The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-10-29
CHAPTER TX.
A Winter Butterfly.

y winter buttcFOv.
-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 a 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 is ter
ask yew jest one question: Whar.
whar on 'arth kin we look fer a decent
behavin' ole man ef not In a Old
ladies' hum? Would yew--" she ex.
horted earnestly. pointing her crooked
forefinger at him, Would yew-"
Abraham caught his breath. Beads
Of sweat had appeared on his brow.
He broke la huskily.
Wait a minute, Aunt Nancy. Jest
toll me what I've been an done"
The ladies glanced at n another.
contemptuous. incredulous smiles on
their faces. while Aunt Nancy almost
wept at his deceitfulness.
"Cap'n Rose she vowed mourn.
fully. I've lived In this house fer
many. many years. an all the while |
been here ! never heard tell o. a 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
I'm confirmation, while a low murmur
OF assent arose from the others. Abra.
ham could only pass his hand over his
brow, uneasily shuttle his maligned
heels over the floor and await further
Developments for he did not have the
slightest conception as to what they
were driving at"
"Cap'n Rose" the matriarch pro.
ceeded. as in the earnestness OF her in.
dignation she arose. trembling, in her
a and stood with her palsied and
shaking hands On the board, Cam
Rose. yer conduct with this here Mis-
Betsey Ann Blossom has been some.
thin reediculous! It's been disgrace.
full"
Aunt Nancy sat down, anonymously
disreputable In appearance. her pink
bow having slipped down over her
right ear during the h%arangue. over
the culprit's -countenance light had
da~ned, but, shame TO tell, IL was a
light not wholly remorseful. Then
silent laughter shook the old mans
shoulders. and then-could il be?-
there crept about his lips and eyes a
ansSe OF superbly masculine conceit
The sisters we're fighting over hun.
wouldn't mother be amused when he
should tell her what all this fuss was
about.
Now. kindly. short-sighted Miss
Abigail determined that II was time
for the matron's voice to be heard.
"Of course. Brother Abe, we under.
stand perfectly that yew never stopped
ter take inter consideration haow sus.
ceptible some folks Ia made"
There being plain evidence from
Abe's blank expression that he did no,
understand the meaning OF the word
Ruby Lee hastened to explain.
Susceptible is the same as Eighty
headed. Blossy alters was a fool over
anything that wore breaches"
Abe pushed his chair back from the
table and crossed his legs comfortably
Tor him all the chill had gone out oil
the air. Suppose that there was some
thing In this? An old, old devil ot
vanity came back to the aged hus
band's heart. lie recalled that he hat
besn somewhat OF a beau before h,
learned the Joy Of loving Angy, Nor,
than n Long Island lassie haC
thrown herself at his head. or cours,
Blossy would get over" this; anC
Angy knew that his heart was hers al
much az Il had been the day he pur
chased his wedding.beaver; but Alb,
could not refrain from a chuckls o
complacent amusement as he stroxet
hia beard.