Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-22
BACHELOR BRINDLE's CHRISTIANS.

ders crustily where that bit of rhyme,
strung on half-forgotten fragment of
MELODY, comes from, and how it hap
pens tochant itself to him so persist
emily tonight. 1t is a dismal night.
Outside, high east wind shrieks and
squeals, skirmishes around corners and
echoes away dolefully in every stray
cavernous retreat and nook. Within
bursts of tawny and scarlet flame light
up Bachelor Brindle's favorite apart
ment, big, lOw-ceiled and comfortable.
yet wearing the air of careless disorder
peculiar to bachelors apartments.
And Bachelor Brindle, listening to the
winds boisterous whistlings and plant
i've minor chords, becomes cross
grained. and even misanthrop;cal.
Song and feast" he mutters,
grumbly, "holly etc! Humph. Gam
mon! Where's any holly, and who'd
90 dragging round in this slush and
sleet to bring it imp What's set me to
thinking Of" -t g,,t,s. -,
Christmas Eve" chants the tea
kettle, swinging briskly over the blaze.
"Crieky" is Bachelor Brindle's rep
rehensible exclamation, $50 it is.
like to have forgot it"
AS If sprinkled with some subtle.
magic powder, the freight. flickering,
quivering, dancing, suddenly lights a
path across the floor. through the cot
tage walls, beyond the murk and mist.
far into the past. where CHEEKY Christ.
mas fire is burning; there are busy
hands and hurrying feet and merry
voices there is an intoxicating flavor
of holiday cheer; there is song and
gladness; there are bright eyed cousins,
troops OF relatives and friends, and ra-
diant among all, romping. black-eyed
girl with a turned up nose, who wore
a scarlet jacket. e- --s.a-. .r-.,s.
And had temper enough for two"
grunts Bachelor Brindle. There is a
dim spot in the path of light. "Halt
your fault" sings the tea-kettle, cheer
fully. more than half" snorts the
wind, beligerently. coming in a puff
down the chimney to back the tea-ket-
tie. Twas, twas, twas"
A momentary lulling of the aggres.
sive wind, and soft suffering in the
red Goals brings Bachelor Brindle' s
mind back to his present lot. %. -r
Snow" he mutters, with shudder.
"Time was when the idea brought only
foolishly bright visions of slei Oh ride:
with her, of frOlics and fun, and-oh
what 5 the use' They're all gone, she
among the rest, and I'm a forIorn old
soul with no one to 50 much as cook {
Christmas dinner for me -unless could
coax Aunt Nancy over. Christmas Eve.
bless us. What an old wretch L was to
d for ct il"
Bachelor Brindle gives the fore stick
n diScontented poke, and turns to light
the tall lamp on the shelf, then brings
forth his old-fashioned brown Bible, and
once more follows the sweet story o.
the beautiful Babe and the first Christ
mas morninr, while without the wine
losses and whirls its tleecy white burden
alb ut at its own erratic will.
ugh! what a depressingly I'M
Christmas evening, Christmas Ever'
Nab Lacy caught her breath, anC
clutched at her veil with both hands, a.
the rampant gale charged with millions
OF sleety needles swOoped around &
corner and nearly blew her off the steps
OF the grim, tall, narrow cheSted hous,
with its gray-green shutters, the bit o.
white paper tackled against its door bear
ing the faded notice FURNISHED Rooms
for Rent" revealing its nature anC
characteristics
"Shelter is shelter, such night a!
this, II It is the waste and desert gloon
OF Malone's establishment, with it
mackeral-scented halls and roach,
corners" she continued, plunging int
the shadows of the long, dim hall, ant
feeling in the dark for her door-knob
with all its faults it is a haven O
refuge from-Mercy, Peggy! What ar,
you rambling my furniture about anC
stopping up my oil-cloth for? aAnC
whose is this big barn of trunk Pr,
The stout maid of-all-wOrk, on he
knees by the desolate little box-stove
arose with a red flannel floor cloth il
one hand, and a bar of yellow soap ii
the other. eyed Nab doubtfully. trieC
TO Scratch her eye with her elbow, anC
failing, gave her broom like head /;
random rub with the soap, and an
swered: ~ Al - q y
New fgiler COMM tomorrow; yanC
Miss Malone saved rs Nhow-you hadn'
paid Yer rent this-week. an bein' GIN
tlemen preferred cause they DON
muss things up acoOkiR in their rooms
an not wantin' TO lose shure pawn
roomer, an'-an'-r'
q But, Peggy, to-morrow's Christ
mas!n Nab sat down on the strano,
trunk, clasping her damp, gloved hands
in helpless bewilderment.
1 THAT what IL know" said Peggy
rubbing her ear with the Soap, s'6u
Miss Malone she says how the rent ain
paid an'=-''--- --- -
''But was going to pay it next week
and would have last week if l hadn'
been sick and not able to work, as
told her." Il
THAT so. But reckon the ain
no in rasi m fuss" said Peggy
philosophically. ''he's done paid her :
months rent and she's tuck it., ,Sh,
sayed, anyhow. she reckoned YOU wa.
more ora lady'n to want to stay wher
you weren't wanted. But he won't
come till mornin', you can stay to
night ffIi ~
But what am / going to do then ~
''Room-rentn, agency down yander,'
said Peggy, indicating the direction y
hirt OF the ffoor-cloth. fm ~
Nab opened her fat little pocket bool
and shook IT'S contents into her Lap
Peggy" said she. show many room:
could ! rent for dollar and halfP''