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

I've had chance to take the Wuet OF u.
CHAPTER ll-ContInued.
Under the pink rose a soft pink
flush bloomed on either Of the old
ladys cheeks. Her eyes flashed with
unconquerable pride, and her square,
firm chin she held very high; for now,
indeed, she was filled with terror Of
what folks would say" to this home
leaving, and it was bright June after
noon, too clear for an umbrella with
which to hide ones face from prying
neighbors, too late in the day for q
sunshade.
Angy tucked the green-black affair
which served them as both under her
arm and swung Abe's figured old car
petbag in her hand with the manner Of
one setting out on pleasant journey.
Abe. though resting heavily on his
stout. crooked cane, dragged behind
him Angy's little horsehair trunk upon
creaking. old, unusually large toy
express wagon which he had bought
at some forgotten auction long ago.
The husband and wife passed into
the garden between borders of box
wood. beyond which nodded the heads
Of Angy's carefully tended, outdoor
'children"-her roses, her snowballs.
her sweet-smelling syringas, her wax
like bleeding-hearts and her shrub Of
bridal-wreath.
Jest minute" she murmured, ~
Abe would have fastened on to the
gate. She bent her proud head and
kissed with furtive. half-ashamed pas
sion fluffy white spray Of the bridal
wreath. Now overlapping the hus-
bands silk hat, the shrub had not
come 20 high a. his knee when they
two had planted 1t nearly . half-cen-
fury ago.
You're mine!" Angy's heart cried
out to the shrub and to every growing
thing in the garden. You're mine. l
planted you, tended you. loved you
into growing. You're all the children
l ever had. and I'm leaving you" But
the old wife did not pluck = single
hover, for she could never bear 70 see
. blossom wither In her hand. while
al che said aloud was: I'm glad 'twas
MIS- Holmes that bought IN the house.
They cay she's . great hand ter dig
In the garden"
Angy's voice faltered. Abe did not
answer. Something had caused .
swimming before his syes which he
did not wish his wife to see; 20 he
let fall the handle Of the express
wagon and. bending his slow hack.
plucked = sprig Of Goldman" Though
he could not have expressed his seoti.
ments In words. the garden brought
poignant recollections OF the hopes
and promises which had thrown their
rose color about the young days Of his
marriage. His hopes had never bios
somed into fulnlment. His promises
to the little wife had been choked by
the weeds of his own inen1cisncy.
Worse than this, the bursting into
bloom OF seeds Of selfish recklessness
In himself was what had turned the
garden Of their life into an arid waste.
And now. in their dry and withersd
old age. he and Angy were being torn
up by the roots. flung ~ DO much
rubbish by the roadside.
Mother. be dretful sorry ter take
yew away from your posies." muttered
Abraham a. he arose with his green
sprig in his hand.
With ehaking fingers, Angy sought
. pin hidden beneath her basque. ia,
Their. shall pin yer Oldham IN yer
buttonhole?" she quavered. Then ~
he stopped for her to arrange the
posy, she whispered: ri wouldn't care
'cept fer what folks must cay. Lei
hurry before any one sees u. I told
everybody that we want a-gwine tn
break up till termorrer mornin'."
Fortunately, there was a way across
lots to the Old Ladies' home, an un
freQuented by-path over a field and
through q bit OF woodland, which
would bring the couple almost unob
served to q side gate.
Under ordinary circumstances Ange
line would never have taken this path
Tor 1t exposed her carefully patched
and newly polished shoes to scratches
her fragile, worn silk skirt and stifI
white petticoat to brambles. More
pver, the dragging Of the loaded little
wagon was more difiicult here fol
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.
Az the couple came to the edge Of
he woodland. they turned with on&
accord and looked back for the last
glimpse q the home. Blazing gold
red AGAINST the Kitchen window famed
~ afessnoon sunlight.