Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-22


them. She had come to the place with hel
father and was the only woman In the camp
The boys treated her like a queen, but the
only one she looked upon with any favoritisn
was Mike Field.
at does look, pards, es ef tn jedge wal
not goin' ter keep his promise about tibet
thar turkey" Nate Cummings exclaimed as
he surveyed the decorated table and smacked
his lips at the hot spiced rum he was slipping
"Wot think yer, HAITI"
What do you ask me for?' the girl asked
with a toss of her head as she founced out
OF the room. And then coming in again she
said. IF any of you had had a spark OF
sense you wouldn't have let him 60"
"Wot has we uns ter do with it?' Nate
asked with an offended air.
You had enough. How do you know but
what the Indians may have waylaid him?'
wal, Hat, eff yer goin' ter lay tn blame
on us, an eff yer say so we'll start off now
an look arter i'm"
This is a high time to make such a
proposition"
Pete stood in the doorway during this spat
between Nate and Hattie, and a broad grin
spread over his face.
"Nebber mind, Marse Mattel" the darby ex.
claimed. Yves got de coon, and OATS jest
es good es turkey any day In de week."
Pete was driven back into the kitchen by
Hattie and the miners were left alone to dis
cuss the probability of Mike Field having
met with some accident. They had never
known the Judge to fail yet in anything
that he had undertaken, and even up to !
o'clock they still had hopes that Field would
turn up. Nate looked out of the window
and. seeing how the storm was raging, ex-
claimed:
'Thar's no chance for the ledge now"
whats that, Nate?" Hattie asked, as she
evergreens which had been gathered and
which she hung up in the center Of the
room.
II sed tibet tn jedge won't come ter time"
Nate answered.
What do you want to bet % the girl said,
looking down from the box on which she
was standing.
I'll bet yer twenty ounces o. gold agin a
kiss tibet he don't an We make our Christ
mas dinner off coon instead O. turkey"
'Ill go you." Hattie exclaimed, as she
jumped down off the box.
The girl was in exuberant spirits, and
when the other miners offered to make the
same bet with her she accepted every one Of
them and made them put up the dust then
and there in the hands Of her father, who
took particular pains to see that the weight
was correct. All of the Snagtownites con-
sidered it a huge Joke, and that Hattie was
to pay the forfeit after the dinner.
Two o'clock was the hour set at which
the feast was to ommence. When that time
arrived the miners were as hungry as bears
and were anxious for the signal to be given
for them to take their places. AS the hands
of the clock pointed to the hour Hattie
stepped out of the kitchen and exclaimed:
Boys, stand up and make two lines, with
an alley in the CENTER
The miners cbeyed with %alacrity, wonder
ing what Hattie could be up to and imagin-
ing that she had found some luck.
Stand there now" she said as she re-
viewed the line and then darted back into
the kitchen, soon appearing with a big fowl
in her hands. Forward, march,
Then, with head erect and holding aloft the
fowl, she marched down between the rows.
She was followed by Pete, who carried a
steaming hot econ on a large dish; then
came Billings with a roasted haunch Of
venison, and then a sight presented itself to
the Snagtownites that made them stare with
open mouthed amazement. There, in the
doorway, stood Mike Field holding up a dish
on which was one of the largest turkeys
they thought they had ever seen. When did
he come? How did he get there? Where
did he get the bird? 1t was decorated, too,
with cranberries. Were they dreaming or
awake?
Boys, here's the turkey and the cram
berries, too" Mike Field exclaimed as he
walked across the room and placed the tur-
key at the head of the table.
AS the miners crowded to their places they
did not notice that a man dressed in broad
cloth had followed the judge into the room,
and they were still more astonished when
Field gave him a seat by his side and said:
"A friend of mine, boys"
The man bowed and took the seat. The
turkey was carved and every ones dish was
heaped up with the good things. Never had
the boyp had such a feast before, and they
enjoyed it, caring little how hard the storm
ragged without. Frequently during the meal
Field was asked the question how he came
to get the turkey, but he refused to answer
until the meal was concluded. After every
one was satisfied and Pete had cleared the
dishes away, and when a steamlng glass of
punch was placed before each guest, Mike
Field arose, and looking at Hattie, said:
II guess it's about time, Hat"
Hattie arose from the table, brushsd out
the wrinkles from her dress and went under
the evergreen boughs. Field followed and
stood by her side. The stranger stood in
Hello, ledge, wat does this hyar mean?"
Nate exclaimed as he jumped up from his
char and was followed by the Others.
Before any one could reply to Nate the
stranger said in a solemn tone of voice:
Hattie Billings, do you take Michael
Field to be your husband?"
II do" Hattie answered in a firm voice,
her face wreathed with smiles.
Other questions were asked of Field and
then the minister pronounced Hattie and the
man and wife. When the ceremony
was concluded Nate Cummings gave a rous-
ing shout and, catching the bride in his
arms, he kissed her. saying:
well, Hat, we uns hev lost our bets, but
we air goln' ter git tn kisses!'
Hattie struggled, but 1t was no use, for
every one present was bound to get a kiss
rom the bride. Field looked on and smiled.
they we're quieted down Mike Field
up and said:
Boys, ! played you a kind OF scuryy
rick. but ] think you have enjoyed 1t, Hat
md ! have been engaged some time, and
we decided to be married on Christmas. ]
sent for the preacher, and he has been here
.hree days. The turkey and the cranberrles
anne up on the last stage, 1t was sent out
)y my brother in the east. When | rode
away the other night / only went a short
distance and then came back. Hat kept me
all the time until this morning"
There was a general shout and much
nerry-making after this. Hattie got all of
Ter bets and more presents in gold. Field
and after a time he came back to
Iew York. with his wife, a very rich man.
'he cam was deserted in a few years, went
o decay and the residents were scattered.
But as each year comes around Hattie and
like celebrate the anniversary OF Their we'd
ing. and they will never forget the first
at Snagtown.
MISTLETOE.