The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-12-30

!. HALvERsoN'S
AWAKENING.

this day. Another morning would be
too hateful. Whether fate were lIn-
kind or merely remorselessly just wa
an inquiry he did not seek to make,
for it would be futile. 1t was too late
for speculation. What good to analyze
tie past for causes when the irresist-
ible, Impending effect was upon him
when it had not only Knocked Mt his
door, but had entered and stood wait
ing, reckoning and im%patient2
The old year was going out. So must
he, too, go out, like a big candle, but
take of his children. the dead years?
when the clay which gave them tene-
ment is cold? He propped his back
with pillows and sat up in bed, staring
out the window into the falling gloom
Of the short December afternoon, but
seeing not ven the scattered fakes OF
snow bnnished from a few scurrying
clouds marking the winter Sky with
swift changing formations. His
thoughts were interpretive, but dom
mating them all in gloomy monotone,
like the ~irreverent booming of a deep
toned bell marking a sunlten reef, tell
ing of destruction standing with jaws
agape, vas that he could not rs
cape IL he would-he was done; he
vas done; here was the end!
The barren room, i'll clad even for
that poor tenement, excited his dis
gust as with a long groan he came
back to his surroundings. 1t smelled
evil, too, like a basement dive. for he
had slept there long-how long he
hardly knew-and it rocked of his po-
tations. He got up %unsteadily and,
drawing on his trousers, flung up a
window overlooking the street. The
fresh, keen air rushed upon him
bitingly, but he semeed not to feel its
sting. Leaning far out, he drank it
eagerly. Lighted cars, filed with
home-going people who seemed gay,
hurried last on North Clark street,
parkward, to the runic rhyme of the
cable, to the changing of the bells the
gripmen gave voice in warning or in
greeting. Most of the passengers car
ricd little bundles. Some ofthem held
boughs or wreaths of decorative ever
green. Tomorrow would be the New
Year. They were going home, con-
tent, perhaps, with good resolutions.
Going where? Home! Where was his
home? What was it? He shivered
and, shutting down the window, drew
to the pile of huddled clothes which
lay upon the floor beside his bed.
The door behind him opened softly,
letting in u shaft of yellow light from
the room beyond, and it threw across
the floor. even at his feet, the shadow
of the woman who loved him. As she
Hc{Nol {ha,>a lroltn~ ,,roa,.f a r1,yt into
the dusk where he sat o%bscured, his
eyes were still bent upon that sill
houette, picturing on the course mat
ting her waved hair, her fair outline,
all grace and dear womanhood, all his
the pearl he had won as prize in
life's tourney and flung away.
"George!" his wife called gently.
"Are you getting up?
He grunted roughly, for in truth a
new kindled emotion choked him, and
he would not trust his tongue.
AS if in echo of his voice there came
from the lighted room the sound of
Gathering blocks and falling tin, q
swift patter of little feet and an eager,
childish treble crying out gleefully:
"Oh, mamma, is papa up?"
A boy of 6 years ran past his moth
er, and, with instructive seeking. like
steel to magnet, plunged through the
~semi-darkness straight, into his
fathers arms with n shout of joy.
The man cuddled him close, but be-
meath his breath uttered something
like another groan.
Santa Claus is coming tomorrow,
papa" the child said, and as the man
sat still, only hugging him closer, he
went on: Because. you know, lie
couldn't get here Christmas, he was
SO busy, and there were so many poor
children he had to see. But he's com.
ing tomorrow. Mamma said so, didn't
you, mamma? And, say'-he put ur
his lips confidentially and whispered
we've got a chicken and some nuts
Bring in the lamp. Kate" said Hal
version, hoarsely, struggling up from
the clinging child. I've got to dress
and co.
Supper is nearly ready she said
You'll eat with us, won't you2 /,
isn't often we have you nowadays
George"
I've got to CO." he repeated.
She brought in Il lamp as he drew or
his shoes and fastened his ~suspendcrs
He strobe to the little mirror in the
cheap pine dresser and lathercd his
face before it in silence. The boy
looked on in interested silence as lie
began 10 shave himself. The woman
sat upon the bed and regarded him
wistfnlly, but in silence also.
The odor of stewing foods came
from the other rooms. The man
nodded his head significantly toward
the open door as his razor paused.
The neighbors must have seat
something in he said, with a bitter
sheer, ''or was it the county agent:
What's all this talk about Santa Claus
anyway? Have you been knocking
your own child again? Aren't things
bad enough without that?"
His tone was harsh, and the woman
smiled pathetically. She answered
gently:
"a mother doesn't mock her baby
George will have all lie has been led
to expect tomorrow anyway. And it's
the New Year. George, dear"-shc
rose and came to him. putting her
hand on his shoulder-"it's the New
Year, full Of hope, il not of promise.
Can't we be brave together! You al
ways have said you wanted only q
chance; that something must turn up.
Perhaps it will when the New Year
comes"
He shook her hand away, and the
razor cut his cheek.
"sYou must have had a windfall," he
snarlel as he stanched the wound.
""You talk like you might be a,,-heir-
ess. 1t wasn't the neighbors, then?"
There was no windfali,'' she an
swered slowly. II was only trying to
hold on for your sake and-and his.
I had q. ring, you know.
Her voice faltered, and he wheeled
sharply, looking into her face. She
held up her bare lett hand and smiled
into his eyes bravely for one fitting
moment. Then she flung herself prone
upon the bed, shaking with %conyul-
sfvc sobs. The child ran to her and,
;burying his face in her skirts. cried
too.
Halverson made haste to finish
dressing. AS he hurried into his Ill
ster his wife rose quickly and staid
him with a gesture.
you won't stay""
Il can't" he muttered surliiy. II
have an engagement"
80 xEN -Nz go ~ - 49, \" .AE -. H