Cheyenne record., 1915-02-25
IcorYntGn7 oy Hx cE77Wvy "a

fellow, being confirmed woman
hater cooked all his own meals in the
smoke house, and insisted upon all his
orders being left on a slate outside the
| Toulouse door. Abe shifted disdain-
fully, contemplating her homely coun-
tenance, over which this mornings
mood had cast a not unlovely trans
forming glow.
why, the scalawagl" He frowned
so at the face n the window that 1t
Immediately disappeared. "Yew don't
mean ter tell me he's sot ag'in yew
gals? He must be crazy! Sech q
handsome, clever set o. women I never
did see!"
Sarah Jane blushed to the roots of
her thin. straight hair and sat down,
suddenly disarmed Of every porcupine
quill that she had hidden under her
wings; while there was an agreeable
.. little stir among the sisters.
"Set deown, all hands! Set deown!"
enjoined Miss Abigail, futtering about
with the heaviness Of a fat goose.
Brother Abe-that's what we've all
agreed to call yew. by unanimous
vote-yew set right here at the foot
Of the table. Aunt Nancy always had
the head an me the foot; but only
kept the foot, partly becuz thar want
no man fer the place. and partly becu1
l was tew sizable ter squeeze in any
whar else. Seem as Sister Angy Is
sech leetle mite, though, guess she
kin easy make room fer me t'other
side O. her."
Abe could only bow his thanks as he
put his gift down on the table and
took the prominent place assigned to
him. The others seated, there was a
solemn moment Of waiting with bowed
heads. Aunt Nancy's trembling voice
arose-the voice which had jealously
guarded the right Of saying grace at
table in the Old Ladies' home for
twenty years-not, however. in the GUS
tomary words Of thanksgiving. but in
a peremptory Brother Abel"
Abraham looked up. Could she pos
sibly mean that he was to establish
himself as the head Of the household
by repeating grace? Brother Abel"
she called upon him again. "Yew've
askt a blessin' fer one woman fer
many a year; supposin' yew ask it
fer thirty!"
Amid the amazement Of the other
sisters, Abe mumbled, and muttered,
and murmured-no one knew what
words; but all understood the over
whelming gratitude behind his inco-
herency, and all joined heartily in the
Amen. Then, while Mrs. Homan, the
cook Of the week, went bustling out
into the kitchen, Aunt Nancy felt that
1t devolved upon her to explain her
action. 1t would never do, she thought,
for her to gain a reputation for self
effacement and sweetness Of disposi-
tion at her time Of life.
Son, I want yew to understand one
thing naow at the start. Yew treat
us right. an we'll treat you right.
That's all we ask O. yew. Miss Ellie,
pass the radishes."
'Ill do my best" Abe hastened to
assure her. "Hy-guy, that coffee smells
some kind O. good, don't 1t? Between
the smell O. the stuff an the looks
O. my cup, it'll be so temptin' that I'll
wish l had the neck Of giraffe, an
could taste it all the way deown.
Angy, l be afraid we'll git the gout
alvin SO high. Look at this here
cream!"
Smiling, joking. his lips insisting
upon joking to cover the natural feel
ing of embarrassment incident to this
first meal among the sisters, but with
his voice breaking now and again with
emotion, while from time to time he
had to steal his handkerchief to his
old eyes, Abe passed successfully
through the-to him-elaborate break
fast. And Angy sat in rapt silence,
but with her face shining SO that her
quiet was the stiffness Of eloQuence.
Once Abe startled them all by rising
etealthily from the table and selling
the mornings newspaper, which lay
upon the buffet.
II knowed It'll" caviled Lazy Daisy
soto voce to no one In particular.
HE couldn't wait for the news till
he was through eatin'!" But Abe had
folded the paper into a stout weapon.
and, creeping toward the window, de-
spatched by a quick, adroit movement
fly which had alighted upon the
screen.
II hate the very sight O. them air
pesky critters" he explained half
apologetically. Thar. thar's another
one," and slaughtered that
my. but yew kin get 'em, can't
yew!" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly.
Them tew be the very ones I tried
ter ketch all day yiste'day; 1 kin see