McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-12-20

Keep, oh keep the young heart open
For the best Flour in town call at
City Bakery.
Headquarters for Holiday Goods at
S. l.. Green $.
We understand that the Social Club
dance was postponed.
A full line of the very best cigars at
the B. & NJ. Pharmacy.
Christmas Goods, by the car load, to
arrive at C. II. Rogers
Don't buy your Christmas Goods I'M
til you see them at Rogers
Don't fail to 90 and see that fine lot
of handsome vases at Green's.
The best fine cut chewing tobacco in
the city at B. & NJ. Pharmacy.
ranged in flat. bandealx over the tenn
Piles and ears and gathered at the back
of the head into a meagre coil, held in
place by comb of imitation shell,
much too large and heavy for its office.
Over a quilted petticoat of some dark
green wooden stuff she wore a lowered
cotton short-gown, belted at the waist
by girdle of the same material, which
was sewed to the garment at the back
and fastened in front with hooks and
eyes.
A ribbon of parti-colored plaid encir-
cled her withered neck, furnishing ex-
cuse for the display of Ii square gold
pin, in which gl.ttered. a yellow some
thing, fondly believed by its owner to
be a topaz.
The room accorded well with the ap-
pearance of its mistress. 1t was exduis-
icely clean, but everything in it bespoke
the economist and the utilitarian. The
spindle-legged table, of which but one
leaf was raised, was covered with q
cloth of coarse brown linen; the cups
' and plates were of various patterns, EVIL
IDENTIFY remnants of sets that had ceased
to exist as such. The walls were tinted
a smoky gray, and the floor painted in
severe squares # black and white, the
work of Mrs. Prewett's own hands.
The wooden chairs were luxurious with
cushions of dark chintz, tied firmly to
their backs and legs by bits of scarlet
braid.
One really luxurious chair there was
near the window, an invalid's chair,
though it's occupant would hardly have
been classed as an invalid. This occu-
No
finished the substantial portion of his
meal, had retired from the table carry
ing with him his second cup of coffee,
to be enjoyed over his book. Seated as
he was, glance sufficed to show that
he was a hunchback and dwarf. His
face had the peculiar conformation in
Separable from that sort of deformity-
the high, square cheek bones, wide
mouth, slightly protruding, and eyes
set a la Chinois. 1t was, nevertheless,
face full of kindness and intelligence.
The thick, bushy hair stood stiffly out
above broad, well-rounded forehead,
and the pale, gray eyes CLEANED with
an intellectual light beneath the over
hanging brow.
As he read, taking occasional sips
from his cup, he smaked his lips enjoy
ingly.
The outer door looking eastward, and
giving upon small garden, stood open
admitting broad block of sunshine,
which was welcome to lie upon the
painted door-whose colors it could not
injure-since it tempered the air of the
room without cost, and the spring
mornings were still trifle chill. 1t
admitted also the fragrance of honey
suckle and the song of a Gagged mock
ing bird that hung in the window of an
adjoining house.
In full harmony with these intruders,
seeming almost as if it might be an
emanation from them, was the bright
haired, angel-faced child, perched be-
side the table upon an improvised high
seat, formed by layirg two great quar-
,tos upon one of the cushioned chairs.
Not even the ugly calico apron which
enveloped him, nor the stains of mo-
lasses about his rosy mouth, could hide
or mar his wonderful beauty, as,
stretching out his hands above his emp
ty plate, and springing up and down
on his dangerously elevated perch, he
clamored inarticulately for more food.
"Now, George" said Mrs. Prewett,
in high, thin voice, so thin that it
wavered like worn blade, ''you can
haySjust one more slice, with either
butter or molasses, but not BOTH
,srsThe child kicked his little feet against
AStable, and beat impatiently with his
spoon upon his empty plate. ''Da-da,
mo-da-da.n he cried, utteranceS which
might mean anything, but which is
grandmother Interpreted to mean mo-
lasses, and at once proceeded to supply,