Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-09
CHAPTER TX.
A Winter Butterfly.

CHAPTER TX.
A Winter Butterfly.
"Cap'n Rose" began Aunt Nancy.
Brother Abe pricked up his ears at the
formal address. "Cap'n Rose" she
repeated. deliberately dwelling on the
title. II never believe in calm man
tew account In front Of his wife. It
gives him somebody handy ter blame
things ON tew jest like ole Adam.
Naow, look a-here! What want Ii ter
ask yew Jest one question: Whar.
whar on 'arth kin we look fer decent
behavin' ole man eff not In q Old
ladies' humf Would yew-" she ex-
horted earnestly. pointing her crooked
forennger at him. Would yew-"
Abraham caught his breath. Beads
Of sweat had appeared ON his brow.
He broke In huskily:
Wait . minute. Aunt Nancy. Jest
tell me what I've been an DONE"
The ladies' glanced at ono another.
oontemptuous, incredulous smiles on
their faces. while Aunt Nancy almost
wept ct his deceitfulness.
"Cap'n Rose" she vowed mourn
fully, I've lived In this house fer
many, many years. an all the while l
tesp here never heard tell o. . breath
O. scandal ag'in' the place until yew
come an commenced ter kick up yer
heels"
Lazy Daisy. who had long been an
inmate. also nodded her unwieldy head
In confirmation. while . low murmur
Of assent arose from the others. Abra-
ham could only pass his hand over his
brow. uneasily shufiie his maligned
heels over the floor and await further
developments; for he did not have the
slightest conception a. to what they
were driving At"
"Cap'n Rose" the matriarch pro-
ceeded. - In the earnestness of her in
disnation she arose. trembling, In her
seat and stood with her palsied and
shaking hands on the board, "Cap'n
Rose. yer conduct with this here Mis-
Betsey Ann Blossom has been some
thin reediculousl It's been disgrace-
full"
Aunt Nancy sat down, incongruously
disreputable In appearance. her pink
bow having slipped down over her
right ear during the harangue. Over
the culprit's countenance light had
dawnsd. but shame to tell! It was q
light not wholly remorseful Then
silent laughter shook the old mans
shoulder. and then-could Il bef-
there crspt about his lips and eyes q
smile Of superbly masculine conceit
The sisters were fighting over him.
wouldn't mother b amused When he
should tell her what al this fuss was
about A4 -.S
Nov. kindly. short-sightsd Miss
Abigail determined that It was time
for the matron's voice to b heard.
"Of course. Brother Abe. We under
stand perfectly that yew never stopped
ter take inter consideration haow sus-
ceptiblo some folks ID made"
There being plain evidence from
Abe's blank oppression that he did not
understand the meaning of the word.
Ruby Lee FASTENED to explain.
Susceptible 10 the same % aixhty.
headed. Blossy alters was fool over
anything that wore brseohss."
Abe pushed his chair back from the
table and crossed his legs comfortably.
For him ell the chill had gone out of
the air. Suppose that there was some.
thing In thisf An old. old devil Of
vanity came hack to the aged hus.
bands heart He recalled that he had
been somewhat of q beau before he
learned the Joy OF loving Angy. More
than one Long Island lassis had
thrown herself at his head. OF course
Bloesy would get over this: and
AnU knew that his heart was hers a
much - Il had been the day he Dur.
chased his wsdding-bsaver; but Abe
could not refrain from Q chuckle OF
complacent amusement - hs stroked
hts beard.
His very evident hardness of heart
% horrined the old ladies' that they all
began to attack him at once.
Seems ter me I'd have the decency
ter show some shame!" grimly avowed
Sarah Jane.
Abe could not help It. He sputtered.
Even Miss Abigail's. "Yew were a
stranger an we took yew in" did not
sober him.
"Ef any one O my husbands had
acted the way you've acted. Abe
Rose" began Mrs. Holman.
Poor leetle Angy." broke in the
gentle Miss Ellie pityingly. She must
a lost six pounds"
Abraham's mobile face clouded over.
"Angy!" he faltered. "Yew don't
mean that Angy-" Silence again fell
on the group, while every glance was
fastened on Abraham. See here" he
flashed his faded blue eye. "Angy's
got more sense than that!"
No one answered. but there was q
struggling of shoulders and
hitting Of eyebrows Abraham was
distressed and concerned enough now.