The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-04-20
CHAPTER TX.
A Winter Butterfly.


Brother Abe pricked up his ears at the
formal address. "Cap'n Rose" she
repeated, deliberately dwelling on the
title. 81 never believe In calm man
tew account in front of his wife. 1t
gives him somebody handy ter blame
things on tew jest like ole Adam.
Naow, look a-herei What l want is ter
ask yew jest one question: Whar,
whar on 'arth kin we look fer a decent
behavin' ole man eff not in a Old
Ladies' hum? Would yew-" she ex-
horted earnestly, pointing her crooked
forefinger at him. Would yew-"
Abraham caught his breath. Beads
of sweat had appeared on his brow.
He broke in huskily:
Wait a minute, Aunt Nancy. Jest
tell me what I've been an DONE"
The ladies glanced at one another,
contemptuous, incredulous smiles on
their faces, while Aunt Nancy almost
wept at his deceitfulness.
"Cap'n Rose" she vowed mourn
fully, 1--WE lived in this house fer
many, many years, an all the while |
been here l never heard tell o. breath
o scandal ag'in' the place until yew
come an commenced ter kick up yer
heels"
Lazy Daisy, who had long been an
inmate, also nodded her unwieldy head
in confirmation, while low murmur
of assent arose from the others. Abra-
ham could only pass his hand over his
brow, uneasily shuttle his maligned
heels over the floor and await further
developments; for he did not have the
slightest conception as to what they
were driving at
"Cap'n Rose" the matriarch pro-
ceeded, as in the earnestness of her in
dignation she arose, trembling, in her
seat and stood with her palsied and
shaking hands on the board, "Cap'n
Rose, yer conduct with this here Mis-
Betsey Ann Blossom has been some
thin reediculous! It's been disgrace
full"
Aunt Nancy sat down, anonymously
disreputable in appearance, her pink
bow having slipped down over her
right ear during the harangue. Over
the culprit's countenance light had
dawned, but, shame to tell 1t was a
light not wholly remorseful. Then
silent laughter shook the old mans
shoulders, and then-could it be?-
there crept about his lips and eyes
smile of superbly masculine conceit.
The sisters were fighting over him.
Wouldn't mother be amused when he
should tell her what all this fuss was
about.
Now, kindly, short-sighted Miss
Abigail determined that 1t was time
for the matron's voice to be heard
"Of course, Brother Abe, we under
stand perfectly that yew never stopped
ter take inter consideration haow sus-
ceptible some folks is made"
There being plain evidence from
Abe's blank expression that he did not
understand the meaning Of the word,
Ruby Lee FASTENED to explain.
Susceptible is the same as tightly
headed. Blossy alters was a fool over
anything that wore breeches."
Abe pushed his chair back from the
table and crossed his legs comfortably.
For him all the chill had gone out of
the air. Suppose that there was some
thing in this? An old, old devil of
vanity came back to the aged hus-
bands heart. He recalled that he had
been somewhat Of beau before he
learned the Joy OF loving Angy. More
than one Long Island iassie had
thrown herself at his head OF course
Blossy would get over" this; and
Angy knew that his heart was hers as
much as 1t had been the day he pur-
chased his wedding-beaver; but Abe
could not refrain from a chuckle of
complacent amusement as he stroked
his beard.
His very evident hardness of heart
so Mortified the old ladies that they all
began to attack him at once.
Seems ter me I'd have the decency
ter show some shamei" grimly avowed
Sarah Jane.
Abe could not help It. He sputtered.
Even Miss Abigails, "Yew were
stranger an we took yew in" did not
sober him.
Eff any one o. my husbands had
acted the way you've acted, Abe
Rose" began Mrs. Homan.
Poor leetle Angy," broke in the
gentle Miss Ellie pityingly. "She must
"a lost six pounds"
Abraham's mobile face clouded over.
''Angy?" he faltered. "Yew don't
mean that Angy-" Silence again fell
on the group, while every glance was
fastened on Abraham See here" he
flashed his faded blue eye, "Angy's
got more sense than that!"
No one answered, but there was a
significant struggling of shoulders and
lifting of eyebrows. Abraham was
distressed and concerned enough now.