The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER Ii--contlnued.

w -"
Under the pink rose a soft pink
flush bloomed on either OF the old
iady's cheeks. Her eyes flashed with
nnconquerable pride. and her square.
arm chin she held very high; for now,
indeed, she was filled with terror OF
what folks would say" TO this home
leaving. and II was n bright June after.
ooon. too clear for an umbrella with
which TO hide ones face from prying
neighbors, too late In the day for u
s%unshade.
Angy tucked the g%reen.black affair
which served them AS both under her
arm and swung Abe's figured old car.
petbag In her hand with the manner OF
one setting out on a pleasant journey.
Abe. though resting heavily on his
stout. crooked cane, dragged behind
him Angy's little horsehair trunk upon
a creaking, old. unusually large toy
express wagon which he had bought
Mt some forgotten auction long ago.
} The husband and wife passed into
the garden between borders of box.
wood. beyond which nodded the heads
OF Angy's carefully tended. outdoor
-children"-her roses, her snowballs.
her understanding syringas, her wax
like bleeding.hearts and her shrub OF
bridal.wreath.
Jest n minute" she murmured, as
Abe would have FASTENED on TO the
gate. She ben her proud head and
kissed with ~furtive, half.ashamed pas
sion a fluffy white spray OF the bridal
wreath. Now overlapping the hus'
bands silk hat. the shrub had not
come 30 high N his knee when they
I two had planted It nearly a half.cen.
ago.
You're mine!" Angy's heart cried
out To the shrub and TO every growing
thing In the garden. You're mine. |
planted you, tended you, loved you
into growing. You're all the children
I ever had, and I'm leaving you" Blu
the old wife did not pluck a single
flower. for she could never bear to see
a blossom wither in her hand, while
all she said aloud was: I'm glad twas
Mis- Holmes that bought In the house.
They say she's u great hand ter dig
In the garden"
Angy's voice faltcred. Abe did not
answer. Something had caused a
swimming before his eyes which he
did not wish his wife TO see; so he
let fall the handle OF the express
wagon and. bending his slow back.
: plucked Il sprig OF Oldham" Though
he could not have expressed his senti.
ments In words, he garden brought
poignant rccollections Of the hopes
and promises which had thrown their
rose color about the young days OF his
marriage. His hopes had never bios.
somed into iulhlment. His promises
to the little wife had been choked by
Worse than this, the bursting into
bloom OF seeds OF selfish ~recklessness
IN himself was what had turned tho
garden OF thelr'life into an arid waste
And now, IN their dry and withered
old age, no and Angy were being torn
up by the roots. flung AZ 30 much
rubbish by the roadside.
Mother, ! be dretful sorry ter take
. Jew away from your posies," muttered
Abraham as he arose with his green
sprig In his hand.
With shaking fingers, Angy sought
a pin hidden beneath her basque. PA.
ther, shall | pin yer Oldham in yer
buttonhole?" she %quayered. Then as
no stopped for her TO arrange the
posy, she whispered: IL wouldn't care,
'cept fer what folks must say. Los
hurry before any one sees us, | told
everybody that we want a.gwino ter
break up TIL termorrer mornin'."
Fortunately, there was n way across
lots 10 the old Ladies' home, nm un-
frequeuted by.path over II field and
through n bit OF woodland. which
would bring the couple almost unob-
served to n side gate.
Under ordinary circumstance Ange
line would never have taken this path
for II exposed her carefully patched
and newly polished shoes to scratches,
her fragile, worn silk skirt and stiff.
white p%e:ticoat to brambles. More
over, the dragging OF the loaded little
wagon was more difficult here for
Abraham. but they both preferred
tho narrower, rougher way 20 facing
the curious eyes OF all Shoreville now,
tho plying windows OF tho village
street.
AS the couple came TO the edge OF
the woodland, they turned with one
accord and looked back for the last
. glimpse OF the home, Blazing gold
' red against the kitchen window famed
the afternoon sunlight.