Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-03-03
MANS DUAL LIFE.

Western town. family burned an oil
stove;the stove was hardly more than
an iron lamp with a rim above, on
which rested a small stew-pan. The
room was dark. in spite OF the feeble
glow that struggled through the
smoked isinglass in front of the stove;
the dir, pungent with the mingled
odors OF peppermint and half con-
summed Kerosene oil, was pierced at
quick regular intervals by the weak,
shrlll screams OF young child.
Leaning over the cradle, man
girdled into a crimson bath gown, ut
tered inarticnlate sounds OF sooth-
ing nature, while near by on the bed,
vague mass OF huddled white cast
an immense blurred shadow upward
on the wall and ceiling.
"No; nothing seems wrong with the
pins" the man said presently, in n
pleasant, even voice. at must be
collie; his little hands ard feet are
like ice."
II have the pepperment drops"
said the voice from the bed
The man took the spoon he'd out
to him, and putting it into silver
cup, added little hot water from the
stove, stirring the mixture and test,
ing the heat with his lips. He halt
lifted the baby with one hand, while
he cautiously insinuated the tip OF the
spoon into the bird-like opening OF the
stretched mouth the cries ceased, and
there was a sound of labored sucking
and little smacking noises; great ef-
fort, sort OF indrawn whistle, emp
tied the spoon, and the screams re-
commenced.
you'd better light the lamp, Mac,
and give him to me-"
Cant you lie down and let me
quiet him, Lillian AS soon as he is
warm he will drop Off; and again the
man leaned deeply into the cradle, as
a bird in the act OF lowering, but the
cries continued.
The lighting of the lamp brought out
curious interior. The room was not
more than ten feet square, and into it
was squeezed an ordinary ash bed
room set; on the wall, at the foot of
the bed, a row of clothes pegs sup
ported line of woman's dresses;
across the chair that was wedged be-
tween the washstand and bureau,
over confused heap of clothes,
stretched a long rose and cream tea
gown, as it had been thrown the even
ing before An immense black bear
skin lay extended at the bedside; its
great, sullen head lay under the
cradle, while one OF it's hind legs was
thrust beneath the washstand-its
shaggy blackness covering the avail
able floor space, except where in front
OF the bureau lay the richly marked
skin of a wild cat. From the unplas-
tered walls and ceiling bagged and
wrinkIed a cheap, highly colored wall
paper, and the damp night wind COM
ng in at the window, which was raised
on block of wood, ran between the
papering and the wall with creeping
cracking sound.
AS the man sat on the bedside, max
ing impotent efforts to soothe the
child, a believing, shrieking whistle
obliterated the baby's cries.
"1he sawmill whistle 1t must be
4 o'clock. thought we had only lust
gone to sleep. Poor little fellow, he's
hungry. He knows what he wants
better than we do"
The oilstove was turned higher, and
in u few moments the baby's bottle
was gurgling repletion, while, with
swift, dexterous fingers, tn, father
slipped the black tube over the top.
Then the cries stopped; the baby was
gently returned to the cradle and
pinned in with giant safety pins, the
lamp and stove extinguished, the
dressing-gOwn thrown off, and perfect
quiet, except Tor the wind creeping
under the paper, filled the tiny room.
Presently q faint
"Mac?"
"Ies."
"Do you ever feel sorry the baby
came? Don't you ever feel that he
and ! are more bother than we are
WORTH"
"lou ought not to say such things
Lillian. Think how long We waited
for the baby. Why, little woman, you
know that you and he are all that
have in the world to live for aud work
for "
And then came sleep.