The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-08-14

iHuCT ordinary ClTCumStaHCCD -
line would never have taken this path;
for it exposed her carefully patched
and newly polished shoes to scratches
her fragile. worn silk skirt and stiff
white petticoat to brambles. More
over, the dragging Of the loaded little
wagon was more difficult here for
Abraham. But they both preferred
the narrower. rougher way to facing
the curious eyes OF all Shoreville now,
the plying windows Of the village
street.
AS the couple came to the edge OF
the woodland, they turned with onG
accord and looked back for the last
glimpse OF the home Blazing gold
red against the kitchen window famed
the afternoon sunlight.
Look n that!" Angy cried eagerly,
us one who beholds a promise in the
skies Jest see, father We couldn't
n made out that winder this fur at
all CT the sun hadn't struck II jest so.
declar II seems almost as Of We
could see the rocker, tew. It's tew bad.
Abe, that We had ter let yer old rocker
70. u yew remember" she laid
her hand on his arm. and lifted her
gaze growing clouded and wistiul, to
bis face. When we bought the chair,
we thought mebbo some day I'd be
rocking u lectle baby In 1t. Twas
then, ycw ricollcc'. we sorter got in
the habit Of cailin each other father
an mother wonder Of the young
uns had come"
los hurry" interrupted Abe. al,
most grualy Les hurry"
They stumbled forward with bowed
heads in silence, until of a sudden
they were clarified by surprised hail
Of recognition. and looked up to find
themselves confronted by Il bent and
gray cid man n village character n
harmless. slightly demented public
charge known AS "lshmael" or Cap.
tain Rover
"Whar ycw goin. Cap'n Rose?"
The old couple had drawn back ut
the sight of the gentle yaGabond, and
Angy clutchod at her husbands arm,
her heart contracting at the thought
that he, too. had become pauper.
I'm a.takin' my wife ter jine the
old ladies' over thar ter the hum" Abe
answered and would have passed on,
shrinking from the sight OF himself
as reflected In poor lshmael.
But the innocent" placed himself in
their path.
"Yew amt a.goin' ter jInc EN- tew?"
he bantered
Abe forced laugh TO his lips in re.
Spouse.
mo, no: I'm goin' over ter YaphanS
ter board on the county"
Again the couple would have passed
on, their faces flushed. their eyes low
cred, had not lshmael flung out one
hand to detain them while he plunged
the other hurriedly into his pocket
Here" He drew out a mcager hand.
full of nickels and pennies, his vacant
smile grown wistfll Here. take 1t.
Capn Rose. It's all | got. | can {
count 1t myself, but yew can. Don't
yew think it's enough ter set yew up
In business. go ycw won't have ter
so ter the poorhousc? The poorhouse
is Il bad place. | was there last win
ter | don't like the poorhouse,
IIc rambled on of the poorhousc,
Angy, painting for breath, one hand
against the smothering pain at her
heart, was trying. with the other. to
drag father" along. Father" was
shaking his head at lshmael ut the
preferred nickels and pennies-shak.
ing his head and choking At length
he found his voice. and was able to
smile at his would.be benefactor with
even the ghost OF a twinkle in his eye.
Much obliged, Capr Rover; but
yew keep yer money for terbaccy.
amt 80 high.toned as yew. I'll take
real comfort at the poorhouse. S'long,
thank yer. Slong"
Ishmael went on his way muttering
to himself, unhCppily jingling his re.
jected aims while Angy and Abe re.
sumed their journey
As they came to the gate of the Old
Ladies' home ADgy seized hold Of her
husbands arm. and looking up into his
face pleaded earnestly;
Father, let's take the hunderd dol
lars fer n family tombstun an go ter
the poorhouso tergether!"
He shook her OF almost roughly and
lifted the latch of the gate
Folks d say we was crazy, mother.
There was no one in sight al he
dragged in the express cart and laid
down the handle. Before him was q
long, clean-swept path ending appar'
emily in mass Of shrubbery; to the
left was field OF sweet corn reaching
to tho hedge; to the right strong and
sturdy growth Of pole lima beans; and
just within the entrance. beneath the
sweeping plumes Of n weeping willow
tree, was a shabby but inviting green
bench.
Abe's glance wandered from the
bench to his wife's face. Angy could
not lift her eyes to him; with bowed
head she was latching and unlatching