The Forrest City times., 1914-07-31

looh O llaNs hASg SilSu toS@A i+t as one who beholds a promise in the skies. Jest see, father, we couldn't | a made out that winder this fur at all ef the sun hadn't struck 1t jest so. l declar' 1t seems almost as ef we could see the rocker. tew. It's tew bad. Abe. that we had ter let yer old rocker go. D 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, we thought mebbe some day I'd be rocking a leetle baby in 1t. Twas then. yew ricollec', we sorter got in the habit of callin' each other father an mother l wonder ef the young 'uns had come"
 Les hurry" interrupted Abe, al most gruf1y. Les hurry"
 They stumbled forward with bowed heads in silence, until of a sudden they were startled by a surprised hail of recognition, and looked up to find 1 themselves confronted by bent and gray old man. a village character, harmless. slightly demented public charge known as "Ishmael" or Cap tain Rover"
 "Whar yew goin', Cap'n Rose?" 1 The old couple had drawn back at l che sight of the gentle vagabond. and Angy clutched at her husbands arm, her heart contracting at the thought that he, too. had become pauper.
 I'm a-takin' my wife ter jine the old ladies over thar ter the hum" Abe | answered. and would have passed on, 1 shrinking from the sight of himself as reflected in poor lshmael.
 But the innocent" placed himself in l their path.
 "Yew ain't agoin ter jine 'em tew? ?" l he bantered
 1 Abe forced laugh to his lips in re- sponse.
 No, no; I'm goin over ter Yaphank 1 ter board on the county"
 Again the couple would have passed on. their faces flushed. their eyes low cred, had not Ishmael flung out one hand to detain them while he plunged the other hurredly into his pocket.
 Here" He drew out meager hand ful of nickels and pennies his vacant smile grown wistful. Here, take 1t, 1 Captn Rose. It's all I got. 1 cant count it myself. but yew can. Don't yew think it's enough ter set yew up in business, so yew won't have ter 1 go ter the poorhouse? The poorhouse l Is bad place l was there last win or. l don't like the poorhouse."
 He rambled on of the poorhouse. Angy, panting for breath, one hand against the smothering pain at her heart, was trying, with the other, to drag father" along. Father" was shaking his head at Ishmael. at the proffered nickels and pennies-shak- l ing his head and choking. At length he found his voice, and was able to smile at his wouldbe benefactor with even the ghost of a twinkle in his eye
 Much obliged, Cap'n Rover; but yew keep yer money for terbaccy ain't so high-toned as yew. I'll take real comfort at the poorhouse. Slong; thank yer. Slong."
 Ishmael went on his way muttering to himself unhappily jingling his re- 1 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 1 husbands arm, and looking up into his face pleaded earnestly:
 Father, let's take the hunderd dol lars fer fambly tombstun an go ter the poorhouse tergether,"
 He shook her off 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 a long, clean-swept path ending appar- ently in mass of shrubbery, to the left was a field of sweet corn reaching to the hedge; to the right strong and sturdy growth of pole lima beans; and just within the entrance, beneath the sweeping plumes of weeping willow tree. was shabby but inviting green bench
 Abe's glance wandered from the bench to his wife'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 the sun and thoughtfully made reckon of the time. There were still two hours before he could take the train which
 Let's 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 she must simply must-stop that "all-of-a-trem- be" feeling which was going on inside of her. She stepped from the gate to the bench blindly, with Abes hand on her arm. though, still blndly. with exaggerated care she placed his car petbag on the grass beside her.
 He laid down his cane. took of his high hat and wiped his brow. He looked at her anxiously Still she could not lift her blurred eyes, nor could she check her trembling.