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

'AaNss WV WV NNha'h W. ~Fshta -
"a made out that winder this fur at
all ef the sun hadn't struck II jest 3 o
| declar' II seems almost as Of we
could see the rocker, tew It's tew bad,
Abe. that we had ter let yer old rocker
go. ID yew remember-?" she laid
her hand on his arm, and lifted her
gaze, growing clouded and wistful. to
his face. when we bought the chair,
w thought mebbe some day I'd be
rocking a leetlo baby in II. Twas
then. yew ricollec', We sorter got In
tho habit OF calm each other father
an mother | wonder eft the young
'uns had me
Les hurry" interrupted Abe. al.
most gruily. Les hurry"
They stumbled forward with bowed
heads In silence, until of n sudden
they were startled by a surprised hail
OF recognition, and looked up to find
themselves confronted by Il bent and
gray old man, a village character, "A
harmless. slightly demented public
charge known as "Ishmael' or Cap
tain Rover"
"Whar yew goin'. Cap'n Rose?"
The old couple had drawn back ut
the sight Of the gentle vagabond. and
Angy clutched at her husbands arm,
her heart contracting at the thought
that he, too. had become n pauper.
I'm a.takin', my wife ter jine the
old ladies over thar ter the hum" Abe
answered. and would have passed on,
shrinking from the sight OF himself
as reflected In poor Ishmael.
But the innocent" placed himself In
their path.
"Yew amt a.goin' ter jine 'em tew?"
he bantered.
Abe forced n laugh to his lips In re-
spouse.
mo. no: I'm goln' over ter Yaphank
ter board on the county"
Again the couple would have passed
on. their faces flushed. their eyes low
cred. had not lshmael flung out n
hand to detain them while he plunged
the other hurriedly into his pocket.
Here" He drew out n meager hand.
full OF nlckels and pennies. his vacant
Hllll' bIONH NlSiluI' iitI', auh' ~
Cap'n Rose. It's all | got. ! cant
count II myself. but yew can. Don't
yew think It's enough ter set yew up
In business. go yew won't have ter
go ter the p%oorhouse? The p%oorhouse
IL q bad place. | vas there last win.
ter. ! don't like the p~oorhouse."
lie rambled on OF the p%oorhouse.
Angy, painting for breath. one hand
against the smothering pain ut her
heart. was trying. with the other. to
drag father" along. Father" was
shaking his head at Ishmael. at the
ing his head and choking. At length
he found his voice, and was able to
smile at his would.be benefactor with
even the ghost OF a twinkle In his eye.
Much obliged. Cap'n Rover: but
yew keep yer money for terbaccy. !
amt 80 heightened as yew. I'll take
real comfort nj the %poorhouse. S'long:
thank yer. Slong."
lshmael went on his way muttering
to himself. ~unhappily jIngling his re.
jected aims: while Angy and Abe re.
sumed their journey.
As they came To the gate of the Old
Ladies' home Angy seized hold OF her
husbands arm. and looking up into his
face pleaded earnestly:
Father, let's take the HUNDRED dol.
lars fer a family tombstun an go ter
the poorhuuse t~erEcthcr."
He shook her on almost roughly and
lifted the latch OF the gate.
Folks d say We was crazy, mother"
There was no one In sight as he
dragged In the express cart and laid
down the handle. Before him was u
long, clcan.swcpt path ending appar.
entity in a mass OF s%hrubbery; to the
left was a field of sweet corn reaching
to the hedge; to the right Il strong and
sturdy growth OF pole lima beans; and
just within the entrance, beneath the
sweeping plumes OF a weeping willow
tree, IA u shabby but inviting green
bench.
Abe's glance wandered from the
bench to HIS wite's face. Angy could
not lift her eyes to him; with bowed
head she was latching and unlatching
the gate through which he must pass.
He looked at tho sun and ~thoughtfully
made reckon OF the time. There were
still two hours before no could take
the train which
Lets go set deown a spell afore-'
he faltered-"afore we say good.by.'
She made no answer. She told her,
self over and over that sho must
simply must-stop that "~alLof-a.trem
BILE" feeling which was going on inside
OF her. She stepped from the gate "a
tho bench blindly, with Abe's hand on
her arm. though. still blindly, with
exaggerated care she placed his car
petbsg on the grass beside her.
He laid down his cane, took Off his
high hat and wiped his brow. He
looked at her ~anxiously. Still she
could not liit her blurred eyes, nor
could she check her trembling.
Seeing how abe shook. he passed his
arm around her shoulder. He muir