The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1914-10-01
CHAPTER Ili-contlnued.

Now the Amazonian Mrs. Homan, a
widow for the third time, made sturdy
retort.
That's Jest like yew old maids--al'
ways a.blamin' the men. Yew kin Jest
bet never would have let one OF my
husbands go ter the poorhouse. II
would have mortified me dretful II
must be purity poor sort OF woman
what can't take the care OF one man
and keep a roof over his head. Why.
my second, oliver G., used ter cay"
"Oh!" Miss Ellie wrung her hands.
"cant we dc somethin'?"
Il could do a.plenty," mourned Miss
Abigail. "ef only had been savin'.
Here | git salary o. four dollars a
month. an not one penny laid away"
"Yew tergit." spoke some one gently.
that II takes considerable ter dress a
matron proper"
Aunt Nancy, who had been sneezing
furiously at her own impotence, now
found her speech again
Were n nice set ter talk erbout
dewin somethin'-a passel o. poor ole
critters like u.s." Her cackle OF EN-.
bittered laughter was interrupted by
the low, cultivated voice OF the belle
OF the home. Butterfly Blossy."
We've got to do something" said
Blossy firmly.
When Blossy spoke with such de-
cislon every one OF the sisters pricked
up her ears. Rlossy might be "a shall.
ler.pate;" she might arrange the
golden.white hair OF her head as be-
fitted the crowning glory of n young
girl, with puffs and rolls and little
curls. and-more than one sister sus.
pected-with the aid OF rats" she
might gown herself elaborately in the
mended hnery OF the long ago. the
better years; she might dress her
lovely big room-the only double bed
chamber In the house, for which she
had paid q double entrance fee-in all
sorts OF gewgaws, little ornaments
manipulated plaques OF her owa pro
ducing. lace bedspreads, embroidered
splashers and pllowshams she might
even permit herself a suitor who came
twice n year more punctunlly than the
line-storms, 10 ask her withered little
hand In marriage-but her heart wal
in the right place. and on occasion sh,
had proved herself master hand al
Akin things"
Yes" said she, rising TO her fee
and filnging out her arms with an elo
duent gesture, we've got 70 do some
thing. and there's just one thing TO do
girls take the captain right here
here"--she brought her hands to thu
lsces on her bosom-"to our hearts
At first there was silence, with tn,
ladies staring blankly at Blossy ant
then at one another Had they heart
Alright? Then there came murmur
and eXclamations, with Miss Abigail
voice gnsping above the others
What would the directors say?"
What do they always say when WI
hsk favor?" demanded Blossy
How much will It cost? II won
cost a cent"
Wont, eh?" snapped Aunt Nancy
How on earth be yew goin' 10 With
him? ! haiDt had second dish {
peas this year.
Some men eat more an some less,
remarked Sarah Jane, as ill-favored
spinster as ever tho sun shone on
generally II means 30 much grub "a
80 much weight"
Miss Abigail glanced up at the eel
ing. while Lazy Daisy, who had r,
fused TO tip the beam for ten year
surreptitlously hid an apple into whic
she had been biting.
Les have 'em weighed" suggeste
widow, Ruby Lee. with a prett
well.preserved little face and fgur
"an' ef tergether they don't come U
90 the heartiest one OF us--'
Miss Abigail made hasty interru
tion:
Gals, haint yew never noticed tn
the more yew need the more yew 81
Before Jenny Bell went to live wi
her darter didn't know what shou
dew, for the 'taters was gittln' poo
low. Yew know she used ter g
twenty ter a meal. an then look hu
cry at the platter. An then Of o
Square Ely didn't come a.drivin' I
one mornin' with ten bushel In d
farm wagonl He'd been savin' e
Ter US all winter fer fer we might n
short In the spring. Gals. thar's o.
thing yew kin depend on. the fol
slghtedness OF the Lord. I haint afra
ter risk a-stretchin' the board q
kaep o. thirty ter pervide ample