Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-11-13
CHAPTER xvi-Continued.

The keeper went into the office will
a somewhat hurried Good night" ant
soon Abe found himself alone again
the light In the kitchen beyond. NJ
sound in the room save that of the
booming of the surf, the rafting Of
the windows. and now and again the
fall OF clinker in the stove.
The old man was surprised to find
that he could not fall back into that
blissful slumber again. Not sleeping
he had to think. He thought and
thought -sober night thoughts-while
the oysters laid like a log In his
stummick" and the coffee seemed to
stir his brain to greater activity.
Suppose" said the intoxicated
brain. another big storm should
swoop down upon you and the lay
should break up. and you and Samuel
should be imprisoned on the beach for
two or three months with a handful
Of men-folks!"
Moo! Moot" reared the breakers
ON the shore. Serve you right for
finding fault with the sisters!"
Come to think of II, II he had not
been SO ungracious of Miss Abigail's
concern for him. he would now be In
possession of hop pillow to lull him
back to sleep. Well, he had made his
bed. and he would have to lie on 1t.
although It was hard old carpet-cov.
cred lounge. Having no hop pillow.
he would count sheep.
One sheep going over the fence. two
sheep, three How tired he was!
How his bones ached! tie no use
talking. you can't make an old dog do
the tricks OF his puppy days. What
an idiot he had been to climb that
practise-mast! II he had fallen and
broken his leg?
-Four sheep. Maybe he was too old
for gallivanting. after all. Maybe he
was too old for anything except Just
to be "mollycoddled" by thoughtful
old ladies. Now. be honest with your
self. Abe. Did you enjoy yourself to-
day-no. yesterday? Did you? Well.
yes and-no! Now. II Angy had been
along!
Angy! That was why he could not
30 to sleep! He had forgotten to kiss
her good-by! Wonder II she had no
ticed It? Wonder II she had missed
him more on account Of that negle It:
Pshaw! What nonsense! Angy knew
he want no hand at kissin', and II
was apt to give him rheumatism to |
bend down 90 far as her sweet old
He turned to the wall at the side o. |
the narrow lounge, to the emptiness
where her pillow should be. Good
night mother" he muttered huskily.
Mother did not answer for the first
lime In nights beyond the counting.
Mother would not be there to answer
Tor at least six nights to come. A
week. thought this old man, AZ the
'ther old man had reflected q few
hours before. 10 . long time when one
has passed his threescore years and
.en. and with each day sees the shad-
'ws growing longer.
Abraham put out his hard time
'hrunken hand and touched In thought
ais wife's pillow. a. II to persuade
himself that size was really there In
her place beside him. He remembered
when fist he had actually touched her
pillow to convincs himself that she
was really theie. too awed and too
happy to tel I'VE that his youths
dream had come true: and he remem.
bered now how his g.n.le, strong
hand had crspt along the linen until
{ cupped itself around her cheek: and
10 had felt the cheek grew hot with
bushes In the darkness. She had not
been mother" then: she had been
'dearest!" Would she think that he
vas growing childish II he should cali
Ter dearest" now.
Smiling to himself. he concluded
hat he would try the effect Of the ten.
|er term when he reached home again.
10 drew bis hand back. whispering
nee more. Goodnight. mother"
hen he fancied he could hear her say
her soft. reassuring tone. Good.
light. father" Father turned his
ack on the empty wall. praying with
sudden rush Of passionate love that
hen the last call should come for
I'm. II would be after he had said
Goodnight. mother" to Angy and
Pter she had said Goodnight. IA,
Mr." to hip. and that they might
AXE somewter somehow. together {
tth God. saying. "Good.morning,
other" "0ood-morning. father!"
n6 "Enlp n tha AavS~