The Red Cloud chief., 1880-01-22
TIM WILkINS'S TWINS.
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER 1.
'sIs it twins?''
Little Tim wilkins cautiously thrust
his head from the parlor-whence he
had been sent by the busy, imperious
= nurse at 1 a.. m. on that blessed day,
and in a timid, anxious voice PROFOUND
ed the above question. The nurse re-
garded him contemptuously for a mo-
ment-vou know that il is a fact patent
to all that on those occasions the happy
fathers are regarded with contempt and
aversion 10y every woman in the neigh
borhood-and then unbent from her
dignity sufficient To reply that il vas.
Yes, Tim wilkins was actually the
/. father of a bouncing pair of twins!
The little MAJ seemed to feel at least
six inches taller than before, and softly
closing the door again, he inserted his
hands underneath his coat-tails and
Strutted up and down the small parlor,
looking for all the world like a bantam
rooster.
"Iou may come in, | suppose"
snapped out the nurse, opening the door
> Just wide enough To deliver her I'M
gracious permission.
At the sound of. her voice the weak
little mans assumed holiness instantly
vanished, the extra six inches of stature
seemed To ooZe out somewhere in the
region Of his toes. and he timidly tip
toed into the bedroom where laid the
: mother and the little newcomers.
With one eve cautiously fixed on the ar
roCaut nurse, who stood on one side,
) like a Snowman At the door of his booth.
Tim advanced TO the bedside and fondly
kissed the pale, weak Susey, and then
turning down the clothes, gazed with
all of a fathers love and pride on the
w little humps of humanity nesting
there, whom we introduce TO the read,
ers As Tim Wilkins's twins.
flake them up, Tim," murmured
the mother, and Tim took up one of the
babies, handling it as if it were some
fragile toy, liable at any moment to
break in his grasp. Nervous and ig-
norant he turned the poor thing about,
and dangled it in such outlandish WAYS,
that its face speedily grew 10 times red.
der than before, It's little body straight.
ened back, and it rave vent to such a
cry that Tim was startled, and almos,
dropped Ii. The nurse came TO the res
cue, with a swoop like a hawk.
..Horrid mani" she exclaimed, be.
slowing on Tim a whitening glance, then
carving off the babe she pressed il.
- fresh. plump cheek TO her own withered,
, tcothleSs face, grooming "Does him
want TO kill UNI precious little darlin';
Naughty man, him shan't touch the little
ANGEL"
Tim. abashed, crept close to the bed.
side, while Mrs. Tim laughed, merrily,
and cried, "Never mind, Tim, you'll
get used TO them after a while;" an as
!. surance that frightened the little man:
] face in a wonderful manner
They are my presents to you, Tim,'
sill the happy mother; "you know to
morrow is Christmas"
$50 it is, so it is, and a fine pres.
ent you've given me, too" Tim replied,
CHANGING again at the twins, despite the
female ogre who watched over them.
Gracious mel" exclaimed Tim,
SOON after starting up suddenly and
CHANGING at the clock. 1t was actually
almost $50, Never since he had frs
entered the banking Office of Joshua
Bullion, twenty years ago, until now,
when he occupied the position of head
4 bookkeeper, had he failed to reach the
bank at the turn of the hour, and now
full thirty minutes would be zone before
he could present himself! With a hur.
ried goodbye he trotted off down town
as fast as his short legs would allow
him, and in a short time was In his usu.
al place in the bank, on his stool, with a
linen buster N, and an imposing array
of huge folios before him. Slowly the
duil hours went by, and Tim continued
1T his task, but somehow the figure:
would go dancing over the pages, and
would change into strange, elfin little
creatures, whose features bore a striking