Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-12-28
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
HALvERSON'S
AWAKENING.
neutrality-suspicious..

: AWAKENING. :
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II was all over with Halverson, and
even his tossed and harrassed brain,
seeking some way oui, knew it we'll.
He was done. To his fitful struggles
AN end had come, or must come now,
this day. Another morning would be
TOO hateful. Whether fate We're UNI
kind CT merely remorselessly just was
an inquiry he did not seek to make,
for it would be futile. 1t was too late
Tor speculation. What good to analyze
the past for causes when the irresist-
!ble, impending effect was upon him
when it had not only knocked at his
door, but had entered and stood wait
ing, reckoning and impatient?
lhe old year was going out. So must
he, too. go out, like big candle. but
whittier? What care does old Time
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 not even the scattered flakes of
snow banished from 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 Il deep
toned bell marking Il sunlSen reef. tell
ing Of destruction standing with jaws
agape, was that one he could moi es-
cape If he would-he was done; he
was done: here was the end!
The barren room, i'll clad even for
slat poor tenement, excited his dis
gust as with a long groan lie came
back to his surroundings. 1t smelled
evil, too, like 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 Il
window overlooking the street. The
fresh. keen air rushed upon him
bitinglN. but he semeed not to feel its
sting. Leaning far out, lie drank it
eagerly. Lighted cars, filled with
home-going people who seemed gay,
hurried past 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
ried little bundles. Some of them 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 wlAre? 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 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
stood there, looking uncertainty into
the dusk where he sat obscured, his
eyes We're 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 lie had won as prize in
life's tourney and flung away.
"George." his wife called gently.
care you getting up?"
He grnnted 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. a
swift patter of little feet and an eager,
childish treble crying out gleefully:
"Oh, mamma, is papa up?"
boy of 6 years ran past his moth
er, and, with instructive seeking, like
steel to magnet, plunged through the
semi-darllness straight into his
fathers arms with a shout of iov.
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 We're 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 up
his lips contidentially and whispered
we've got a chicken and some nuts
Bring in tile 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.
"1ou'll eat with us, won't you? 1t
isn't often we have you nowadays,
George"
"I've got to CO. he repeated.
She brought in lamp as he drew on
his shoes and fastened his suspendcrs.
He STROBE to the little mirror i'm the
cheap pine dresser and lathered his
face before it in silence. The boy
looked on in interested silence as he
began to shave himself The woman
sat upon the bed and regarded him
wistfully. 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.
"1'he neighbors must have seat
something in,'' he said. with bitter
sheer, ''or was it the county agent ?
What's all this talk about Santa Claus
anyway? Have YOU been knocking
your own child againo Aren't things
bad enough without thato'
His tone was harsh, and the woman
smiled pathetically. She answered
gently:
~ mother doesn't mock her baby.
George will have all he has been led
10 expect tomorrow anyway. And it's
the New Year George. dear she
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 a
chance; that something must turn up.
PERHAPS ii Will whcn the New Near