The Forrest City times., 1914-07-24
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He leaned back in the old chair, creaking out a dismal echo to the auctioneer's Going, going, gonei" while the flush deepened in Angys cheek. Again she fastened her gaze upon the indomitable red rose which hung pendant earring on the right side Of Abrahams head
 "Yew wouldn't a had folks a-comin here ter bid jest out O charity. would yew?" she demanded. An anyhow" !" in more gentle tone-the gently posi- tive tone which she had acquired through forty years of living with Abraham-"we hain't so bad of with one hundred dollars an tew cents. an -beholden ter nobody. It's tew cents more'n yew need ter git yew inter the Old Mems, an them extry tew cents Il pervide for me jest bewtiful" Abra- ham stopped rocking to stare hard at his resourceful wife, an involuntary twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes With increased firmness, she repeated Jest bewtiful." whereupon Abe, scent ing self-sacrifice on his wife's part, sat up straight and snapped. "Haow so haow so, mother?"
 It'll buy postage stamp, won't it?-she was fairly aggressive now
 an thar's a envelop what want put up ter auction in the cupboard an a paper bag kin iron out-ke,1h me a-gwine ter the neighbors an a-beg- gin fer writing paper-an I'll jest set daown an write a line to Miss Hal sey. Her house hain't a stun's throw from the Old Mems; an I'll offer ter come an take keer O them air young 'uns O her'n fer my board an keep an-ten cents week l was a-gwine ter say quarter, but l don't want ter impose on nobody. Seein that they haint over well-ter-do, I would go fer nothin, but l got ter have somethin ter keep up appearances on, so yew won't have no call ter feel ashamed of me when come a-yisitin' ter the hum lnvoluntarily. as she spoke, Angy lifted her knotted old hand and smoothed back the hair from her brow; for through all the struggling years she had kept a certain, not un- pleasing, girlish pride in her personal appearance
 Abraham had risen with creaks of his rheumatic joints, and was now walking up and down the room, his feet lifted slowly and painfully with every step, yet still his blue eyes fash ing with the fire of indignant protest
 Me a-bunkin' comfortable in the Old Mems. an yew a-takin keer O them Halsey young uns fer ten cents a week. l wouldn't take keer O 'em fer ten cents a short breath Thar be young 'uns an young 'uns,7 he eluci- dated, but they be tartarsl Few d be in yer grave afore the fust frost an who's gwine ter bury yer-the taown?" His tone became gentle and broken: No. no, Angy Yew be a good gal, an dew just as we calc'lated on. Yew jine the Old Ladies'. yew ve got friends over thar, yewll git erlong splendid An I'll git erlong tew. Yer know throwing his shoulders back. he assumed the light bantering tone so familiar to his wife-"the poor house doors is always open I'd jest admire ter go thar Thars a rocking chair In every room. and they say the grub is A No. l." He winked at her. smiling his broadest smile in his at tempt to deceive.
 Both wink and smile, however, were u. fttA ing the apple sauce in such a way that Abe would have the larger share with out suspectinR it, hoping the while that he would not notice the absence of butter at this last home meal. She | herself had never believed in butter. i ing bread when there was sass" to l eat with il; but Abes extravagant tastes had always carried him to the
 point of desiring both butter and 1 sauce as a relish to his loaf.
 'Naow, furs I'm concerned pur sued Abe, "I hain't got nothin' agin ! the poorhouse fer neither man ner woman. I'd as lief let yew go than l 'stid O me; fer know very we'll that's l what yewre a-layin out fer ter do. ! Yes, yes. mother, yew cant fool me l But think what folks would say,
 Think what they would say, They'd i crow 'Thar's Abe a-takin his comfort l in the Old mems hum. an Angeline,
 shes a-eatin her heart out in the poor. l housen"
 Angeline had. indeed determined to
 be the one to go to the poorhouse; but
 all her life long she had cared. perhaps
 to a faulty degree, for what folks would say. Above all, she cared now 1 for what they had said and what they l still might say about her husband and l this final ending to his downhin road. l She rested her two hands on the table ! and looked hard at the apple sauce ! until it danced before her eyes She | could not think with any degree of l clearness. Vaguely she wondered if 1 their supper would dance out of sight ! before they could sit down to eat it. So many of the good things of life had vanished ere she and Abe could l touch their lips to them. Then she 1 felt his shaking hand upon her shoul. l der and heard him mutter with huskV