Old Lady Number =31= Dr LOVISE FORSSLVND Aurttor of " TH» Story of Sarah" “ 1 ha Ship of I Haama ** * K«C. • Covynaht by The Century Co, SYNOPSIS. __ - Captain Abraham Roao an4 Angelin». Illa wtte, have lost their little home through Abe's unlucky purchase of Tena­ fly Gold mining stock. Their household goods sold, the IUX' auction money, all they have left, will place Abe In the Old Man's home, or Angy In th * Old lavdlee * home. Both are self-eacrtflclng but Abe decides: "My dear this Is the fust time I’ve had a chan .- to take the trust of It." The old couple bld good-by to the little house Terror of "what folks will say" vends them along by-paths to the gate of the Old Ladles home Miss Abigail, ma iron of the Old Ladles' home, hears of the 111 fortune of the old couple. She tells rhe other old ladles, and Bloaay. who has paid a double fee for the only double bed chamber, voices the unanimous verdict that Abe must be taken tn with his wife Abe awakens next morning to find that he Is "Old Lady No. XL” The old ladles Cve him such a warm welcome that he made to feel at home at once. “Brother ▲be" expands under the warm reception of the sisters, and a reign of peace begins la the Old ladles' home. Abe Is the cen ter of the community The ieml-annu.il visit of Bloesys aged lover. Capt. Samuel Darby is due. Abe Ad vises her to marry him For the first time the captain falls to appear CHAPTER VII—Continued. At night, however, she was obliged to admit that he could not be coming; and then, quivering with honest anxi­ ety (or her old friend. Blossy dipped Into her emergency fund, which she kept in the heart of a little pink china pig on a shelf in her room—a pink china pig with a lid made of stiff black hair standing on edge in the middle of hi« back—and sent a tele­ gram to Captain Darby, asking if be were sick. The answer came back slowly by mall, to find Blossy on the verge of a nervous collapse, under the care of all the women in the house. That letter Blossy never showed to Brother Abe. nor to any one else. Neither did she treasure it in the sen­ timental trunk beneath the attic eaves. The letter ran: Dear Betsy Ann: I never felt better In ■ay life. Ain’t been sick a minute. Just made up ray mind I was a old fool, and was going to quit. If you change your in­ tentions at any time, just drop me a pos­ tal As ever. 8 AM L DARBY. ESQ. • "This. Captain Darby, makes your rejection final," vowed Blossy to her­ self, as she tore the note into frag­ ments and drowned them in the spir­ its of lavender with which the sisters bad been seeking to soothe her dis­ tracted nerves. CHAPTER VIII. The Anniversary. About this time Blossy developed a tendency to draw Brother Abraham •aldo at every opportunity, convenient or Inconvenient, in order to put such questions as these to him: "Didn't you say it is fully thirty-five years since you and Captain Darby were on the beach together? Do you think he has grown much older? Had he lost his hair then? Did be care for the opposite sex? Was he very brave—or would you say more brave than stubborn and contrary? Isn’t it a blessing that I never married him?" Fearful of the ridicule of the sisters, Bloesy was always careful to conduct these Inquiries in whispers, or at least la undertones with a great observance of secrecy, sometimes stopping Abe on the stairs, sometimes beckoning him to her side when she was busy about her household tasks on the pretense of requiring his assistance. On one oc­ i casion she even went so far as to in­ veigle him into holding a skein of wool about bis clumsy handB, while ■he wound the violet worsted into a ball, and delicately Inquired if he be­ lieved Samuel spoke the truth when be protested that he had never paid court to any other woman. Alas, Blossy'e frequent tete-a-tete * with the amused but sometimes impa­ tient Abraham started an exceedingly foolish suspicion. When, asked the ■laters of one another, did Abe ever help any one, save Blossy, shell dried beans or pick over prunes? When had be ever been known to hold wool for Angy’s winding? Not once since wooing time, I warrant you. What could this continual hobnobbing and going off into corners mean, except— flirtation? Ruby Lee whispered it first into Aunt Nancy's good ear. Aunt Nancy Indulged in four pinches of snuff In rapid succession, sneexed an amaxlng number of times, and then acridly in­ formed Ruby Lee that she was a "jeal­ ous cat” and always bad been one. However, Aunt Nancy could not re­ frain from carrying the gossip to Miss Ellie, adding that she herself had been auspicious of Abe's behavior from the ■tart "Oh, no, no!” cried the shocked and shrinking spinster. "And Angy so cheerful all the time? I don't believe M." But whisper, whisper, buss, buss, want the gossip, until finally It reached she pink little ears at the side at Miss Abigail's generously proportioned head. The pink ears turned crimson, likewise the adjoining checks, and Mies Abigail panted with righteous In­ dignation. "It all comes of this plagued old winter time." she declared, sharply biting her thread, for she was mend­ ing a tablecloth. “Shet the winders on summer, an' yew ketch the tail of slander in the latch every time. Naow. ef I hear one word about this 'tarnal foolishness cornin' to Angy's ears, or Brother Abe's, or Blosay's either, for that matter, we'll all have to eat off* *n oil-cloth Sundays, the same as week­ days, until I see A more Christian sperit tn the house." She gave the Sunday damask across her lap a pat which showed she was in earnest: and the rebuked sister» glanced at one another, as If to say: “Suppose the minister should walk in some Sabbath afternoon and find oil-cloth on the table, and ask the rea­ son why?" They one and all determined to take Aunt Nancy's advice and "sew a but­ ton on their lips." Fortunately, too, the February thaws had already set In, and the remainder of the winter passed without any se­ vere etrain on the "buttonholes." And at length the welcome spring began to peep forth, calliug to the old folks. "Come out. and grow young with the young year!" With the bursting forth of the new springtide the winter's talk seemed to drop as a withered and dead oak leaf falls from its winter bound branches; and Abe stood once more alive to the blessings of renewed approval. Angy went out of doors with Mies Abigail, and puttered around among the flowers as if they were her own. thanking God for Abe'« increasing pop­ ularity in the same breath that she gave thanks for the new buds of the spring. The anniversary of the Roses' en­ trance Into the Home drew nearer, and Blossy suggested that the beat way to celebrate the event would be by ■ means of a "pink tea." Neither Angy nor Abe. nor tn fact ' half the sisters, had any clear concep- ■ tlon of what a tinted function might I be; but they one and all seized upon Blosey's idea as If it were a veritable : inspiration, and for the time jealousies ■ were forgotten, misunderstandings erased. Such preparations as were made for that tea! The deaf-and-dumb gar­ dener was sent with a detachment of small boys to fetch from the wayelde and meadows armfuls of wild roses for the decorations. Miss Abigail made pink icing for the cake. Ruby Lee hung bleeding-hearts over the dining-room door. Aunt Nancy resur- j rected from the bottom of her trunk a I white lace cap with a rakish-looking . pink bow for an adornment, and faa- tened it to her scant gray hairs In | honor of the occasion. Blossy turned her pink china pig. his lid left upstalre, into a sugar bowl. Pink, pink, pink, everywhere; even in Angy's proud cheeks! Fink, and pink, and pink! Abe used to grow dlxzy, afterward, trying to recall the various pink articles which graced that tea. But most delightful surprise of ail was his anniversary gift, which was slyly slipped to his place after the dis­ cussion of the rose-colored strawberry gelatin. It was a square, five-pound parcel wrapped In pink tissue paper, tied with pink string, and found to con­ tain so much Virginia tobacco, which Blossy bad Inveigled an old southern admirer into sending her for "charit­ able purposes." After the presentation of this valu­ able gift, Abraham felt that the time had come for him to make a speech— practically his maiden speech. He said at the beginning, more suavely at hi« ease than he would have believed possible, secure of sym­ pathy and approbation, with Angy'B glowing old eyes upon her prodigy, that all the while he had been at the | Home, he had never before felt the power to express h!s gratitude for the welcome which had been accorded him—the welcome which seemed to wear and wear, as if it were all wool and a yard wide, and could never wear out. The old ladies nodded their heads in approval of this, every face beaming; but as the speech went on the others perceived that Abe had singled out Blossy for special mention—blind, blind Abraham—Blossy, who had first proposed admitting him into this para­ dise; Blossy, who had given up her sunny south chamber to his comfort and Angy's; Blossy, who had been as a "guardeen angel" to him; Bloesy, who as a fitting climax to all her sie terly attentions bad given him today this wonderful, wonderful pink tea, and "this five hull pound o’ Vlrglnny terbaccer.” He held the parcel close to his bosom, and went on, still praising Blossy—this Innocent old gentleman, —heedless of Angy's gentle tug at his coat-tail; while Blossy burled her ab­ surdly lovely face in the pink flush of a wild-rose spray, and the other old ladles stared from him to her, their faces growing hard and cold. When Abraham sat down, aglow with pride over his oratorical trt- umphs, his chest expanded, his counte­ nance wrinkled Into a thousand guile­ less. grateful smiles, there was abso­ lute silence. Then Blossy, her head still bowed as if in shy confusion, began to clap her bands daintily together, whereat a few of the others joined her half-heartedly. A sense of chill crept over Abraham. Accustomed as a rule to deferential attention, did be but say good morn­ ing, by no means aware that bls throne had toppled during the winter, he was still forced to perceive that something had gone amiss. TURKEY RAISING PAYS As always when aught troubled hl mind, "father" turned to Angy; bui Instead of his composed and resource ful little wife he found a scared faced and trembling woman. Angy had sud Fowls Have Proved of Benefit to denly become conscious of the shadow Growing Crops. of the greeneyed monster. Angy'» loyal heart was crying out to her mate: "Don’t git the sisters daown on yer, Abe. ’cue then, uiebbe. yew'll log« 5lty Buyers Ara Willing to Pay Fancy Prices for Birds Provided They your hum!" But poor Angellue's lip» were so stiff with terror over the pros Come Direct From Farm, Free poet of the county house for her hus From Dleease. band, that she could not persuade them to speech. (Ry M K WHITLOCK.) Abraham, completely at sea, turned It has been said »»gainst turkey« next to her whom ho had culled his ¡hat they ar«» destructive Io crops, but guardian angel; but Blossy was rising in the writer’s experience, they have. from her seat, a battling smile of ex- Instead, proved a benefit to growing pectaticy on her face, the rose spray crops ot hay or grain; they, are in swinging In her delicate hand as If to «earch of Insects, not green food A h soon as. or before, the hens show the measure of some music too far back in youth for anyone else to hoar tn Inclination to seek for neats In tho Blossy had worn that exp«»ctant look Hiring a sufficient number of barrels all day. She might have been delight­ ■»r largo boxes should be placed where edly hugging to herself a secret which they can find them, preferably on tho sho had not shared oven with the «round so that the hen may walk Into trusted Abraham. Shu was gowned tho nest; if sho has to Jump down In her yellow lace, tho beauty und ' Into the barrel or box the chances ar«» grace of which had defied tho chang ' tome eggs w ill bo broken Seclude Ing fashions us Bloasy’s remarkable these boxes or burrels by partly cov- elegance of ap|>earunco had defied tho i »ring them with brush or straw After I th«» hen begins to lay. remove tho eggs pusslug of the years. "Brother Abe,"—in her hoodlessnoss each day. placing one or two hens' of the mischief sho had wrought, eggs In their place. If th«» hen lays more than fifteen Bloesy seemed almost to sing—"I never shall forget your speech us long eggs, give all over that number to a as I live. Will you excuse mo now?" chicken hen. but when th«» eggs are She swept out of the door, her skirts batched, give all to the turkey hen. After tho hen has been set shut her rustling behind her. Abe collected himself so far ue to In safely from anything that might bow Ln the direction she hud taken; ; harm her, but let her off th«» nest each then with lamblike eyes of Inquiry met morning very early, shutting her In the exasperated glances cast upon ' again when sh«» returns Some claim that tho chicken hen him. Not a sister moved or spoke. They makes th«» best mother, but If those all eat as If glued to their chairs. In a who claim this will notice when feed­ silence that was fast growing appall­ ing young turkeys with a chicken hen. they will see that often tho turkeys ing. Abe tnrned his head and looked be­ will, after eating a few mouthfuls, go hind his chair for an explanation; but | off In search of an Insect until called nothtng mot his eye, save the familiar back by their unnatural mother and picture on the wull of two white kit­ encouraged to stuff themselves with ten« playing in the midst of a huge unnatural food They do not w ish to oat much at ono bunch of purple lilacs. Then there broke upon the stillness I time nnd when tddng fed. should, nt the quavering old voice of Aunt the same time, b«> supplied with wa- Nancy, from her place opposite Abe"« j ter; but when allowed to roam they at the head of the board. The aged do very well if watered night and dame had her two hands clasped be­ ! morning, but. If they come In from fore her on the edge of the table, I the 11» Id during the day it Is because vainly trying to steady their palsied ! they want water. Nature has taught them to cat In­ shaking. Her eyes, bright, piercing, age-defying, she fixed upon the bewil­ sects almost exclusively when young, dered Abraham with a look of deep | while tho same teacher Instructs tho and sorrowful reproach. Her unsteady i turkey hen to take her brood w here head bobbed backward and forward 1 such fo«x! Is abundant, allowing them with many an accusing nod, and tho to ««»cure it for themselves. The hen scarcely ceases her watch cap with its rakish pink bow bobbed backward and forward too. Abe long enough to secure the necessury watched her, fascinated, unconsclouely food to sustain herself, for she seems wondering, even In the midst of his always to have her head In the air to disquietude, why the cap did not slide see that the coast Is clear. Tho turkey crop hatched previous off her bald scalp entirely. To his amazement, she addressed not himself, i to June 1 should attain good growth by the last of November, the cock but Angy. "Slater Rose, yew kin leave the birds reaching ten to twelve pounds. The turkey Is not fully matured room." Implacable purpose spoke Ln Aunt Nancy's tone Angy started, looked up, going first red and then white; but she did not move. She opened her lipe to speak. "1 don't want ter hear a word from yew, nor anybody else,” sternly inter­ posed Aunt Nancy. "I'm old enough ter be yer mother Go upstairs!" Angy's glance sought Miss Abigail, but the matron's eyes avoided hers. The little wife sighed, rose reluctantly, dropped her hand doubtfully reassur­ ing on Abe's shoulder, and then went obediently to the door. From the threshold she looked wist­ fully back; but an Imperious wave from Aunt Nancy banished her alto­ gether, and Abe found himself alone —not with the sisters whom he loved, but with 28 hard visaged strangers. Young Bronze Turkey. CTO BE CONTINUED ) Wanted a Little Praise Himself. Following a disastrous fire In a west * ern city, many men and women gath­ ered to look at the ruins Some of the men, seeing that a wall near which they were standing was toppling, made haste to get out of the way, and nar­ rowly escaped being crushed. Johnny Brabfson, a good Irish cltl- xen, was so near the wall that he could not escape with the others. So, whirl­ ing about, he made for a door In the wall, burst through It, and came out on the other side safe, and evidently very proud of his exploit. Women who had shut their eyes and shrieked when they saw his danger now gath­ , ered round him In great joy, and cried , out: "Praise heaven, Johnny Brablson, down on your knees, and thank heaven!" "Yls yis." said he, "and I will, but wasn't it lnjaneyous inn me, now?"— Youth's Companion. No Landmarks In Space. "There are no landmarks In space; one portion of space la exactly like every other portion, so that we cannot tell where we are. We are, as it were, In an unruffled sea, without stars, com­ pass, soundings, wind or tide, and we cannot tell In what direction we are going. We have no log which we cast out to take a dead reckoning by; we may compute our rate ot motion with respect to neighboring bodies, but we do not know how these bod­ ies may be moving in space."—Max­ well. * EVERY FARM NEEDS A HOISI Many Little Inexpanslvs Contrivance« Can Be Built for Qansral Us« Around ths Farm. There 1a a lot of heavy lifting about farm work There are. however, many llttlo luexpeiialve contrivances, son« of which II la necessary to buy and others of which can bn homemade, which will eave a great d««al of very hard labor. One of tin» things which should bn on every farm la a light hoist coating I'J. or possibly a little more, th«» coat depending upon th«» lifting capacity A hoist 2.000 to 4.000 capacity Is th«» moat satisfactory size for general farm work With a good hoist you can do all tho heavy lifting without calling your neighbor or Interrupting the hired man In his work It Is surprising tho great number of jobs on which a hoist can be used, nt a gr«»al saving of tin»«» and labor A hoist will lift atones, logs, sucks of grain to loft, pull stumps id your only rcitl tuifc- J guard againut I<» hh of npptdil«’, poor «ligt'H t i o n , it ti <1 g »' ii'' ru1 wenktic.-is. You must help Nature I«» main tain .sire n g t Ii ami vigor. With the aid of HOSTETTER’S STOMACH BITTERS you have a combina lion that is aure to re­ sult to your benefit. Illllllll Whsre the Trouble Lie«. Wife I wish you Would realize, John, that there la something In the world besides money. Husband I do. the trouble Is that when 1 want anything «lone I can’t get tho other fellow to ruullxo IL— Boston Transcript. yoi a own nauouiar win rm too fry Murln * Kye «*»r H»«1. Wr»b. * »t«ry Kj •• »ti«! • * lr«r M or i tie | ) • BMMd > Hard Luck. “Terrible predicament Junes waa In " "What was that?" "(lol In hot water and couldn't get anybody to bail him out.“* Baltimore American. and small trees, lift pump pipe from wells, bind loads of hay. lift windmills, change wagon boxes, etc A hoist hung In the wagon shed will pull the huy rack or wngon box up out of tho way when not In use Drlvo Into the shed, attach the hoist to tho hay ruck, put It up and drive out from under It, and when again wanted on the wagon, back th«» wagon under tho rack and let It down onto the g<-ar. A hoist can be used to good ad­ vantage when butchering for lifting tho carcass. It enables the man to awing up a JuO-pound hog where It would otherwise tako two or threo men on a dead lift VALUE OF WINTER MANURING Gives Spring Rains Chance to Soak Decomposed Fertilizer Into Soil, Instead of Washing It Away. (By G A. FORMDBA ) I think manures ran be applied cheaper In the winter, as moat farmers are not very busy at this time of th« year, consequently they should not be so much occupied as in the spring when they should be rushing In their crops. I think when the manure la applied In the winter it gives the spring rains a chance to soak tho decomposed ma­ nure« Into th«» soli Instead of washing It away, as some writers think, and also helps rot the coarse manure that Is left, so by the time the land is ready to work, It do<-a not gather under th« plow b«-um or clog the cultivator teeth as It do<<« when applied in tho spring I think, and a large part of the b«»st farmers think, that th« fresher manure la applied th»» more valuable It la, for when It la placed In a large heap to rot, part of It will be almost useless by the tin»«» all of the heap la rotted. Tho reason why some of It Is spoiled Is this, the largo heap generates so much heat that the bottom and middle of tho heap Is burned until there is very llttlo fertilizing matter In it. Manure, properly applied, wo all know Is very beneficial to the sol), in­ asmuch as It supplies much of the lost fertility, but manure cun be so applied ub to be an Injury Instead of a beneflL Always try to apply your coarse ma­ nure to clay soils, as they need lomo- thing to keep them porous as well as to fertilize them. Do not apply coarse manure to loamy soil, as It keeps it too open and will cons«x;uently dry out. For two years we have applied as soon as the ground froze, a light coat of rnunure to our winter wheat. It keeps th<> snow from being all blown off, leaving It all exposed, and also protects It In tho early spring, as well as fertilizing It. until two years of age, and In his prime at three years, and nearly as good at four years old. It Is, there­ fore, a mlittake to sell off all the older birds and retain the young ones for breeding purposes. Young turkeys are of a delicate nature until they are fully feathered and have thrown out a red on their beads, which usually occurs at about three months of ago. After that they are hardy, and may be allowed un­ limited range at all times. To fatten turkeys for market they should be confined In pens of about ten feet square and from six to eight birds to the pen. The quarters must be warm and dry, aud the birds must be protected from tho rains and storm. A gtx»d fattening food is a mash ot two parts bran and shorts, one-fourth ground wheat, mixed with a little water. Whole corn and wheat Is also an excellent fattener, and they may bo given as much of this as they will eat A little beef fat, finely chopped, given once or twice a week. Is relished and has a good effect. Skim milk should be kept before the birds always. Turkey raising can be made a very profitable business, particularly in the West, where all kinds of grain grow at Stronger fertility 1« secured from small cost. It will pay well If only the regular bird« on range. • • • markets are used, but If a private Allow the hens free range. Wire trade is worked up, which is easily done In any part of the country to­ In the garden, not the hen«. • • • day, the profits can easily be Increased Spray the brood coops once a week from 25 to 50 per cent with some goo«l solution and move to fresh ground. Molasses to Dairy Cows. • • • When molasses Is fed to dairy cows, Be sure and feed the table scrap« It Is usually preferable to mix It with to tho fowls. Milk is one of tho best the grain feeds in the feed cart; the feed« for egg production. molasses being poured over the mixed • • • grain feed and the mass then worked See that there is absolutely no draft over thoroughly with the shovel or a in the poultry house. The birds can fork, until all the particles have a mo­ stand much cold, but draft« will kill lasses coating. Diluting the molasses them. with an equal amount of water will • • • make the mixing easier. A flock of chicken« will level a pile of sand or chaff as often as It la Business Farming. raised for them. The exercise they Growing alfalfa is good business get in thia way la the best sort for Futurist Window Display. An Oxford street store has turned one of Its windows Into a futurist boudoir, which Is a regular "Midsum­ mer Night's Dream ” There Is an oxydlzed bed with WTaYk sheets and pillows, black and white striped wall paper, spruce and orange cushions scattered about at random on sofas or on the floor, and finally, one of these very green china par rots, the reason of which Is not ap­ farming. parent— Washington Herald. CO-OPERATION P oultpy N otps WOMAN WOULD NOT GIVE OP — Though Sick and Suffering; At Last Found Help in Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegeta­ ble Compound. Richmond. Pa. — “ When I start«! taking l.ydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Con>|><>und 1 was in a dreadfully rundown stale of health, had internal trou­ ble«, «nd was «o ex­ tremely nervous «nd prostrated that If I had given in to my feeling« 1 would have been in btxl. A« it was I had hardly strength at time« to lx on my feet and what I did do waa by a great effort. I could not sleep at night «nd of course felt very bad in the morning, and ha