The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-09-17
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'N~A 80 wv ~ 'NAbA .
creaking out a dismal echo to the
a~uctioneer's Going, going, gone!"
while the flush deepenCd in Angy's
cheek. Again she fastened her gaze
upon the indomitable red rose which
lung a pendant earring on the right
sid" OF Abraham's head.
"iew wouldn't "a had folks a.comin'
here ter bid jest out o. charity. would
yew?" she demanded. AN anyhow"
In a more gentle tone-the gently posi-
tive tone which she had acquired
through forty years OF living with
Abraham-"we hain't so bad of with
one hundred dollars an tew cents. an
-beholden ter nobody! It's tew cents
mOre'n yew need ter git yew inter the
Old Mems, an them extry tew cents
II pervide for me Jest bewtiful." Abra.
ham stopped rocking to stare hard at
his resourceful wife, an involuntary
twinkle OF amusement In his blue eyes.
With increased frmness. she repeated.
Jest bewtiful!" %whereupon Abe. scent.
ing ~self-sacrihce on his wife's part. sat
up straight and snapped. "Haow 30.
haow so. mother?"
"ltTl buy a postage stamp. won't
it?"-she was fairly aggressive now
an thar's a e~nvelop what want put
up ter auction I'm the cupboard an q
paper bag | kin iron out-ketch me
a-gwine ter the neighbors an a.beg.
gin fer writing paper-an' I'll jest set
daown an write a line TO Miss Hal.
sey. Her house hain't a stun's throw
from the Old Mems: an I'll offer ter
come an take keer o. them air young
'uns o. her'n fer my board an keep
an'-ten cents a week. | was a.gwine
ter say a quarter, but | don't want ter
impose on nobody. Seem that they
hain't over well-ter.do. ! would 20 fer
nothin', but ! got ter have somethin'
ter keep up appearances on. 80 yew
won't have no call ter feel ashamed
OF me when | come a.visitin' ter the
hum" lnvoluntarily. az she spoke,
Angy lifted her knotted old hand and
smoothed back the hair from her
brow; for through all the struggling
yenrs she had kept a certain. not un.
pleasing. girlish pride in her personal
appearance.
Abraham had risen with creaks OF
his rheumatic joints. and was now
walking up and down the room. his
feet lifted slowly and painfully with
every step. yet still his blue eyes fash.
ing with the fire OF indignant protest.
NE a.bunkin' comfortable In the
Old Mems. an yew a.takin' keer o.
them Halsey young 'uns fer ten cents
a week! ! wouldn't take keer o. 'em
fer ten cents a short breath. Thar be
young 'uns an young 'uns." he eluci.
dated, but they be tartars! Yew'd
be In yer grave afore the fust frost;
an who's gwine ter bury yer-the
taown?" His tone became gentle aud
broken: mo, no. Angy. Yew be a
good gal, an dew just as we calc'lated
on. Yew jine the Old Ladies': yew've
got friends over thar. yew1l git erlong
splendid. An I'll git erlong tew. Yer
mountaineering his shoulders back.
he assumed the light. bantering tone
so familiar TO his wife-"the poor.
house doors is always open. I'd Jest
admire ter go thar. Thar's a rocking
chair In every room. and they say the
grub Is A No. J." He winked at her.
smiling his broadcast smile in his at.
tempt TO deceive.
Both wink and smile. however. were
lost upon Angy. who was busy divid'
ing the apple sauce In such a way that
Abe would have the larger share with.
out suspecting II. hoping the while
that he would not notice the absence
OF butter at this last home meal. She
herself had never believed In butter.
ing bread when there vas sass" TO
eat with It; but Abe's e%xtravagant
tastes had always carried him to the
point OF desiring both butter and
sauce as a relish to his loaf.
"Naow. fur's I'm concerned" pur.
sued Abe. II hain't got nothin' agin
the %poorhouse fer neither man ner
woman. I'D as lief let yew go than
std o. me: fer | know very we'll that's
what yew're a.layin' out fer ter do.
Yes. yes. mother. yew can't fool me.
But think what folks would say
Think what they would say! They'd
crow. 'Thar's Abe a.takin' his comfor,
In the Old mems hum. N Angelina.
she's a-eatin' her heart out In the poor.
housed"
Angelina had. indeed. determined TO
be the n to go to the p%oorhouse; but
all her life long she had cared. perhaps
to a faulty degree. for what folks
would say" Above all. she cared now
for what they had said and what they
still might say about her husband and
this flnal ending to his downhill road.
She rested her two hands on the table
and looked hard at the apple sauce
until II danced before her eyes. She
could not think with any degree OF
~clearness. Vaguely she wondered II
their supper would dance out OF sigh,
before they could sit down to eat Il
SO many OF the good things Of life
had vanished ere she and Abe could
touch their lips TO them. Then she
felt his shaking hand upon her shout
der and heard him mutter with husky
tenderness:
, Ukfv daar thia IN tina fuat chanca