Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-12-18

IacGQly. i can't see eXLxy Wen tnIs
mornin'."
"Why, Abe! It's slicked ez slick ez
1t kin be naow." However, the old
wife reached up as he bent his tail
angular form over her. and smoothed
again his thin, wet locks. He laughed
little, self-mockingly. end she
laughed back, then urged him into the
hall. and. slipping ahead. led the way
downstairs. At the first landing. which
brought them into full view OF the
lower hall. he paused. possessed with
the mad desire to run away and hide.
for at the foot OF the stairway stood
the entire flock OF old ladies. Twenty
nine pairs OF eyes were lifted to him
and Angy, Twenty-Five pairs Of lips
were smiling ut them. To the end OF
his days Abraham remembered those
smiles. Reassuring, unselash and
tender, they made the old mans heart
swell, his emotions go warning to
gether
He wondered, was grateful. yet he
grew more confused and afraid. He
stared amazed at Angelina, who
seemed the embodiment Of self-posses
sion. lifting her dainty. proud little
gray head higher and higher. She
turned to Abraham with a protecting
motheriy little gesture OF comman&
for him to follow. and marched gaS
lantly on down the stairs. Humhly
trembling at the knees, he came with
glngerly steps after the little old wife
How unworthy he was OF her nowl
How unworthy. he had always been
yet never realized to the full until THU
moment. He knew what those smiles
meant, he told himself, watching the
uplifted faces; they were to sootht
his sense Of shame and humiliation
TO touch with rose this dull gray colol
of the elimination Of his failures. He
passed his hand over his eyes. f1ercely
praying that the tears might not come
to add to his disgrace.
And all the while brave little Angy
kept smiling, until with truly glad
leap of the heart she caught sight OF
blue ribbon painted in gold shining
on the breast Of each one Of the
Twenty-Five women. A pale blue rib
bon painted in gold with-yes, peering
her eyes she discovered that it was
the word "Welcome!" The forced
smile vanished from Angeline's face.
Her eyes grew wet, her cheek white.
Her proud figure shrank. She turned
and looked back at her husband. Not
for one instant did she appropriate
the compliment to herself. This Is
for you'll" her spirit called out to him.
while q new pride dawned in hes
working face.
Forty years had she spent apologize
ing for Abraham. and now she under
stood how these Twenty-Five generous
old hearts had raised him to the pedes.
tai of hero, while she stood heroine
beside him. Angy 1t was who trembled
now, and Abe, gaining manly cour
age from that. took hold of her arm
to steady her-they had paused on a
step near the foot Of the stairs-and,
looking around with his whimsical
smile, he demanded of the bedecked
company In general, Ladies, be yew
'spectin' the PRESIDENT"
Cackle went the cracked old voices
OF the Twenty-Five in a chorus Of ap-
preciative laughter, while the old
heads bobbed at one another as II to
say, Wont he be an acquisition? ?"
And then, from among the group there
came forward Blossy-Blossy, who had
sacrificed most that this should come
to pass; Blossy, who had sat till mid
night painting the gold-and-blue rib
bons; Blossy, the pride and beauty
Of the home, in delicate. old, yellow.
real lace gown. She held her two
hands gracefully and mysteriously be-
hind her back as she advanced to the
foot Of the stairs. Looking steadily
in Abraham's eyes, she kept a-sniling
until he felt as If the warmth Of q
belated spring had beamed upon him.
~The PRESIDENT" Her mellow. we'll
modulated voice shook, and she
laughed with a mingling OF generous
Joy and tender pity. "Are we expect
ing the president? You dear. modest
man! We are welcoming--you!"
Abe looked to Angy as II to say.
"How shall take TT" and behold! The
miracle OF his wife's bosom swelling
and swelling with pride in him. He
turned back. for Blossy was making O
speech. His hand to his head. he
bent his good ear to listen In terms
poetical and touching she described
the loneliness OF the life at the home
as Il had been with no man under
the roof Of the house and only deaf.
and-dumb gardener who hated her sex.
In the barn. Then In contrast she
painted life as 1t must be for the sis
tiers now that the thirty tender vines
had found lstanch old oak for theix
clinging. "Me?" queried Abraham OF
himself and, with. another silent
glance, of Angy.
(To BE coNTTNUEn)