The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1914-10-01


mornin'."
why. Abel It's slicked ez slick ez
II kin be naow." However. the old
wife reached up as he bent his tall.
angular form over her. and smoothed
again his thin, wet locks. He laughed
little, selfmockingly, and she
laughed back. then urged him into the
hall. and. slipping ahead. led the way
downstairs. At the FIRST landing. which
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 we're lifted to him
and Angy, twenty.nine pairs OF lips
were smiling at them. To the end OF
1 his days Abraham remembered those
smiles. Reassuring. unselnsh 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 Angeline, who
seemed the embodiment OF self.posses.
sion. lifting her dainty. proud little
gray head higher and higher. She
turned to Abraham with q protecting
motherly little gesture OF command
for him to follow, and marched gal.
lantly on down the stairs. Humbly
| trembling at the knees. he came with
gingerly steps after the little old wife
| How unworthy he was OF her now
How unworthy he had always been,
yet never realized to the full until this
moment He knew what those smiles
meant. he told himself, watching the
uplifted faces; they we're to soothe
his sense OF shame and humiliation,
| 10 touch with rose this dull gray color
OF the elimination OF his failures. lie
passed his hand over his eyes, fiercely
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
a blue ribbon painted In gold shining
on the breast OF each one of the
twenty-nine women. A pale blue rib
bon painted In gold with-yes. peering
her eyes she discovered that II was
the word WELCOMED" 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 ia
for you!" her spirit called out TO him,
while a new pride dawned In her
working face.
Forty years had she spent apologiz-
ing for Abraham, and now she under.
stood how these twenty.nine generous
old hearts had raised him TO the pedes'
tai OF hero, while she stood n heroine
beside him. Angy II was who trembled
now. and Abe. gaining a 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. DO yev
'spectin' the PRESIDENT"
Cackln went the cracked old voices
OF tho twenty.nine in chorus OF ap
preciative laughter, while the old
heads bobbed at one another as II &c
say, Wont he be an acquisition 2
And then, from among the group there
came forward Blossy-Blossy, who haC
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 tho
foot of the stairs. Looking steadil,
In Abraham's eyes. she kept a.smilinI
until he felt as II the warmth OF {
belated spring had beamed upon him
THE PRESIDENT" Her mellow, well
modulated voice shook. and sh,
laughed with a mlngling OF generou,
Joy and tender pity. Are we expect
Ing the president? You dear. modes
man! We are welcomng-you,"
Abe looked to Angy as II to say
How shall take III" and behold! thu
miracle OF his wlfe's bosom swellinj
and swelling with pride In him. II,
turned back. for Blossy was making
speech. His hand to his head. h
bent his good ear to listen. In term
: poetlcal and touching she describe,
the loneliness OF the life at the nom
I as II had been with no man unde
the roof OF the house and only deal
! and.dumb gardener who hated her sea
/, In the barn. Then in contrast sh
; painted life rs IL must be for the sis
ters now that the thirty tender vine
had found stanch old oak for thei
Q cllnging. "Me?" queried Abraham @
J. himself and, with another slen
' glance, OF Angy.