Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-11-27

o.,,,,,s 40 lnem or to the new couple 10
come? Abe gazed at the shams too.
They had been given to him and Angy
last Christmas by all the sisters. Thcy
were white muslin with white cambria
frills. and In their centers was embroi-
dered in turkey-red cotton, Mother"
on one pillow. Father" on the other.
Every sister in the Home had taken at
least one stitch In the names.
Father and Mother-not Angy and
Abe! why Father and Mother? A
year ago no one could have foreseen
the fortune, nor have prophesied the
possession of the room by another e.
derby couple.
Angy drew near to Abe. and Abe to
Angy. They locked arms and stood
looking at the pillows. He saw. and
she saw. the going back to the old bed
room in the old home across the woods
and over the field-the going back.
And in sharp contrast they each re-
called the first time that they had
stepped beneath that roof nearly half
a century ago-the first homecoming
when her mother-heart and his
father-heart had been filed with the
hope Of children-children to bless
their marriage. children to complete
their home. children to love. children
to feed them with love in return.
Let's adopt some leetle folks" said
Angy. half in whisper. I'm afeard
the old placeIl seem lonesome with
out"
Might better adopt the sisters" he
spoke almost grufny. Il alters did
think young 'uns would be the most
comfort tew yew after they growed
up"
"A baby is dretful cunnin'." Angy
persisted. But" she added sadly. Il
don't suppose a teethin' mite would
find much in common with US"
Anyway" vowed Abe, suddenly
beginning to unfasten the pillow
shams. these belong ter US. an I'm
a-goin' ter take EN-"
They went down stairs silently, the
shams wrapped In a Newspaper carried
under his arm.
WAL. naow,"-he tried to speak
cheerfully az they rejoined the others.
and he pushed his way toward the
dining-room-"In 90 AMI git my cup
an sasser."
But Miss Abigail blocked the door.
again blushing, again confused.
Tint 'Tew our Beloved Brother
cur" she said gently. her eyes not
meeting the wound in his, I'VE bout
concluded yew'd better leave here fer
the one what answers the ad. Yew
got so much naow, an him"
She did not finish. She could not.
She felt rather than saw the blazing
Of Abe's old eyes. Then the IRE be-
meath his brows died out and Q mist
obscured his sight.
Gals" he asked humbly. would
yew ruther have new beloved
brother'w
For space there was no answer.
Aunt Nancy's head was bowed in her
hands. Lazy Daisy was openly sob
bling. Miss Ellie was twisting her I'm
gers nervously In and out-she I'M
wound them to clutch at Angy's arm
a. II to hold her. At last Miss Abigail
spoke with 30 unaccustomed q sharp
ness that her voice seemed net her
own:
"Sech q foolish question a that no
body in their sound senses would ask."
Abe sat down in his old place at the
Preside and smiled thousand smiles
in one. He smiled and rubbed his
hands before the blaze. The blaze 1t.
self seemed scarcely more bright and
warm than the light from within which
TRANSPORTED his aged face.
Gals" he chuckled in his old "a
miliar way. Il dunno how Sam1
Darby II take It: but II mothers will
in. guess won't buy back no more
Of the old place. 'cept'n' Jest my
rockin' chair with the red roses onto
It: an all the rest o. this here plagued
money I'll hand over ter the directors,
an stay right here an take my com
fort"
Angy bent down and whispered in
his ear: I'D ruther dew II. tew. "a
Their. Anythin' else would seem like
goin' a-visitin'. But yew don't want
ter go an blame me-" she added anx-
iously. 'ef yew git all riled up an sick
abed ag'in."
"Pshaw, mother" he protested:
"yew fergit was adopted then. naow
be adoptin'. Th3r's big difference"
She lifted her face. relieved. and
smiled into the relieved and radiant
faces Of Abe's children" and her
own.
(THE END.)