Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-30

Keith Keith! Go 70 your legion
are you utterly without heart?''
''She asks me that who captured 1t!
Oh, come, little woman, the rhymes are
not so bad. I've heard worse"
Keith sleeps so late next morning
that I have time to make pilgrimage
to bazar where ready-made clothing
is obtainable, return with divers pack
ages, and trick out the fiotsam washed
to me by destiny's waves from the ocean
of life, before my husband makes his ap-
pearance.
As he enters the room I call Crutchy
and formally introduce to her my
lord and master. She lifts her great,
bright eyes, and, it would seem, takes
his measure at a glance. My senses
being keen, I feel instinctively that
Keith does not impress her as have
hoped-as have been sure-he would.
AS If to find an answer to my uniformed
question in his face, look at Keith.
God help me!-the answer is there
speaking from the dull, bleared eyes,
from the lax, unsteady lips, from the
red, bloated cheeks, from the breath
but let what have named sufficel
"Odd little ebeast-comic-mak good
mc,lelI"
Keith"
But the eyes have closed before my
cry Is ended. With a moan I turn and
kneel before Crutchy. her arms around
me, my head pillowed upon her hollow
little breast.
From whence came shat mysterious
influence that brought together two
atoms for mutual good-Crutchy and
me? In the hours, the days, the weeks
that pass, no mother could console me
as does this crippled child. The hid
eousness of inebriety is no new thing to
her. Her face is a barometer fall to
reading, and confident am that hope
is near if smile be in the ascendant.
1t is smiling often of late, for Keith
is working pretty hard now upon new
picture. Crutchy is his model When
his hands are steady the bright eyes
grow in radiance, and all their dazzling
beauty is caught upon the canvas;
ming then Crutchy comes to me. and
there's nothing can do but bless my
little New Years gift.
My small inheritance is all gone
Keith's money nearly so, and shorter
commons than those to which we've
either one of us been ever used, is quite
the order of our present day. Our last
domestic takes her leave, and Crutchy
and | vie with each other in the culina-
ry art.
Rice is cheap eatin'. and slice O.
a.
-"
"And depressing to the purse, eh,
Crutchy?"
The picture is finished. Keith takes
1t to the exhibition and comes home
elate. 1t is accepted and will be put
upon the line" The demon of strong
drink had not been seen for weeks.
Crutchy's face is aRlow with happiness,
and am coming to my old, gay self,
much as a storm-blown vessel rights
herself upon a calming sea.
''Our idea" is the center of attraction
in the great art exhibition. Crutchy's
pictured eyes go to the heart of a GER
tain dealer. Keith, though offered a
pretty penny, holds to fixed price,
and one night fetches the great sum
home with him.
MY little woman shall have her old
servants back again; and Crutchy shall
have her wheeled chairr' cries Keith,
fourishing a fistful of bills.
Full of our joy, we women indulge in
a little dissipation; steaming coffee, and
such chops as Keith affects, are set
upon our lately frugal board.
'And what color shall be the uphol-
stering of the wheeled chair, Crutch-
kins?" asks our hero, helping himself
to another juicy chop.
81 must sleep on that" says Crutchy,
the quaint.
ION the color of the chair? Hal ha!
Well, little woman, it's not everybody
that has so many thousands in the house
over night-indeed, it isn't the safest
thing imaginable to thus entertain this
sort of visitor did outsiders but know
of it, However, I've been carefully
mum, and we're comparatively safe. I'll