The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1914-10-01
CHAPTER W.
One Of Them.

One Of Them.
All but Abraham had slept that
night as II he had been drawn
to rest under tho compelling shelter
OF the wings OF all that flock which in
happier days he had dubbed contemp-
tuo1sly them air old hens" Never
aft, rward could the dazed old gentle
man remember how he had been per.
suaded 10 come into the house and up
the stairs with Angeline. He only
knew that In the midst OF that heart.
breaking farewell at the gate. Miss
red in the face. but exceedingly hearty
OF manner. had suddenly appeared.
"Shoo, shoe. shoot" 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. Sssh!
Shoot" And then. lol he was not In
the county almshouse. but In q beau.
tiful, bright bedchamber with n wreath
OF immNrtelles over the mantel. alone
with Angy
Afterward. II all seemed the blur OF
a dream to him. 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 10 realize the tremendous
change that had come into their lives
when his wife committed the unprece
dented 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
cs..ed "Old Gal Thirty.one." He got
up and dressed very. very slowly. The
bewildered gratitude. the incredulouS
thanksgiving OF last night, were as faI
away as yesterdays sunset. grea'
seriousness settled upon Abes lear
face. At last he burst forth:
"One to thirty! Hyguy. I'm In fel
it," How had It happened, he won
dered. They had given him no tire 4
think. They had swooped down upor
him when his brain was dulled with
anguish. Virtually, they had kidnapeC
him. Why had they brought him her,
to accept charity OF womens insti
, tuition? Why need they thus intensif!
. his sense OF shame at his life's fail
, ure, and, above all. at his failure I,
| provide for Angeline? In the poor
| house he would have been only ont
, more derelict but here he stood alien,
, to be stared at and pitIed aud thrown
a slckly-satisiying crumb. With
sigh from the very cellar OF his being
! he muttered;
AYE, mother. why didn't yew le
I mo go OH ter the county house? Tha
airs the place fer a worn.out old hui
,. like me. Hy.guy!" he calculated
3 beads OF sweat standing out on hi
: forehead. I'D ruther lay deown az
die thin face them air women"
" THAR, thar" soothingly spok
A Angy, laying her hand on his arm
; Thar, thar. father! Jest think hao,
r dretful I'd feel a.goln deown wi,hou
yer"
|. 80 you would" strangely comfor
y ed. 80 you would. my dear!" FC
!, her sake he tried to brighten up. II
h joked clumsi!y as they stood on III
threshold OF the chamber. whisperlni
d blinking his eyes to make up for III
=, lack of their usually ready twinkle.
., "Hol on minute; supposia' fe
D git whether ! be man er q woman
Her love gave inspiration to her a
D. swer: "Ill lean on yer. Abe"
just then there came the loud. IN
It perative changing OF tho breakfas
/? bell; and she urged him to hurry.
n 1T wouldn't dew" for them TO be la
Id the first morning OF all times. But |
ty only answered by going back into Il
at room TO make an anxious survey
n. his reflection In the glass. He shoe
Id his head reprovlngly at the beard,
ID countenance. as II TO say: you ne,
10 not pride yourself any longer on loo
m ing like Abraham Lincoln. for y,
In have been turned into u miserable O
no woman"
o. Picking up the hair-brush, he he
ID II out at arms length to Angy. "Wol
n yew slick up my hair a leetle b
or mother?" he asked, somewhat shan