Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER xl.



Little Samuel Darby paused at the
foot Of the bed and stared at Abe with
out saying q word, while Abe fixed his
dim. distressed eyes on his visitor with
a dumb appeal for assistance. Samuel
looked very different man from the
old bachelor who used to come a-woo-
ing every six months at the Home.
Either marriage had brought him q
new growth of hair, or else Blossy had
selected q new wig for him-a modest,
close. iron-gray which fitted his poll to
perfection. Marriage or Blossy had
also overcome in Samuel that tend
ency to hang his head TO starb'd;"
and now he lifted his bright eyes with
the manner of one who would say:
See! I'm king Of myself and my
household! Behold what one woman
has done for met" And in turn Abe's
unstrung vigor and feeble dependence
cried out ~ loudly: II haven't q leg
left to stand on. Behold what too
much woman has done for mel"
Amt yew a-goin' ter shake hands?"
inquired Abraham at last, wondering
at the long silence and the incompre-
hensible stare. his fears accentuated
by this seeming indication of q su-
preme and hopeless pit. "Aint yew
a-goin' ter shake hands? Er be yew
afeaid Of ketchin' It. tew?"
For Q moment longer Samuel con.
tinued to stare, then of q sudden he
roared. cit up!"
"Huh?" queried Abe. not believing
his own ears. why. Cap'n SamT.
don't yew know that I'm q doomed
man? l got the 'narvous Mysteries
"Yew got the pip!" retorted Captain
Darby CONTEMPORARY. and trotting
quickly around to the side of the bed,
he seized Abe by the shoulders and
began to drag him out upon the door.
crying again. cit up!"
The sick man could account for this
remarkable behavior in no way except
by concluding that his old captain had
gone into senile dementia-oh, cruel.
cruel afllictions that life brings to old
folks when life IL almost done! Well,
thought Abe. he would rather be sick
and die in his right mind than 70
crazy. He began to whimper. where
upon Samuel threw him back upon his
pillows In disgust
"Cryin! Oh. ! swan. he's cryin'!"
Darby gave short laugh pregnant
with scorn. ABE Rose, dew yew know
what ais yew?" he demanded, fixing
his eyes nercely upon the invalid.
Dew yew know what'll happen tew
yew II yew don't git out O. this bed IN
this here house? Either yer. beardu
fall out an yew1l dwindle deown ter
the size o. q baby or yew1l turn into
a downright old woman-Aunt Abra.
ham!-won't that sound nice? Or
yew'l die or yewIl 60 crazy. Git out
er bed!"
The patient shook his head and sank
back. closing his eyes. more exhausted
than ever. And he himself had heard
Angy warn this man in q whisper not
to "rile him up!" Remorselessly went
on the rejuvenated Darby:
$1,000 = o~oOAAA sCA 6iS W. ucu I0W
old mollycoddle! Yew babyi Old
Lady 81! Kiffy calf! But l hain't
a-blamin' yew; ef I had lived in this
here place q year an . half, I'd b
stark. starin' mad! Leetle tootsie-
wootsie! Git up!"
Abe had opened his eyes and was
once more staring at the other, his
mind slowly coming to the light Of the
realization that Samuel might be more
sane than himself.
That's what told Angy all along"
he ventured. Il told her. I says, says
l. 'Humbug! Foolishness! Ye're q
maxim q regular baby of me. Why
! says. what's the difference between
me an these here women-folks except
that l wear beard an smoke a pipe!"
Then why don't yew git up!" de-
manded the memorable Samuel. Cit
up an fool EN-: or, gosh al hemlock!
they'll be measurin' yew fer yer cofan