The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1915-04-01

<>~@ RtRk@4 " VIM ~ ~ kl40 QAAALV VIII
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 a clinker in the stove.
The old man was surprised to ind
that he could not fall back into that
blissful slumber again. Not sleeping,
he had to think. He thought and
thousht--sober night thoughts-while
the oysters laid like q log in his
stummick" and the coffee seemed TO
stir his bS=.n to greater activity.
Suppose" said tho 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 handful
of men-folksI"
"MooI MooI" roared the breakers
on the shore. Serve you right for
finding fault with the sistersi"
Come to think of It, II he had not
been so ungracious of Miss Abigail's
concern for him, he would now be In
possession Of a hop pillow to lull him
back to sleep. Well. he had made his
bed. and he would have to lie on 1t,
although 1t 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 ached! 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
practise-masti II he had fallen and
broken his leg7
| -Four sheep. Maybe he was too old
for gallivanting. after all. Maybe he
was too old for anything except just
to 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
alongl
Angyl That was why he could not
| 81 " ctQQRt LA0 haa III 6O(lQA " hAo1
her good-by! Wonder II she had no
ticed It? Wonder II she had missed
him more on account Of that neglect
Pshaw! What nonsensel Angy knew
he want no hand at kissin', and II
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 few
hours before. Is 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
himself that she was really there in
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, stronl
hand had crept along the linen unit
It cupped itself around her cheek; ant
he had felt the cheek grow hot will
bushes In the darkness. She had no
been mother" then: she had beef
dearest" Would she think that b,
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 sa,
In her soft, reassuring tone. Good
night. father" Father turned hi
back on the empty wall. praying will
a sudden rush OF passionate love tina
when the last call should come TO
him, It would be after he had sais
Goodnight. mother" to Angy an,
after she had said Goodnight. ia
Their" to him. and that they nigh
wake somewhere. somehow. togethe
with God. saying. Woodworking
mother" "Good-morning. fatherl
And Fair is the dayl"