Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-03-19
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90 AUTHOR Of THE STORY OF SARAH" THE
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er. pride and poverty makes Uneasy
bedfellers"
He leaned back in the old chair.
creaking out dismal echo to the
auctioneers Going, going. gone!"
while the flush deepened in Angy's
cheek. Again she fastened her gaze
upon the indomitable red rose which
hung pendant earring on the right
side of Abraham's head.
"Yew wouldn't a. had folks a-comin'
here ter bid jest out o charity, would
yew?" she demanded. An anyhow
in more gentle tone-the gently posi-
tive tone which she had acquired
through forty years of living with
Abraham-"we hain't SO bad of with
one hundred dollars an tew cents. an
-beholden ter nobody! It's tew cents
mOre'n yew need ter git yew inter the
Old Mems, an them extry tew cents
II pervide for me jest bewtiful." Abra-
ham stopped rocking to stare hard at
his resourceful wife, an involuntary
twinkle of amusement in his blue eyes.
With increased firmness. she repeated.
Jest bewtiful!" whereupon Abe, scent
ing self-sacrifice on his wifes part, sat
up straight and snapped, "Haow so.
haow so, mother?"
'Itll buy a postage stamp, won't
it?"-she was fairly aggressive now
AN thar's a envelop what want put
up ter auction in the cupboard an a
paper bag l kin iron out-ketch me
a-gwine ter the neighbors an a-beg-
| gin fer writing paper-an I'll jest set
daown an write line to Miss Hal
| sey. Her house haint a stun's throw
from the Old Mems; an I'll offer ter
come an take keer O. them air young
'uns o. her'n fer my board an keep
an'-ten cents a week. l was a-gwine
ter say a quarter, but don't want ter
impose on nobody. Seem that they
hain't over well-ter-do, l would 60 fer
nothin', but l got ter have somethin'
ter keep up appearances on, so yew
won't have no call ter feel ashamed
of me when l come a-visitin' ter the
hum" Involuntarily, as she spoke,
Angy lifted her knotted old hand and
smoothed back the hair from her
brow; for through all the struggling
years she had kept certain, not un
pleasing. girlish pride in her personal
appearance.
Abraham had risen with creaks Of
his rheumatic joints, and was now
walking up and down the room, his
feet lifted slowly and painfully with
4 every step. yet still his blue eyes fash
Ing with the fire of indignant protest
me a-bunkin' comfortable in this
Old Mems, an yew a-takin' keer o
them Halsey young uns fer ten cents
week! l wouldn't take keer O. 'en
fer ten cents q short breath. Thar b.
young 'uns an young 'uns," he eluci
dated, but they be tartars! Yew't
be in yer grave afore the fust frost
J an who's gwine ter bury yer-th,
taown" His tone became gentle an.
broken: "No. no. Angy. Vow be ,
. good gal. an dew just as we calc'late,
; got friends over thar, yewll git erlonl
splendid. An I'll git erlong tew. Ye
/ mountaineering his shoulders bach
! he assumed the light, bantering tom
30 familiar to his wife-"the poor
! house doors is always open. I'd jes
J admire ter 60 thar. Theirs rocking
} chair In every room. and they say tn
: grub u A No. l." He winked at hel
smiling his broadcast smile In his al
] tempt to deceive.
: Both wink and smile. however, wer
lost upon Angy. who was busy divit
: ing the apple sauce In such a way tina
. Abe would have the larger share with
I out suspecting it. hoping the Will
0 that he would not notice the absenc
( of butter at this last home meal. Sh
Q herself had never believed In butte
, ing bread when there was sass" I
l. eat with it.; but Abe's extravagaI
. tastes had always carried him to tn
I point Of desiring both butter an
sauce AZ q relish to his loaf.
b "Naow. fur's I'm concerned" pu
" sued Abe. Il hain't got nothin' agi
{ the poorhouse fer neither man ne
l. woman. I'd as lief let yew go tina
I. Std O. me; fer l know very we'll that
/, what yew're a-layin out fer ter d.
q Yes, yes, mother. yew can't fool M
L But think what folks would say
Think what they would say! They
d crow, 'Thar's Abe a-takin' his comfol
. in the Old mems hum. an Angelin
+ she's a-eatin' her heart out in the poo
t housed"
Angelina had, indeed, determined
. be the one to 60 to the poorhouse; b,
!. all her life long she had cared perhaI
e to faulty degree, for what foil
b would say" Above all, she cared no
for what they had said and what the
i" still might say about her husband an
. this final ending to his downhill roa
r She rested her two hands on the tab
}. and looked hard at the apple saut
y until 1t danced before her eyes. ST
r. could not think with any degree
It clearness. Vaguely she wondered
1t their supper would dance out of sigl