The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1894-11-29

papa was SO 'inhexible" in his views
about accepting 'presants" from friends
they might never be able TO repay
and honest Curran-honest at least In
his desire to do kindness TO the toll
slip of a girl with the big brown
eyes and auburn hair that made him
think, he sometimes said, OF colleen
he'd lost longyears before-honest Cur
ran mistook her meaning entirely
thought her words Morgan's, and,
mindful of some caustic comments, the
big lieutenant had made anent suffers
checks he sought to collect mt the pay
table several years before, had all MS
Irish aroused and was made lighting
mad. "Ill sind him a resated bill, be-
dad, and cut his acquaintance intlre-
lee," said Curran that night. in reiat-
ing the incident to some of the boys In
the club-room. whereupon that ne 'er-do-
we'll scapegrace Briggs promptly be-
sought him to take like cognizance or
the first thing he. Lieut.. Briggs, might
say, as he despaired otherwise OF ever
squaring his account.
But the incident bore its WEIGHT OF
woe to Connie, despite the mcrrimcnt
it gave the Buys. Acting under the
advice of his colonel and his friends
Morgan was diligently turning over to
the adjutant fifty dollars month OF
his seanty pay in order that critics and
creditors alike might know lac was do
ing all poor devil of a broken-down
lieutenant could do to pay his debts
without absolutely starving his house
hold. The balance went to Con-
ME, and with this she was expected to
feed, clothe and comfort the family,
pay the cook, laundress and striker.
Morgan had no lifc-insurance, and in
those days could get none. Curran was
one OF his heaviest creditors, and Cur
ran had been perfectly willing not only
to wait, but to open his storchousc or
pursc-strings still wider for the strug-
Cling fellows benefit. Only 50 many
dollars a month could DC parcelled OUT
for the butcher and baker, the grocer
and the commissary, and Connie kept
her books, and, aided by her lady
friends, kept her accounts. But over
and above all these necessary expenses
were certain dainties and luNurles
which Curran had authorized black
NANNY to draw for at the store when
ever the supply was getting low, and
Morgan, insisting now on auditing the
accounts, could find no such items on
the bills rendered, and the truth came
out. Curran went off east to buy goods
just then, and Morgan did not write
the letter his heart was pouring Out
when he learned how in secret tho
rough fellow had been so long his ben
efactor, but he forbade sll such traffic
in future. and Lot and Billy howlcd for
oranges and raisins in vain. Christ
mas found their little stockings filled.
Many an army mother, planning for
her own brood, had remembered tho
motherlcss in the humble quarters
down the row. But no one could tell
whose hand had sent the rocking horse
and the big wax doll that were found
by Pcnncr at the door when he opened
the house on Christmas morning. Sus-
picion attached to several heads. in
Guiding Tintops, whose head. by the
way, had been cracked by shell dur
ing the war, and a portion Of whose
skull, so rumor had il, had been re-
placed 10y a silver plate, which led TO
his wearing nickname and a wig.
But one and all the accused established
what Mrs. Whaling once pronounced
an alibi, because they had sent some
thing else" Then they thought OF
Trooper Schramm. now fne-l0okinp
dragon. consummatcly at home in his
business: but Schramm hadn't been
near the house for two weeks. A pay
masters escort was needed 60 convoy
that official 70 distant winter canton
mcnts. and Schramm had promplv
asked 90 be allowed TO go. This time
he didn't say init dem fellerS" as he
had in the field the autumn before.
neither did he add ''once" or "alrcttv."
Schramm was studying book English"
said the first sergeant. Thcpaymaster
got home to his Christmas all right-hc
needed no escort when his money was
gone-but Schramm and his squad
trotted in two days later, after the tur-
key and cranberry sauce were all de-
voured, so Schramm could have had
nothing whatever to do with the gifts
sent out from town. So long as they
had them, Lot and Billy didn't care
who was the donor. They believed all
the more in Santa Claus 1t was Con-
ME who thought and wondered; it was
Connie, alas! who hoped and dreamed
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Beware of Ointments for Catarrh That
Contain Mercury,
A p,orcury will snr,I,, 1o...... a. . go