Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-03-26

a made out that wtnder this fur at
all eff the sun hadn't struck 1t Jest 10.
declar II seems almost as eff we
could see the rocker, tew. It's tew bad,
Abe. that we had ter let yer old rocker
go. D. yew remember" she laid
her hand on his arm, and lifted her
gaze, growing clouded and wistful. to
his face. When we bought the chair.
we thought mebbe some day I'd be
rocking a leetle baby In 1t. Twas
then, yew ricollec', we sorter got In
the habit Of calm each other father
an mother l wonder of the young
'uns had come"
Les hurry" interrupted Abe. al
most grufly. Les hurry"
They stumbled forward with bowed
heads In silence. until Of sudden
they were startled by a surprised hail
of recognition, and looked up to find
themselves confronted by bent and
gray old man, village character, q
harmless, slightly demented public
charge known as "IshmaeP' or Gap
tain Rover"
"Whar yew goin', Cap'n Rose?"
The old couple had drawn back at
the sight Of the gentle vagabond. and
Angy clutched at her husbands arm,
her heart contracting at the thought
that he, too. had become a pauper.
Pm 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 Ishmael.
But the innocent" placed himself in
their path.
"Yew amt a-goin' ter jine 'em tew7"
he bantered.
Abe forced laugh to his lips in re-
Spouse.
mo. no: I'm goin' over ter Yaphank
ter board on the county"
Again the couple would have passed
on. their faces flushed, their eyes low
cred. had not Ishmael flung out one
hand to detain them while he plunged
the other hurriedly into his pocket.
Here" He drew out meager hand
full Of nickels and pennies, his vacant
smile grown wistful. Here. take It.
Capn Rose. It's all l got. can't
count 1t myself, but yew can. Don't
yew think it's enough ter set yew up
in business, 90 yew won't have ter
60 ter the poorhouse? The .poorhouse
il bad place. was there last win
ter. I don't like the poorhouse."
He rambled on Of the poorhouse.
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 Ishmael, at the
proffered nickels and pennies-shak-
ing his head and choking. At length
be found his voice, and was able to
smile at his wouldbe benefactor with
even the ghost of a twinkle in his eye.
Much obliged. Cap'n Rover: but
Jew keep yer money for terbaccy.
amt % heightened as yew. Ill take
real comfort at the poorhouse. S'long:
thank yer. S1ong."
Ishmael went on his way mutterins
to himself, unhappily jingling his re.
jected aims; while Angy and Abe re.
D0Ao00 tu0AI JOuHu0y.
A. they came to the gate Of the Old
Ladies' home Angy seized hold OF her
husbands arm, and looking up into hi
face pleaded earnestly:
Father. let's take the hunderd dol.
lars Ter . family tombstun an 90 To-
the peorhouse tergetheri"
. He shook her OF almost roughly and
lifted the latch Of the gate.
Folks a say we was crazy, mother. y
There was no one In sight - he
dragged In the express cart and laid
down the handle. Before him was Z
long. cleanswept path ending appar'
entity In . mass Of shrubbery; to the
lett was field Of sweet corn reaching
to the hedge: to the right . strong and
sturdy growth Of pole lima beans; and
Just within the entrance, beneath the
sweeping plumes Of weeping willow
tree, was q shabby but inviting green
bench.
Abs'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 unlatchine
the gate through which he must pass
He looked at the sun and thoughtfully
made reckon Of the time. There were
still two hours before he could take
the train which
Lets 90 set deown . spell afore-'
he faltered-"afore We say good-by.
She made no answer. She told her
self over and over that she must
simply must-stop that "all-ofA-trsm
BILE" feeling which was going on inside
OF her. She stepped from the gate te
the bench blindly. with Abe's hand or
her arm. though. still blindly, with
exaggerated care she placed his car
petbag on the grass beside her.
He laid down his cane. took OF hil
high hat and wiped his brow. He
looked at her anxiously. stu she
could not lift her blurred eyes. mol