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OLD LADY NUMBER 31 By LOUISE FORSSLUND by LOUISE FORSSLUND AUTHOR or "THr STORY OF SARAH, THE SHIP OF DREAMS/' ETCi) cormcnroy ttut cshturyc^. SYNOPSIS. Captain Abruham Rosa and Angelina. !»is wife, have lost their little home through Abe’s unlucky purchase of Tena fly Gold mining stock. Their household Ifoods sold, the SIOO auction money, all they have left, will place Abe In the Old Man’s home, or Angy In the Old Lady's home. Both are self-sacrificing but Abe decides: “My dear, this Is the fust time I've had a chance to take the wust of It.” The old couple bid good-by to the little house. Terror of "what folks will say” sends them along by-paths to the gate of the Old Ladles' home. Miss Abigail, ma tron of the Old Ladles’ home, hears of the ill fortune of the old couple. She tells the other old ladles, and Blossy, who has paid a double feo for the only double bed chamber, voices the unanimous verdict that Abe must be taken In with his wife. Abe awakens next morning to find that he is “Old Lady No. SI.” The old ladles give him such a warm welcome that he Is made to feel at home at once. "Brother Abe” ex pa mis under the warm reception of the sisters, and a reign of peace begins In the Old Ladles’ home. Abe Is the cen ter of the community. The semi-annual visit of Bossy’s aged lover, Capt. Samuel Darby, Is due. Abe advises her to marry him. For the first time the captain falls to appear. HI »ssy consults Abe so often regarding Darby, his old captain In the life-saving service, that gossip begins to buzz. At the feast In celebration of the anniversary of the Roses’ arrival at the home. Abe lauds Blossy In his speech, and Angle is sent from the room. CHAPTER IX. A Winter Butterfly. “Cap’n Rose,” began Aunt Nancy. Brother Abe pricked up his ears at the formal address. “Cap’n Rose,” she repeated, deliberately dwelling on the title. "I never believe In callin’ a man few account in front of his wife. It gives him somebody handy ter blame things on tew jest like ole Adam. Naow, look a here! What I want Is ter ask yew Jest one question: Whar, whar on 'arth kin we look fer a decent behavin’ ole man ef 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, lie 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, “I’ve lived in this house fer many, many years, an’ all the while I been here I never heard tell o’ a 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 a low murmur of assent arose from the others. Abra ham could only pass his hand over his brow, uneasily shuffle 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 sho 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 ful!” Aunt Nancy eat down, Incongruously disreputable in appearance, her pink how having slipped dow’n over her right ear during tiie harangue. Over the culprit's countenance light had dawned,’ but, shame to tell! it was a light not wholly remorseful. Then silent laughter shook the old man’s shoulders, and then—could ft he?— there crept about his lips and eyes a 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 it was time tor the matron's voice to bo 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 pluin evidence from Abe’s blank expression that he did n o\ understand the meaning of the word, Ruby Lee hastened to explain. “Susceptible is the . same as flighty headed. Blossy allers was a fool over anything that wore breeches.” Abo pushed his chair hack 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 band’s heart, lie recalled that he had ibeen -somewhat of a beau before he learned the joy of loving Angy. More than one Long Island lassie had -thrown herself at his head. Of course ©lossy would “get over” this; and Angy knew that his heart w’as hers as much as it had been the day he pur chased his wedding-beaver; but Abe could not retrain trom a chuckle of complacent amußement as he Btroked hie beard. His very evident hardness of heart so horrified the old ladles that they all began to attack him at once. "Seems ter me I'd have the decency ter show some shame!” grimly avowed Sarah Jane. Abe could not help It. He sputtered. Even Miss Abigail’s, "Yew were a stranger an' we took yew In” did not sober him. "Ef 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 Ellle 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 shrugging of shoulders and lifting of eyebrows. Abraham was No One Moved to See Them Off. distressed and concerned enough new. Rising from his place he besought the sisters: “Yew don’t think Angy’s feelln’s have been hurt —dew yew, gals?” Their faces softened, their figures relaxed, the tide of feeling changed In Abraham’s favor. Miss Ellie spoke very softly: “Yew know that even 'the Lord thy God Is a jealous God.’ ” Abraham grasped the back of his chair for support, his figure growing limp ‘ with astonishment. “Mother, jealous of me?” he whispered to him self, the memory of all the years and all the great happenings of all the years coming back to him. “Mother jealous of me?” He remembered how he had once been tormented by jealousy in the long, the ever-so-long ago, and of a sudden he hastened into the hall and went half-running up the stairs. He took hold of the latch of his bedroom door. It did not open. The door was locked. “Angy!” he called, a fear of he knew not what gripping at his heart. “Angy!” he repeated as she did not answer. The little old wife had locked her self in out of Very shame of the rare tears whicli* had been brought to the surface by the sisters’ cruel treatment of Abraham., When she heard his call she hastened' to the blue wash-basin and began hurriedly to dab her eyes. He would be alarmed if he saw the traces of her weeping. Whatever had happened to him, for his sake she must face it valiantly. He called again. Again she did not answer, knowing that her voice would be full of the tell tale tears. Abe waited. He heard the tramp of feet passing out of the din ing room into the hall. He heard Blossy emerge from her room at the end of the passage and go tripping down the stairs. The time to Angy, guiltily bathing her face, was short; the time to her anxious htisband unac countably long. The souijd of wheels driving up to the front'door came to Abe’s ears. Still Angy made him no response. ... “Angy!” he raised his; voice In pite ous pleading. What mattered if the sisters gathered in .thje* ildwer hall heard him? What THE CHEYENNE RECORD. chance guest who had Just arrived heard him alscT He had his peace to make with his wlte and he would make It. “Angy!" She flung the door open hastily. The Bigns of the tears had not been obliter ated, and her face was drawn and old. Straightway she put her hand on his arm and searched his face inquiringly. ‘‘What did the gale say ter yew?" she whispered. “Abe, yew made a mis take when yew picked out B1 —" “Poor leetle mother!” he Inter rupted. “Poor leetle mother!" a world of remorseful pity In his tone. “So yew been jealous of yer ole man?” Angelina, astonished and Indignant, withdrew her hand sharply, demand ing to know If he had lost bis senses; but the blinded old gentleman Bllpped his arm around her and, bending, brushed his lips against her cheek. “Thar, thar,” he murmured sooth ingly, "I didn't mean no harm. I can't help It ef all the gals git stuck on me!” Before Angy could make any reply, Blosay called to the couple softly but Insistently from the foot of the stairs; and Angy, wrenching herself free, hastened down the steps, for once In her .life glad to get away from Abe. He lost no time In following. No mat ter where Angy went, he would follow until all was well between her and him again. But what was thlB? At the landing, Angy halted and so did Abe, for in the center of the sisters stood Blossy with her Sunday bonnet perched on her sil ver-gold hair and her white India shawl over her shoulders, and beside Blossy stood Capt. Samuel Darby with a countenance exceedingly radiant, his hand clasped fast in that of the aged beauty. "Oh, burry, Sister Angy and Brother Abe!’ 1 called Biossy. "We were waiting for you. and I’ve got some news for all my friends.” She waited smilingly for them to join the others; then with a gesture which In cluded every member of the household, she proceeded: "The pink tea, I want you all to know, had a double signifi cance, and first, of course. It was to celebrate the anniversary of Brother Abe's sojourn with us; but next It was my farewell to the Home.” Here Blossy gurgled and gave the man at her right so coy a glance that Samuel's face flamed red and he hung his head lower to one side than usual, like a lit tle boy tfiat had been caught stealing apples. "1 left the tea a trifle early— you must'forglve me, Brother Abe, but I heard the train-whistle.” Abe stood beside Angellne, rooted In astonish ment, while Blossy continued to ad drees him directly. “You gave Samuel so many good recommendations, dear brother, that when the time ap proached for his June visit, I felt that 1 simply could not let him miss It as he did in December. Last year, on the day you entered, he was here through no desire of mine. Today he is here at my request. My friends,” again she Included the entire home in her glance, "we’ll come back a little later to say good-by. Now, we're on the way to the minister’s." The pair, Samuel tongue-tied and bewildered by the joy of his finally won Bucceeß, moved toward the door. On the threshold of the home Blossy turned and waved farewell to the com panions of her widowhood, while Sam uel bowed in a dazed fashion, his face still red as It was blissful. Then quickly the two passed out upon the porch. No one moved to Bee them Disaster of a Century Ago. Several lives were lost and much property destroyed by an explosion of gunpowder which occurred at Wool wich 100 years ago. Woolwich Is the most ancient military and naval ar senal in England. In its dockyard men of-war were built as long ago as the beginning of the sixteenth century. The royal arsenal contains a factory for the making of shells and car tridges and a mammoth foundry for casting armor and ordnance, in addi tion to vast magazines of great guns, powder and other warlike stores. The Royal Military academy, where offi cers are trained for the British army, also Is a part of the Institution. Dur ing the centuries of Its existence the arsenal has been the Beene of many disastrous fires and fatal explosions. One of the most recent of the explo sions occurred in 1903 and resulted In the death or serious injury of more than thirty persons. Wild Cat In Scotland. A wild cat has been caught In Ard namurchan deer forest, Argyllshire. Scotland, by a gamekeeper. The ani mal Is very large, measuring 45 Inches In length. It has a short, bushy tall, and Is dark In color with brown stripes. It stands high on Its leg's and has a very tigerish appearance." off. Abe looked everywhere yet no* where at all. Not a word wai spoken even when the carriage woe heard rolling down the drive; but the sound ot the wheelß seemed to arouse Angy from her stupor of amazement; and presently Abraham became conscious of a touch —a touch sympathetic, ten der and true —a touch all-understand ing—the touch of Angy’s hand within his own. CHAPTER X. The Turn of the Tide. From time immemorial the hlstor, of the popular hero has ever been the same. To king and patriot, to the favorite girl at school and the small boy who Is leader of the "gang,” to politician, to preacher, to actor and author, comes first worship then eclipse. The great Napoleon did not escape this common fate; and the pub lic Idol who was kissed only yesterday for his gallant deeds 1b scorned today for having permitted the klsßlng. Oh, caprice of the human heart! Oh, cry of the race for the unaccustomed 1 From that first anniversary of his entrance into the home, Abraham felt his popularity decrease —In fact more than decrease. He saw the weather vane go square about, and where he had known for three hundred and sixty-five days the gentle, balmy feel of the southwest zephyr, he found him self standing of a sudden In a cold, bleak northeast wind. The change be wildered the old man, and reacted on his disposition. As he bad blossomed In the sunshine, bo now he began to droop In the shade. Feeling that he was suspected and criticized, he began to grow suspicious and fault-finding himself. His old notion that he had no right to take a woman’s place in the institution came back to his brain, and he would brood over it for hourß at a time, sitting out on the porch with his pipe and Angy. . The old wife grieved to think that father was growing old and beginning to show his years. She made him some tansy tea, but neither her persuasions nor those of the whole household could induce him to take It. He had never liked “doctoring” anyway, although he had submitted to it more or less during the past year In unconsctous subservi ence to his desire to Increase his popu larity; but now he fancied that where once he had been served as a king by all these female attendants, he was simply being "pestered” as a punish ment for his past behavior with Blossy. Ah, with Its surprising ending that had been a humiliating affair; and ha felt too that he would be long In for giving Mrs. Darby for not having con fided to him her actual Intentions. Now he was afraid to be decently courteous to one of the sisters for fear that they might accuse him of light dalliance again; and he scarcely ever addressed the new member who came to take Blossy’s little room, for he had been cut to the quick by her look of astonishment when she was told that he belonged there. In hie mental ferment the old man began to nag at Angy. Sad though It is to confess of a hero honestly loved, Abraham had nagged a little all his married life when things went wrong. And Angelina, fretted and nervous, herself worried almost sick over father's condition, was guilty once In a while out of the depths of her anxi ety of nagging back again. So do we hurt those whom we love best as we would and could hurt no other. (TO BE CONTINUED.) Not the Same. “The late Cy Warman, novelist and author of the Immortal 'Sweot Ma rie,’ ” said a Chicago editor, “al ways Insisted that poetry ought to fol low the same rules as prose. He wouldn't stand for poetical Inversions —the adjective after the noun, the object before the verb, and so forth. 'But what difference do these inver sions make, Cy?’ asked a reporter once. ‘AH the difference in the world,’ Cy Warner answered. 'Did you never hear of the minister’s wife whose son eloped from college? The old lady wasn’t much displeased, though —after all, she said, her new daugh ter-ln-law was, she understood, a mod el young girl. ‘A model young girl!’ thundered the old minister. ‘Non sense, wife! She’s a young gisl model!’ ” Voices in the Air. Passengers on a steamer to Port land were surprised when about fif teen miles from the Maine port to hear voices and music coming appar ently from the air. When they got into the harbor they found that on a boat tied up at the wharf there was a wireless apparatus, to which was at tached a wireless telephone attach ment on which the operator had been experimenting MOB LOOK *T IWSJK If. cross, feverish, constipated, give “California Syrup of Figs” A laxative today saves a sick child tomorrow. Children simply will not take the time from play to empty their bowels, which become clogged up with waste, liver gets sluggish; stomach sour. Look at the tongue, mother! It coat ed, or your child Is listless, cross, fev erish, breath bad, reBtless, doesn't eat heartily, full of cold or has sore throat or any other children’s ailment, give a teaspoonful of "California Syrup of Figs,” then don’t worry, because it la perfectly harmless, and In a few hours all this constipation poison, sour bile and fermenting waste will gently move out of the'bowels, and you have a well, playful child again. A thor ough "inside cleansing” is ofttimes all that is necessary. It should be the first treatment given in any sickness. . Beware of counterfeit fig syrups. Ask at the store for a 50-cent bottle of "California Syrup of Figs,” which has full directions for babies, children of all ages and for grown-ups plainly printed on the bottle. Adv. If All the World Lived In Texas. If the entire population of the world resided in Texas there would be only an average of ten persons to the acre, according to figures compiled by John Adams of Fort Worth. The population of the world is about 1,500,000,000. If all the inhabitants of the world lived in Texas the density of population would be about equal to the density of Fort Worth’s population, which is 5,440 a square mile. There are 265,- 7S0 square miles in Texas. —Dallas News. DO NOT HESITATE To Use Cutlcura on Skin-Tortured Babies. Trial Free. 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