The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-11
CHAPTER XIIl-Continued.


She perched herself on her little
horsehair trunk, which she had packed
to take to Blossy's, looking In her
time-worn silk gown like a rusty
blackbird, and, like bird, she bent
her head first to one side and then
the other, surveying Abe In his bar
rel clothes" with a critical but COM
plimentary eye.
Wonder who made that necktieT p
she questioned. "Tll bet yer twas
Aunt Nancy; she's got sharp tongue,
but lot of silk pieces an a tender
spot in her heart fer yew, Abe. Ruby
Lee says she never thought yew'd
bring her around; yew're dretful
takin' in yer ways, father. thar's no
use a-talkin'"
Abraham glanced at himself in the
glass, and pulled at his heard, his
countenance not altogether free from
a self-conscious vanity
81 hain't sech a bad-lookin' Teller
when I'm dressed up, be l, mother?
l dunno ez it's so much fer folks ter
he was dretful humbly."
Father" Angy said coaxingly,
why don't yer put some o. that air
sweet stuff Miss Abigail give yer on
yer hair? She'll feel real hurt eff she
don't smell it on yer when yew go
down stairs"
Abe made wry face, took up the
tiny bottle of Jockey Club" and
rubbed few drops on his hands. His
hands would wash, and so he could
find some way of removing the odor
before he reached the station and
the men.
I'll be some glad ter git away from
these here fussy old hens fer a spell,
he grumbled, as he slammed the vial
back on the bureau; but Angy looked
so reproachful and grieved that he
felt ashamed of his ingratitude, and
asked with more gentleness:
"Yew goin' ter miss me, mother?'
Then the old wife was ashamed to
find herself shaking of a sudden, and
grown wretchedly afraid-afraid of
the separation, afraid of the harden
ing" process, afraid of she knew not
what
I'm glad faint goin' ter be fer all
winter this time," she said simply
then arose to open the door in order
that he might not see the rush of tears
to her foolish old eyes,
According to the arrangement, Cap
tain Darby was to drive over from
Twin Coves with his hired man, and
Ezra after taking the two old men to
the bay, was to return to the Home
for Angy and her little trunk.
When Samuel drove up to the front
door, he found Abe pacing the porch
his coat collar turned up about his
neck, his shabby fur cap pulled over
his brow, his carpetbag on the step
and, piled on the bench at the side of
the door, an assortment of WOODEN
articles fully six feet high, which aft
erWard developed to be shawls, canes
hoods, comforters, wristlets, leggings
nubias, fascinators, guernseys, blank
cts and coats.
Abe was Tuning and indignant
scornful of the contributions, and vow
ing that, though the sisters might re-
gard a scooter as freight ocean
liner, he would carry nothing with him
but what he wore and his carpetbag
AN right yer be-" pronounced
Samuel. with a glance at the laden
bench and a shake of his head which
said as plainly as words, Brother
from what am | not delivering thee?'
The sisters came bustling out of the
door, Mrs. Holman In the lead, Angy
submerged In the crowd, and from
that nloment there was such a fuss, sc
much excitement, so many instruc
yenturers, that Abraham found him
self In the carriage before he ha(
kissed Angy good-by.
He had shaken hands, perhaps no
altogether graciously, with every one
else, even with the deaf-and-dumb gar
dener, who came out OF his hidins
place to witness the setting-out. Be
ing dared to by all the younger sisters
ne had waggishly brushed his beard
sgainst Aunt Nancy Smiths cheek
and then he had taken his place be
side Samuel without touch or wore
of parting to his wife.
He turned in his seat to wave t.
the group on the porch, his eyes rest
ing in a sudden hunger upon Ange
lines frail, slender figure, as he re
membered She knew that he ha6
forgotten in the furry of his leave
taking, and she would have hasteneC
down the steps to stop the carriage
but all the old ladies were there t.
see, and she simply stood, and gazet
after the vehicle as it rolled ava,