The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-12-26

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r ENNDPN PORTER had become
u source NJ anxiety 10 his son
and his sons wife. Mrs. John. They
were fully persuaded that he was
i'm danger 1T being married for
his money. and that by young mink
who might well be his granddaugh-
ter. That grandpa had taken "a fancy
To the girl they were sure: that he
thought himself deeply in love with
her they feared. for he was not his
usual jolly. careless old self.
He moped about in fits Of meIan-
choly distractions; he read romanccs
and ~ had hunted mp his old cracked
flute that he had not touched for 80
years and stayed out ON the porch
evenings playing Robin Adair" and
other bygone ballads. with a wheezy
wall that was distressing.
II can hardly stand it, Mrs. John
said. punching up her pillow in the
vain effort 70 shut out the sound.
HE acts like q love-sick boy. | tell
You. John. we've got 10 get him
away. up To Ebcn's. or somewhere
out IF her reach"
YES" assentcd John. drOws Is.
''I1l write 10 Eben If you'll persuade
him To GO
Grandpa Porter. don't you think
change would do You good?'' Mrs.
John asked the next morning.
"Ebcn1l come for you any time you
want 10 90 mp there for visit
Il won't go To Eben'S, 1 won't stir
one step, don't like Mrs. Ebcn; We
Il 1
me out IN go over 10 Widow Smiths
and board"
And Widow smith was the mother
of the mink,
why. grandpa. nobody wants to
turn YOU out" Mrs. John cried. has
tcning TO appcasc him. 1T was just
that YOU seem out Of sorts lately.
and we thought change would pcrk
Won up
I'm not out Of sorts, I'm spry
as anybody" ne declared. II sup
pose YOU think I'm getting old and
sort o. helpless. and haven't much life
left. Look here" and ne turned
down chair and skipped over it..
and look here" he pranced out
across the porch. jumped the steps.
ran to the woodpiIc and brought in
n big armful. saying as he threw it
into the box. II guess John couldn't
beat that very much. could he. hey?
I don't 90 down To the gym 50 often
for nothing"
why Grandpa Porter" Mrs. John
exclaimed. amazed at the exhibition.
y laughing face looked in at the
side door and blithc young voice
said gayly: Good for you. Mr..
Porter told you the other day
that YOU were younger than half the
boys. You ought To see him on the
turning bar. Mrs. John" She set 4
basket on the table. adding: Here
are some eggs Grandma Taylor was
bringing 10 YOU. | thought them too
heavy for her and came along to
carry them for her. She looked
tired Take this rocker. grandma"
in anxious solicitude.
The brisk. anything buttired-look-
ing old lady who had followed her
in. sat down stiffiy and the girl rat
tied on: NO. Mrs. John. / can't stop
minute. Mr.. Porter. it's about time
for Won To 20 TO the gym. isn't it?''
Grandpa got his hat with alacrity,
and they went away together. stop
ping first for the MINK 10 fasten n
rose in his buttonhole.
"'Mr. Porter.'- Mrs John burst
out. sarcasticaIlv. rs soon as they
were gone. lit used to be grandpa
before he took this silly notion. She
came on purpose To get him. she's
done il before-thc bold piece,"
II did't want any of her help; she
took the basket right out of my
hands. As il | couldn't carry il across
the street. One would think me too
old and feeble TO stand up alone, to
hear her talk on" Grandma Taylor
said. Indignantly. I'm two years
younger than ne is" she added. n red
spot on each cheek and a spark in
her eyes
at suppose You saw him making
speck of himself"-grandma nodded
Its disgusting the way an old man
will act when he takes notion to
young girl. / wish his old flute was
in the stove I'd put il there if /
dared. | get so tired of his sentiment
tai footing. | know il disturbs your
folks. too"
Grandma didn't say so. but to tell
the truth. she kept her window open
20 hear IL: the old-fashioned tunes
appealed to her heart. awakening
memories of youth and love.
IF Grandpa Porter had got to he
so foolish. i don't see why he couldn't
have taken a notion To grandma"
Mrs. John unused, regretfully. rs
grandma walked briskly away, erect