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

The child ran back with big eyes.
exclaiming: You'd just ought to
see grandpa.''
They all looked with big eyes"
when he came in. He was shaved
clean of all his beautiful. white beard.
leaving only "a moustache. and that
wax waXed till IL shone; his hair was
cut in the latest fashion and with his
rudy cheeks and twinkling eyes he
looked absurdly young, almost young
er than his son.
Well" he said. as they stared at
him. isn't il an Improvement
Words failed them.
I'm prepared for anything now"
Mrs. John confided to her husband.
later. Its plain that she put him up
to it, Maybe if she knew all about
his will she wouldn't be SO bent on
marrying him.
she does know; had a good
chance and told her the other day"
What did she say?"
just laughed and said folks
changed their wills sometimes She's
got long head. I can tell you; she
knows that she can coax his money
out of him. and she don't care what
anybody thinks
Perhaps if you talked right out
plain 10 him. showed him what "A
laughing stock its making Of him"
1T wouldn't do. Lucy" her husband
interrupted. He'd get mad and
leave in minute. You know how
touchy pa is
Mrs. John grohned. She remcm-
bcred the threat TO go and board at
the minN's home; like enough he'd be
glad RI an excuse TO do 30.
sunday. grandpa came ont dressed
for church in the extreme of style,
twirling dainty cane as airily as any
callow dude" and boldly marched
away 10 where the mink was waiting
for him with fresh rose for his but
tonhole.
You see" said Mrs. John to Grand
ma Taylor. as the two families walked
along together.
There's no fool like an old fool. .
quoted Mrs. Ray, grandma's daugh-
ter.
"Old Mr.. Porter is no fool. though
he does act like one" grandma re-
marked.
No. more's the pity" said John,
half regretfuIIy. I'D interfere and
stop il If there was the ghost of a
chance that way. But he's too sharp
AT his business affairs to have any
thing the matter with his mind"
oh. he knew well enough what he
was about. grandma reflected, and he
was fine figure of a man and walked
as supple as a boy. She looked at
the girl beside him. in white. fluffy
array. then glanced at her own plain.
sombre habiliments and decided that
She would no longer dress as for "A
funeral, although it was considered
proper for old ladies to thus robe
themselves.
Mamma" Bessie complained few
days later. 'the children at school
laugh at me and say that Polly Smith
is going 10 be my grandma"
We'll. wouldn't she be sweet lit
tie grandma" grandpa asked with a
cackle?
Mrs. John bit her lips To keep the
hot words back.
II do believe its catching" Mrs.
Raw ran across To confide to Mrs.
John. Mas been and got a lavender
colored lawn. and white ties, and q
iaunty bonnet with lavender ribbon
and violets: she says she has smoth-
cred in black all she's going To-"
That's not So bad" Mrs. John re-
Piled. AS long as She don't 20 L"
caIlavanting around with some young
fellow"
'-Oh. mad never think of marrying
anybody. | just wouldn't allow that
Young or old" Mrs. Ray declared
somewhat incoherently.
We'll. YOU can manage an old lady,
but an old man YOU can't. | feel as if
we were disgraced," Mrs. John re
joined.
She was sure of il one day when
grandpa dressed up. brought livery
rig and took the mink ont for a ride
to his farm. She clapped on her sun
bonnet and went To interview the
minx's mother.
Don't YOU think it's disgraceful
for young girl 10 go traipsing off
with an old man. Ha12ah Smith
She demanded with asperity.
MIR. Porter is a man of good char
acter and a church member" Mrs.
Smith asserted. bridling defensively.
bU- L ufltfiNA ftN 60 -
game. too" Mrs. John retorted.
Mrs. Smith closed her mouth firmly
and tossed her head. And Mrs. John
gave il up and went home; she knew
Hannah Smith well enough 10 know
that YOU needn't say anything more
To her when She looked like that.
Grandma Taylor was just leaving a
neighbours when the couple returned.
She bowed to them in cold hauteur
as she passed and the saucy mink
laughed gayly.
Grandpa's other two sons. Eben and
Charles. in answer To urgent appeals.
made their appearance.
Grandpa flew into rage. Il won
have anybody meddling with my az
fairs" he declared. stamping around
noisily. III do As / please, and is
none of your business"
Eben demonstrated and Charles
coaxed in vain: then they went off TO
tackle the mink. Eben gave and took
immediate offense, and left TO go over
il again uselessly with his father.
Charles sauntered in when the
storm had spent itself. You're