The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-02-03

DuSIlef-j at 90 hrSG particular Opportu-
nifty Is hen he can get outen his bed"
"Cau you take me to himY"
The boy was wonderfully solemn by
this time and hustled off to lead the way
in double quick time.
"Ef yo' is tired, he said thoughtfully,
"yo' might tex a car. The line r,.4sr 1T
near his house. I'll run behind. Yo' Kin
get off at street."
you come, tool said; get on the
platform. I'll pay your fare"
l was lost in dreams about my sici. lii
tie friend when | was aroused by tie c2r
coming to a sudden standstill, and Ily
guide came and touched my arm gor.1y.
Following him off the rear platform ve
turned into a little damp alleyway and
stopped in front of a tumble down f.c
cottage.
"Poor little colonel thought, "y-e
will have to get him out of this place ar
o as he a be moved"
On either side of the alleyway stood q
mass Of little woolly headed urchins,
male and female. l stepped over the
threshold in the open doorway, for it was
May, and the day, outside of the alley,
at least, was warm. My guide followed
in my wake. A pale faced woman met
me and clasped both my extended hands
in hers. There was sorrow, far deeper
than tears would tell of, in that quiet,
drawn face. There was a bed in the
farther corner, and one little folded and
parchmentlike hand rested on the darned
coverlet.
| stepped to the side of the bed. The
little light brown head was thrown back
on the pillows, the blue eyes were more
magical than ever in their hue. The
mouth, with its shrewd, old lines was
open, and the breath came unsteadily
through the even rows of small white
teeth.
My throat filed up and l could not
speak. My poor little partner; my brave
little colonel! His mother began tanning
him gently and evenly again from the
other side of the bed. His eyes frightened
when he saw me and his hand was lifted
to greet me.
Had to give up business for a SPELL"
said the colonel falteringly.
ooh, darling" I cried, forgetting my
part in this strange scene, II cannot bear
to see you look so i'll. What can I get
your"
A radiant smile lighted his face and
he pointed upward. I'm afraid l can't
do business in the old stand" he said
family, "but I've got a place up there,
and I hope can keep my bunch On my
back, cause if l don't when you come
along you won't know the little colo
nel'-
He ceased speaking to rest. I passed
him some wine and water mixed that
stood at hand. His eyes fell on his little
colored friend standing back by the door
twisting his hat in both hands n~ervously
and shifting noiselessly from one foot to
the other.
"You found her by her smile, didn't
your said the little colonel. 81 told you
you could tell it. My partner has tho
sweetest smile in the world"
The temporary stimulus afforded by
the wine and water began to wear away
ever SO quickly.
The shouting of the children came in
at the door and window, and a smile
passed over the face of the little colonel.
"They are mostly black, but they
were always good to me-" he whispered.
Then suddenly he rose up on one thin
little elbow and cried excitedly, "Collar
buttons, two for a cent; needles and pa
per, twenty-five cents a pack" waving
an imaginary bundle in his hand. A
change, sudden and awful, passed over
his face, his hand frightened its grasp
over my own, he sank slowly back on
his pillow; there was a gentle fluttering
of the eyelids, some long drawn strug-
Cling breaths, and the little colonel had
moved to his new stand.-Helen Corinne
Bergen.