Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-12-26


abundance and Comparative content 50
the farmers who logged in on or jolted
behind their heavy-hoofed horses adj
mitIed the leading statement with a
supremely satisfied conviction that 9TH
or towns were not booming as was Bub-
Ole and an absolute Indifference 10 the
probability of its being Christmas Eve
elsewhere. A delicious day IL was, too,
although not the typical winter one
which imagination invariably associates
with the dear old feast. There was no
snow; the air was crisp, keen in its
frosty sweetness, exhilarating as
winei by a sky Of subdued yet intense
blue was the billowing prairie domed
and bounded; against that serene and
perfect background fields OF rifed but
unriven corn flung out their tattered.
tawny banners; the winding, brewnish
roads rang like steel to every passing
sound; along those desolate country
ways the sumao shrank in blasted
beauty, and skeleton sunfowers reared
aloft the bare. brown hearts from which
mad fallen long ago the disks of gold.
But sne old man, who, mounted on the
tront seat Of ponderous, creaking farm
wagon, drove over the hill and down the
one new, ugly, bustling street which
boasted the business, the barter and the
commercial enterprise OF Bubble.
thought not at all ot his surroundings,
not even OF the day. He did not stop at
either general store, at the tin-shop the
saloon or she drug store. With an oc-
casiopal nod 10 familiar faces he steered
his team straight down the street, past
the pretentious hotel, the gaping livery
barn, the big, bleak undergrad, and
drew up beside the platform of the rail-
road depot.
"Whoa-ah, thar! Train most due,
Tom2 Hope 'tis. Olive sort of a niece
sboard-me cousin Moike's child. Did
ye know thatP7
Inc station agents assistant smiled
oacS at him. Did he know that? Who
did not know that old Rafferty, had
some months ago sent money to Ireland
TO bring out a young relative OF his A
queer character. old Rafferty,. Seven
teen years of his life had been passed
as a sailor. He claimed to be one OF
the survivors Of tne battle between the
Merrimac and the Cumberland, and that
~ was he who fired the last shot on
board the latter vessel. when Il, with
colors still bravely flying, sunk beneath
the waves. Dearly did he love to tell Of
the affair, particularly Of the part which
concerned himself, of the three hours
spentunder the water before rescue was
effected. At the close OF the war he
took up "a claim" in Nebraska, and by
slow degrees, In loneliness and priva-
tion, had accumulated not a little wealth.
Out OF perilousness he had seen peace
come. A friendly and familiar figure
was he 20 all. Somehow people always
smiled at old Rafferty-cordially too.
There was comical kind of fascination
in the face visible between the shabby
felt hat and the huge comforter" of
purple, red and yellow yarn--a shrewd,
sallow old face with grizzled beard.
bushy brows and youthfully alert. bright
eyes. Then his accent was delightful.
his own broad and hearty brogue being
Favored with Western infections wholly
)reign TO IT,
ION time, sir"
A whistle-another. A puff Of smoke:
a distant roar; a vibration OF the rails;
q shrek Of steami glare of light