Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-09-16
CHAPTER w.
One Of Them.

One Of Them.
All! but Abraham had slept that
night as If he had been drawn
to rest under the compelling shelter
or the wings of all that flock which in
happier days he had dubbed contemp-
tuously them air old hens" Never
afterward could the dazed old gentle
man remember how he had been per-
suaded to come into the house and up
the stairs with Angelina. He only
knew that in the midst of that heart
breaking farewell at the gate, Miss
Abigail, all out of breath with running.
red In the face, but exceedingly hearty
OF manner, had suddenly appeared.
Shoe. shoe, shooi" this stout angel
had gasped. "Naow. Cap'n Abe. yew
needn't git narvous. We're as harm
less as doves. Run right erlong Yew
won't see anybody ternight Don't
say word. It's all right SSH
Shoot" And then. 10! he was not in
the county almshouse, but in beau
tiful, bright bedchamber with a wreath
OF lmmortelles over the mantel, alone
with Angy.
Afterward, it all seemed the blur of
dream to him, a dream which ended
when he had found his head upon a
cool, white pillow, and had felt glad,
glad-dear God, how glad!-to know
that Angy was still within reach of
his outstretched hand; and so he had
fallen asleep. But when he awoke
In the morning there stood Angeline
In front Of the glass taking her hair
out of curl papers, and then he slowly
began to realize the tremendous
change that had come into their lives.
when his wife committed the unDrece-
denied act of taking her crimps out
before breakfast. He realized that
they were to eat among strangers. He
had become the guest OF thirty won
en-folks." No doubt he should be
called "Old Gal Thirty-one" He got
up and dressed very, very slowly. The
bewildered gratitude, the incredulous
Thanksgiving of last night, we're as far
away as yesterdays sunset. A great
seriousness settled upon Abe's lean
face. At last he burst forth:
One to thirty! Hy-guy, I'm in fer
it, How had it happened, he won
Aered. They had given him no time to
think. They had swooped down upon
him when his brain was dulled with
anguish. Virtually, they had kidnapped
him. Why had they brought him here
to accept charity OF women's insti.
tuition? Why need they thus intensity
his sense OF shame at his LIES fail
ure, and, above all, at his failure to
provide for Angelina? In the poor.
house he would have been only one
more derelict; but here he stood alone
to be stared at and pitied and thrown
a ickly-satisfying crumb With a
sigh from the very cellar OF his being
he muttered:
Aye, mother. why didn't yew let
me 90 on ter the county house? That
airs the place fer a WORKOUT old hull
like me. Hy-guyi" he calculated
beads OF sweat standing out on his
forehead. I'D ruther lay deown an
die thin face them air women"
Thar, thar" soothingly smoke
Angy. laying her hand on his arm.
Thar, thar. father Jest think haow
dretful I'd feel a-goin deown without
yer"
So you would" strangely comfort.
ed. 80 you would. my dear," For
her sake he tried to brighten up. He
joked clumsily as they stood on the
threshold of the chamber, whispering
blinking his eyes 20 make up for the
lack Of their usually ready twinkle.
"Hol on a minute, supposin' I fer.
git whether I be a man or a woman p"
Her love gave inspiration 10 her an
swer Ill lean on yer. Abe"
just then there came the loud i'm
peratiye changing OF the breakfast
bell. and she urged him 10 hurry. as
cit wouldn't dew for them 10 be late
the first morning Of all times. But he
only answered By going back into the
room % make an anxious survey Of
his reflection in the glass. He shook
his head reproviugly at the bearded
countenance. as If 10 say. you need
not pride yourself any longer on look.
ing like Abraham Lincoln. for You
have been turned into "a miserable old
woman"
Picking up the hair-brush. he held
1t out at arms length 20 Angy. Won't
yew slick up my hair leetle bit
mother" he asked. somewhat shame.