The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-14


She was shrewd little girl, as have
already hinted, and knew that the house
she and her mother lived in was good
''hungry" distance from town; and she
felt that, did any traveller to and from
the city chance to read her modest little
announcement they would only toe
gladly avail themselves of the nectar
she had been taught to make so we'll.
| Away along the smooth, white road a
black spot suddenly showed itself. II
grew in size as time passed, and, as its
bulk increased, silvery bells, in high
and merry trebles, sent sound waves
ahead of it.
With beating heart Kate watched the
approach-with sinking heart she
watched the dash past of two mettle-
some bays, smart with silver-gilt har-
ness and many girths of musical bells,
hitched to two-seated sleigh, wherein
sat, under beautiful soft robes, two
young and two elderly folks, all laugh
ing and in the merriest of moods.
"Why did you sigh, my daughter?''
asked Mrs. Keene, anxiously, ''are you
-"
20, I'm all right, mother! Did I sigh?
l thought l only 6reathed-0h--"
"What Is it, Kate?"
But Katie was out at the gate before
her name was uttered, replying to ques-
tions asked by an old army-overcoated
| farmer, who sat upon cushioned seat
in high, big, springless wood-wagon.
"I'll give ye a nickel fur cup, gal, ef
it's steamin' hot-Im nigh about fruz
stiff"
As If these words were magic that set
the heels of her heavy little shoes in
motion, Katie few into the kitchen,
carefully poured out enough of the
steaming amber to fill big cup, and
with little tray upon which rested q
tiny bowl OF sugar and toy pitcher of
milk, she went swiftly out to the old
gentleman in the wood-wagon.
Five cents already! The success OF
her venture was too grand q secret to be
longer kept, and she told her mother all
about it, when, the wood wagon fairly on
its snail-like way, she brought the small
salver indoors and put the nickel in her
mothers hand. Mrs. Keene, when she
heard her daughters wonderful plan,
covered her white face with her slender
hands and was very silent; but, though
the tears rolled down softly into her Ian.
Katie knew that she was not at all dis
pleased, but was in some way very, very
happy,
Suddenly Katie heard again the warn
ing OF the same silvery bells she had
heard before. Eagerly she listened,
this time not going to the window to
watch the return of the ray CITY people.
On came the jangle of sweet sounds.
nearer, still nearer, until-could it be-
surely it must--yes, they have stopped!
With a little pasn of low Kat;e MN.
out of doors again. and. sooner almost
than it takes to tell It. was hack in the
kitchen pouring ont four cuns of hot cot
fee. A large waiter was quickly covered
howl ~ snoar and h;roe- r;tcher :,
mill ~,.s n1acad n +ha cent.s ~ hs.s.n -
the four staam,rg ems Thar 10. -,
oladness dancino in bar st.rrv avas
Katie made her wav to the s,a,ch
sT never en;oved a cur ~ coffs. ,.,.
In ali INV life little oirl[who made ;to,,
81 aid. sir'n said katie mini With
nleasure
ssFather. said another voice ..aftv
certs ;sn,t a rart;clo Too r,nch fo- +h;s
delicious treat. is it mammaon
"No. indeed. y said the f,rst snearer
who wasn't mamma at ali .Ard wo
must head our horses this wav as lone
as the snow lasts. Good-bve. little oiri
till we see YOU again.
Fifty-five cents! I'm afraid the mists
that swell mn in folks ewes at low as
at sorrow must have blurred Katie's
own Just then, for, without her being in
the least aware of it. DIR. Saltus had
driven his big black horse close beside
her, and was himself looking curiouslv at
her from under the hood of his buggy
top.
''Has it become the fashion," he
askod aoffIv. huf ovar az th;s coc<lo