture "Raymond," Thomas.
Scona and aria "Ah PerHdo," Bee
thoven; Mrs. E. LewisBaker.
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flit. ' .'W-r.,
Our family washing" is now correct.
Our prices are cheaper tiatfyou can do it at home.
We invite the ladies to call and inspect our plant
for family washing.
Clarkson TeLtxxLry
Invitation a la VaUo 0. M. V.Weber.
Song to the "Evening Star,' from
"TannhauBor" Wngnor; Mr. Will B.
Richardson.
Two Slavonic dances No. 1C major;
No. 2 E minor; Dvorak.
Songs (a) "Dor Doppolgauger," Schu
bert; (b) "Serenade du Passant," Masse
net, (c) "Dearest Heart, Farewell," Strel
zki; Mrs. E. Lewis Baker.
American Patrol Meacham.
Serenade "Rococo,'' Meyer-Hel-
mund.
March et Cortege "La Reine de
Saba," Gounod.
NOCTURNE.
TIME IS MONEY.
When you are traveling, due con
sideration snould be given to the
amount of time spent in making your
journey.
Tho Union Pacific is the beet line and
makes the fastest time by many hours
to Salt Lake City, Portland and Cali
fornia points.
For time tables, folders, illustrated
books, pamphlets descriptive of the ter
ritory traversed, call at City Office, 1014'
O st. E. B. Slomon,
Gen. Agent.
White, white I remember her,
Whi'e from her forehead to her feet!
The moonlight falling through the pane
Was not so white- was not so sweet.
She was a pool of moonlight there
Between the window and the wall,
And the slow minutes bathed in her
And went away beyond recall.
Richard Hovey.
JEWELKV SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
OK MONEY UEKUNDED.
Jewelry of our manufacture war
ranted to give the wearer satisfaction or
monoy refunded.
We manufacture a complete line in
rolled gold plate, gold filled, gold front
and soiid gold.
A complete lino of jewelry of our
manufacture is for sale by Braddon A
flaBsmuo, of Waverly Neb. Call at the
store and examlno the line. Prices low
and goods first class. W. F. Main Co.,
Manufacturing Jewelers, Iowa City, la.
Pera's Desert.
In the long coastal desert of Psn,
which is 2,000 miles in length, but
only 120 miles broad at Its widest part,
the rivers disappear in the dry season
and begin to flow again In February
jr March (wfeen rain falls In the Cor
dilleras. One of the most Important of
these rivers Is the Plura, the return
sf whose waters is welcomed with great
rejoicings by the inhabltanta of Its
aaals"
To Pacific Coast Travelers. I
Under present arrangements we can
show you extremely satisfactory service
to the Pacific Coast and intermediate
points. To Spirit Lake, San Francisco
and Portland we beat the world. Call
for information. Personally conducted
excursions every Friday.
A. 8. Fielding, O, T. A.,
117 South 10th street.
Hot Springs S. D. and return only
915.00 via the Burlington. On January
24th this excursion will leave Lincoln
Tickets good for 30 days. For further
information apply at B. & M. depot or
City titket office, cor. 10th and Oats.
Geo. W. Bonnell, C. P. & T. A:
ulhBh.ock lB-Bnd Playing cards are
the slickest you over handled. One
pack will bo sent by mail on receipt-of
15 cents in stamps. A money order' or
draft for 50 cents or same in stamps will
secure 4 packs. They wiil be sent by
express, charges prepaid. Address,
John Sebastian, G. P. A.,
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R'y,
Chicago. '
t Health Aurora.
Jimton I wouldn't haag a mas em
My expert" testissony of doctors. ,
Would you?
Jamson Not if I wen ia good'
aealth.
Humph I What's that to do with it? :;
I haven't much iaitk ia dost "
frfceal'mwelL ' V9
