The Red Cloud chief., 1880-01-22

- ktot
ally assume the one form, Tim.
twins" "Tim's twins." and go chas-
ing the spriiely figures up and down
their long columns till his eyes were
weak for following them. These were
pleasant fancies 10 Tim. but there were
others that we're not 80 agreeable, and
these were caused by his poverty-for
Tim was as poor as a church-mouse-
and caused him occasionally 20 heave a
sigh, though for the most part he vas
as cheerful as the day was long.
At last the day drew Ia a close, the
shadows dsepened in the dingy Office.
the customers ceased their calls, and
the little bookkeeper closed his books,
changed the linen buster for the well
worn pepper-and-salt jacket that served
the double purpose OF undercoat and
o~vercoat, looked wistfully At the door 81
old Billions private room, and waited.
Ii would never do to leave the Office
without old Billions knowledge-be-
sides, Tim wanted some money.
The banker soon came out, eyed Tim
sharply a moment, and growled, You
were half an hour late this morning, Mr..
wilkins"
"Yes, SIR" Tim replied, blushing TO
the very roots Of his hair. "But, please,
sir, il was an extraordinary occasion; It
was, that is-please, sir-sir, I'm the IA
Their of twins"
"The father of twins, sir?" cried old
Bullion, amazed, "what business have
you to be the father Of twins?'
But Tim could not answer this gnes-
ton 10 his own satisfaction, and 40 he
remained silent, while old Bullion con-
/ timed:
"Some more Of your Internal folly, /
see. Made a fool of yourself when you
married, and nov YOU are the father Of
twins! Worse and worse, And pray,
Mr.. wilkins, how do you expect to sup
port such a family, sir, on eight hundred
a year,"
al don't know, sir" Tim answered,
meekly, and he didn't, poor fellow.
"Of course not, of course not
Humph, | suppose You think Ill raise
your salary, but l won't, l WON'T"
cried old Bullion, walking up and down,
and calculating, But | won't, l won't
"As you please, SIR" assented Tim.
81 have made no complaint l think
can get along; but could you let me
have a little money tonight? Extraor-
binary occasion, You know" he added,
seeing the growing frown on old Bull
lions face, sand tomorrow is Christ
mas, too"
"An extraordinary request, too, sir!'
gasped Bullion, choking with rage.
..You know well enough | new pay
salaries except on the first Of the month!
And Christmas, too-want to throw
away your money, too! What will you
be asking for next, I'd like to know?"
"But my expenses have been unusu-
ally heavy of late, SIR" pleaded Tim;
doctors bills and the nurse, and a girl
To do the work. | would not ask you
for money, but for these things"
Cant help il. sir! none of my bust
ness, sir, What did you marry for?
can't be the banker of every fellow con-
founded silly enough to marry. lcan't
father all the twins, sir. No, sir, can't,
and won't"
And poor Tim wilkins went home
without the money he needed SO much.
Gloomy, indeed, did his Christmas
promise 10 bel
CHATTER II.
Joshua Bullion buttoned his thick coat
closely under his chin. and started for
home. a cheerless, gloomy mansion, a
few squares off. His way lay through
Broadway, and. as he walked along. he
could not. had he wished if, have forgot
ten that the morrow was Christmas Day.
The shop windows We're brilliantly
lighted, and the streets were filles with
a happy throng. Through the windows
Of the shops he saw the holiday goods
piled up in endless variety and confu-
sion. Now it wal the window of a
bakery, filled with cakes and pies, and
confectionery. and bon bons, and great
loaves of rich, crisp bread. which sent
their savory odors out into the frosty air
As often as the door was opened; then ii
was She glass front of a jewelers.,
sparkling and glittering with jewels and
gold, and bright flashing wares; and
again, il was a toy shop whose windows
and counters and shelves were buried
under a load of tin carts, prancing
horses in impossible attitudes, wonder
full dolls with rolling eyes and s~queaking
voices, strangely carved animals whose
prototypes never entered the ark, tum-
bling Jacks and Punch-like figures sud-
denly appearing from the mysterious re-
cesseS of innocent looking boxes, and
picture books filed with the finest
Mother Goose melodies: then a busting,
busy store crammed with velvets and
laces and ribbons and fine lady custom
ers; then a book store, displaying, in
tempting array. volumes in blue and
gold, and richly embossed coverings,
and thus. as far as he walked. old Bullion
saw flashing lights, and well filed shops,
and smiling shop-keeper, and laughing,
happy people. And the happy fathers
and mothers he saw the shouting, crazy
children making the streets echo with
their mirth, or gazing in enraptured ST.
lence ut some wonderful and deeply
coveted toy: older sisters searching for
gifts for parents, or, more likely still,
for attentive beaux; the beauX, too,
purchasing little tender offerings for
those same maidens. Who could have
helped feeling joyous amidst such
scenes? Who, but hat would have felt
a warmer glow in his heart and a kinder
feeling for his fellows? Who that would
not have felt younger and stronger and
better, aye, purer, for this merry Christ
mas season?
Who, save old Bullion, the hard-fisted.
hard-hearted old Bullion?
Stuff Nonsensei" ..Fools amt
all dead yet" "Such a waste of
money!" were the various CALCULATIONS
he INDUCED in on his way home, and
only buttoned his coat the tighter when
a little beggar, presuming on the greater
charity of the season, ventured TO ask
the crusty old man for a few pennies.
Even the hearty Wish you a merry
Christmas!" Of his acquaintance, as he
passed them, irritated him, and he
growled more fiercely after each new
sa~lutation. So, when he reached home,
be wa in no amiable mood, but growled
at his housekeeper, swore at his serv-
ants, found fault with his dinner, and
ended by locking himself in his library,
with bad spirits on his table, and in his
heart, to keep Christmas Eve alone.
Poor old man! Poor old Bullion. Poor
executioner of his own happiness,