Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-01

smiled abashedly and turned away.
urging his feeble little BOY through the |
storm. Nicholas watched him. then
turned his bead with o siiff JERK.
"If he wants to go out in such weather |
he can. don't care" no muttered
II was nearly four o'clock in the after
noon The snow was gradually ceasine
Presently a yellow light could be seen
through the weeds In the west Some
birds few into one Of the snowy trees: a
wood sled creaked down the road. tho
driver stared at Nicholas in the door.
way; he turned his head and stared
again. TWAS evident that he was not
one Of the village people They had
witnessed the peculiarities OF Nicholas
Gum for the last six years. Thoy still
stared, but not az asaduously
The driver of the wood sled. as soon rs
no went down the slope IN tho road and
could no longer see Nicholas. began 20
whistle The whistle foatod back like
a wake Of merry sound.
Presently Nicholas arose, took of his
cap and beat it against the doorpost TO
rid it Of les dome Of snow. Thon he
shook himself like dog and stamped
Then he went into the house and stood
looking irresolutely at the cold stove.
SHOULD like fire TO heat up my hasty
puddin mighty WELL sorl won't have
Il, said he
He took wooden bucket and went
with it out Of doors, around the house
over snow covered path 70 spring
The water trickled into. its little basin
from under q hood Of snow. Nicholas
plunged in his bucket, withdrew it filled
with water and carried Il back 10 the
house. Tho path led through tho woods
all the trees and bushcs were white arcs
Some of tho low branches bowed over
the path, and Nicholas passing under
them had to stoop.
Nicholas, back IN his house, got bowl
out OF a rude closet: it was nearly full
Of cold hasty pudding He stood there
and swallowed IL In great gups.
The light was waning fast although
IL lasted longer than usual on accoun, OF
the snow. which, now tho clouds were
gone, was almost like sheet Of white
light
Nicholas, whom no had finished his
supper, plunged out again into this pale
duslS Ho tramped, knee deep. down
the road for long way. He reached the
little village center, left il behind aud
went on between white meadow lands
and stretches Of woods Once In awhile
be met man plodding down 10 the
store, but there we're few people abroad
The road would not DO cleared until
morning.
Finally Nicholas turned about and
went back until he reached the village
store. It's windows and glass door were
full Of yellow light, IN which one could
see many heads moving. When Nicholas
opened The changing door and went In
all the heads turned toward him. There
was hardly n man there as tall as he.
He went across the store with kind Of
muscular shamble; his head, with It's
wild, light board, had a lofty lift 10 It.
The lounging mon watched him furtivo-
ly as he bought some Indian meal and
matches at the counter. When he had
gone out with his purchases there was n
burst Of laughter Tho storekeepor
thrust small, sharp face over tho coun.
ter.
IF n man 10 such darned fool as 20
1.-Two on meal and matches, amt got
nothing TO say 30 long as no pays me Che
money down, said he. He had hoarso
cold and his voice was a facetious whis-
Yer.
There was another shout OF laughter.
Melodies could hear it as no went down
the street. The stranger who had driven
the wood sled past Nicholas house was
among the men. He was snowbound
oveT night in the village BE was a
young fellow, with Innocent eyes and a
hanging jaw. lie nudged tho man next
him.
what In creation ails the fellar any
howY" said he 81 seed him a-settin on
his doorstep this afternoon, and the
snow a-driyin right on to him"
"He amt right in his upper story"
replied the man. "Somothin won't agln
him; his wife run Off with another fellar
or somethin, an he's cracked"
"Why don't they shet him upY"
"Ho amt dangerous Reckon he won't
hurt nobody but himself. II no wants
TO set out in drivin snowstorm and
tramp till he's tuclyersd out, it Amt
nothin 10 nobody else but himself. There
amt no use bringin that kind Of crazy
on the town"
"'Twoulrn't cost the town much"
chimed in another man. Hes worth
/ property. Shouldn't be surprised il he
was worth $4,000. And there he is
alvin on cornmeal and water"
An old man in q leather cushioned
armchair beside the stove turned his
| grizzly, quizzical face toward the others
and cleared his throat They all bent
forward attentiyoly He had reputa-
ton for wit
makes me think of old Eph Huntly
and the story Squire Morse used 10 tell
about him" said he He paused inn
pressively and they waited Then he
went on: Seems old Eph got terrible
hard up one time, One thing after an
other went agin him. He'd been laid
up with the rheumatic all winter then
his wife, she'd been sick, an they was
most eat up with medicine an doctors
bills. Then his hay crop he'd failed an
his pertaters he'd rotted, an finally, TO
cap the climax, his best COW died an tho
interest money was due on the mortgage
an he didn't have cent to pay it with
| NU.1n ..s.... Az, $500. -.