Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-12-30
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HALvERSON'S
AWAKENING.

seeking some way QUE hHeN ~ Neh'
lie was done. To his fitful struggles
On end had comes or must come now
this day. Another morning weuld be
too hateful. Whether fate were un'
kind or merely remorselessly just was
ah inquiry be did not seek 10 MAKE
for I, would be futile. 1t was too late
for speculation. What good to ahaiyIe
the rast for causes when the irreslst-
ible. impending effect Vas updr him
when ID had not only Knocked at ms
door but had entered and stood wait
ing, beckoning and inpatient?
The old year was going out. so must
he, TOO. go out, like big candle, BAT
whittier? What care does old Time
take of his children, the dead years!
Where do wearied souls find haven
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 mt even the scattered flakes OF
snow banished froui fp'~ seurrying
clouds marking the Winter SKIS with
swift changing formations: HIS
thoughts were introspectire; but DOM
| mating them all in gloomy monotone'
| like the irreyerent booming OF a deep
| toned bell marking sunken reet, ten
| ing of destruction standing with jaws
apape. vas that hnc he could not es-
cape if he would--he Was aUne; he
| was done; here was the end!
The barren room, i'll clad even tof
| that poor tenement; excited his dis
gust as with a long groan he came
| back to his surroundings. II smelled
| evil. too, like n basement dive, for he
had slept there .long-how long he
| hardly knew-and il feeked OF his po-
| tations. He got up unsteadlly and
| drawing on his trousers, flung up a
window overlooking the street. lhe
! fresh. keen air rushed upon hlm
| bitinglS, but he semeed not to feel It's
sting. Leaning far out, he drank II
eagerly. Lighted cars; filled with
home going people who seemed gay
hurried past on North Clark street
parkward, 10 the runic rhyme. OF the
cable, TO the Changing Of the bells the
| gripmen gave voice in warning or III
greeting. Most of the passengers ear
ried little bundles. Some Of them held
boughs or wreaths of decorative ever
green. Tomorrow would be tie New
Year. They were going home. con
tent, perhaps; with good, resolutions
Going where? Home Where was his
| home? What was it? He shiveret
and, shutting down the window, drew
to the pile of huddled clothes which
Law upon the floor beside his bed.
The door behind him opened softly
letting i'm shaft Of yellow light from
the room beyond, and ii threw across
the floor, even at his feet, the shadow
of the woman who loved him. AS sh'
stood there, looking uncertainty int
the dusk where he sat obscured, hi
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 III
the pearl he had won as prize IL
life's tourney and flung away.
GEORGE" his wife called gently
"Are you getting up?"
lie grunted roughly, for in truth
new kinded emotion choked him, ant
he would not trust his tongue.
As if in echo of his voice there eam
from the lighted room the sound o
Gathering blocks and falling tin,
swift patter of little feet and an eager
childish treble crying out gleefully:
"Oh, mamma, is papa up?'
4 boy of 6 years ran past his moth
er, and, with instructive seeking. lik
steel to magnet, plunged through tn
semi-darllness straight into III
fathers arms with a 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 ma
sat still, only hugging him closer, h
went on: Because, you know, h
couldn't get here Christmas, he wa
so busy, and there were so many poo
children he had to see. But he's CON
ing tomorrow. Mamma said so, didn'
you, mamma? And, say"-he put u
his lips confidentially and whispered
we've got chicken and some nuts.
Bring in the lamp, Kate" said HaI
verson, hoarsely. struggling up fror
the clinging child. "Ive got to dres
and go"
Supper is nearly ready" she sale
You'll eat with us, won't you?
isn't often we have you nowaday'
George"
"I'ye got to gO," he repeated.
She brought in a lamp as he drew o
his shoes ard fastened his suspendcr'
lie strobe to the little mirror in tn
cheap pine dresser and lathered hi
face before it in silence. The bo
looked on in interested silence as h
began to shave himself. The woma
sat upon the bed and regarded hin
| 81
The odor of stewing foods cam
from the other rooms. The ma
nodded his head significantly towar
the open door as his razor paused.
The neighbors must have Sc
something in," he said, with a bite
snecr, cor was it the county agent
What's all this talk about Santa Clar
anyway? Have you been mockin
your own. child again? Aren't thing
bad enough without that?'
His tone was harsh, and the woma
smiled pathctically. She answere
gently:
"A mother doesn't mock her bab
George will have all he has been le
to expect tomorrow anyway. And ii
the New Year. George, dear"-sl
rose and came 10 nm, putting III
, hand on his shoulder-''it's the Ne
Year. full of hope, il not of promis
Can't we be brave together? You a
ways have said you wanted only
chance; that something must turn u
Perhaps it will when the New YET
comes"
He shook her hand away, and Il
razor cut his cheek.
! you must have had windfall,"
, snarled as he stanched the woun
, "You talk like you might be an hei
3 ess. 1t wasn't the neighbors, then
There was no windfall,' she n
I swered slowly. 81 was only trying
? hold ON for your sake and-and n
! / had ring, you know.
Her voice faltered, and he wheel