, 1888-01-05
Winter IdyG.

Twas the evening after Christmas,
and n bleak southeaster was whistIing
up Union wharf and amusing itself ratt-
ling window shutters aud signboards
along Water street. Mcnamara had
soiemnly shaken his head for the 476th
time in answer to the ever new question:
anything for me-" and had closed the
temple Of Uncle Samuel's letter factory.
The arc lights had received their life
giving current fresh from Fred Cosper's
laboratory, and were shedding their
effulge mt rays out over TIE adjacent an
giles and gables, and abont sixt cen feet
up into space. The storm signal on
Biouui's flag staff tapped gaily in the
breeze. telling OF the gale that ragged off
Columbia river yesterday. All nature
seemed to be in grumbIing mood, and
spirit of sad, wailing unrest seemed to
pervade the great broken patches Of at
mosphere as they hurried on IN their
mad career toward Alaska. Even the
children had tired of their new-found
dy toothache or sobbing out their latest
worries in fitful slumter. The amor
Gus Thomas Cat had Crawled away be-
hind the woodshed in response TO an
emphatic bootjack invitation. Evening
shades had deepened Tor were about to
deepen) into a wild tempestuous night
wherein the blackness of darkness
would bring out the proverbial stack of
black cats in striking contrast. On the
back stoOp of Moneybags' palatial resi-
dence stood fair figure that more than
persontiad the acres of gloom seemingly
just turned loose upon an unoffending
world. Her finely cLiseIed features were
drawn with lines Of suffering. Her ar
istocratic figure ard classic outline were
peryadiHg, poignant sorrow that was
just then expendIng its mighty force III
racking her delicate frame. Her bosom
heaved with an oveTpowariu. emotion.
and her No. 9 shoe came down ever and
anon with an angry stamp. =
MIutIe McGOniGlc had the collie;
there was no Disgusting that fact. Fl.
nally, the heavinE bosom became more
agitated, and, 4l---! The
Christmas pie that had concentrated its
IndestructIble energies in penetrating
human misery had hSeu expelled! The
blue eyes turoed heayenward, and casu
ally RANGED through space toward where
Mt. Baker bad tucked his hoary head
away behind the cloud bank being
rammed into that corner of the universe
10y the wind as it labored with all the
diligence of n hungry hook peddler.
Just then a joyous expectant step re-
sounded o. the sidewalk, aud III another
instant the erstwhile sad and fearful
maiden was clasped in the staIwart
arms of her lover. Sotty Dudewiiger
had come early that evening, seeing
Money bags had been detained down
town paying off vessel, and realizing
that the coast was clear. His lavender
pants cluug 10 his attenuated limbs FOR
protection, aud his hoxtued shoes bore
eVid nccs OF hasty mud splitting in their
owners reckless be-there.On-time-at
any-eost Journey up the hill. His collar
still retained its resolution. however, but
his frost bitten moustache looked wIlted
and collapsed. But n new sorrow had
found its way into Mintie's heart It
had been ccrroding there for whole
day, and had merely been temporarily
eclipsed by the pie. DiseDgagIng her
tangled curls from the off vest button of
the stalwart Softy, she sought to rivet
his wandering and fitful gaze with her
ieonine eye. But he wouldn't rivet
Somehow 4 yawning, cheerless abyss
sesmed opening before him-fOr he knew
that something was in the wind. Throw
ing her soul into whitening glare at the
vacant spot where his averted glances
were supposed to hold forth, she began:
"Softly"
He knew it was coming now, because
the customary dear" was left of.
Without waiting for a response she
continued:
II was at the Meth'dis Crlsmus tree
an the Presb'terium, AN the 'PiscoPais--
an never got a thing; not n dGTncd
thingl L 'spose. though, You spent all
your money gitten presents for that tai
low faced Saickles girl. She had n lot
NV nice things. an she Dragged that You
guv EN-! So tbereT And she turned
to carry her load of sorrow in out Of the
wet (it had begun to raint
Softy DudeWiligeF's courage returned.
Springing after the fleeing m iden he
swore bv all the saints in town that he
hadn't-he really hadn't-give the Snick
les girl a single present-nor anyone else.
Drawing from his vest pocket hribe 10
the shape Of n package Of B0urlaud's
best chewing gum, he concluded treaty
of peace that was sealed by d sound as #
the angry tempest was ripping boards off
the fence
So the course Of true love was recalled
to smoother channels.
Adapted from the realities ct Town
send life-Ed-l