Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-06-04
Copyright by The Century Co
CHAPTER xvl-Contlnued.

CHAPTER xvi-Continued.
The keeper went into the Office with
. somewhat hurried Goodnight" and
soon Abe found himself alone again,
the light in the kitchen beyond, no
sound in the room save that OF the
booming Of the surf. the rafting OF
the windows, and now and again the
fall of clinker in the stove.
The old man was surprised to and
that he could not fall back into that
blissful slumber again. Not sleeping.
he had to think. He thought and
thought-sober night thoughts-while
the oysters laid like log In his
stummick" and the coffee seemed to
stir his brain to greater activity.
Suppose" said the intoxicated
brain, another big storm should
swoop down upon you and the bay
should break up. and you and Samuel
should be imprisoned on the beach for
two or three months with q handful
of men-folks!"
Moot Mool" reared the breakers
on the shore. Serve you right for
finding fault with the sisters!"
Come to think of 1t, II he had not
been SO ungracious of Miss Abigail's
concern for him. he would now be in
possession Of hop pillow to luh him
back to sleep. Well. he had made his
bed, and he would have to lie on 1t.
although it was hard old carpet-cov-
cred lounge. Having no hop pillow.
he would count sheep
One sheep going over the fence. two
sheep. three How tired he wasl
How his bones achedl It's no use
talking. you can't make an old dog do
the tricks Of his puppy days. What
an idiot he had been to climb that
broken his legf
Four sheep. Maybe he was too old
for gallivanting. after all Maybe he
was too old for anything except just
70 be "mollycoddled" by thoughtful
old ladies. Now. be honest with your
self, Abe. Did you enjoy yourself to-
day-no. yesterday? Did you? Well.
yes and-nol Now, II Angy had been
along!
Angyl That was why he could not
60 to sleep! He had forgotten to kiss
her good-by! Wonder II she had mo-
ticed It? Wonder II she had missed
him more on account of that neglect
Pshawi What NONSENSE! Angy knew
he want no hand at kissin', and It
was apt to give him rheumatism to
bend down SO far as her sweet old
mouth.
He turned to the wall at the side OF
the narrow lounge, to the emptiness
where her pillow should be. Good.
night mother" he muttered huskily.
Mother did not answer for the first
time in nights beyond the counting
Mother would not be there to answer
for at least six nights to come. A
week. thought this old man. as the
other old man had reflected a few
hours before. Is a long time when one
has passed his threescore years and
ten. and with each day sees the shad
ows growing longer
Abraham put out his hard time
shrunken hand and touched in thought
his wife's pillow. as II to persuade
AAAuoCAA sh6t onO 100 AO0AAy tu0AO ~
her place beside him. He remembered
when first he had actually touched hel
!. pillow to convince himself that she
was really there, too awed and toe
happy to believe that his youths
dream had come true; and he remem
bered now how his gentle. strong
hand had crept along the linen unit
It cupped itself around her cheek; anl
he had felt the cheek grow hot will
bushes in the darkness. She had NO,
been mother" then: she had beer
~dearest!" Would she think that hs
was growing childish II he should cal
her dearest" now.
Smiling to himself, he concluded
that he would try the effect of the ten
der term when he reached home again
He drew his hand back, whispering
once more, Goodnight, mother.
Then he fancied he could hear her ga,
In her soft, reassuring tone, Good
night, father" Father turned hi.
back on the empty wall. praying with
q sudden rush OF passionate love thai
when the last call should come fol
him. 1t would be after he had sale
Goodnight, mother" to Angy and
after she had said Goodnight, IA
Their" to him, and that they nigh
wake somewhere. somehow, togethel
with God, saying. "Good-morning
mother" "Good-morning. father!'
And Fair Is the day."
CHAPTER XVII.