The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-04-19
Captain ifen's Choice.

over the water. Above, the blue, shin
ing sky, and below the, blue, shining
sea.
1t seems clever to have pleasant
day." said Mrs. Davids, signing
Mrs. Davids said everything with a
sigh, and now she wiped her eyes also
on her calico apron. She was woman
with n complexion like faded seaweed
who seemed always pitying herself.
I'm tell them,' she said, 81 have had
real bad luck. My husband is buried
away off in California, and my son died
in the army, and he is buried away down
South. Neither of them is buried to.
gether.
Then she sighed again. Twice this
time.
And SC" she continued, taking out a
pinch of bayberry snuff, " am left alone
in the world. Alone, say! why, I've
got a daughter, but she is away out
West She is married to an engineer
man. And have got two grand-child-
rem"
Mrs. Davids took u pinch Of bayberry
and shook her head looking as though
that was the " hardest luck " of all
Well, everybody has to have their
posters, and you'll have to have yours, -
rejoined Miss Persis Tame taking a pinch
of snuG-the real Macaboy-t twice as
large, with twice as fierce an action. 81
don't know what it is to bury children,
nor to lose a husband; spose don't ;
but | know what it is to be jammcd
around the world and not have ruff to
stick my head under wish had all
the money | ever spent travelling
that's twelve dollars" she continued, re-
gretfully.
"Why. in the world don't you marry
and have house of your own" sighed
Mrs. Davids.
Well, don't expect TO marry.
don't know as | do at my time Of life, y
responded the spinister 81 rather guess
my day for chances has gone by
You amt such dreadful sight Older
than I, though replied Mrs Davids, re-
hcctively.
=" Not so old by two full years, returned
Miss Tame, taking another smart pinch
of snuff, as though it touched the empty
spot in her heart, and did it good. "But
you amt looking out for opportunities
yet, suppose ?"
Mrs. Davids sighed eyasively. w
can't tell what is before us. There il
more than one man in want of wife"
As though to point her words, Capt
Ben Lundy came to sight on the beach
his head long way forward and hi
shambling feet trying in vain to keep up
Thirteen months and Il half since
Lyddy was buried" continued Mrs. Dav
ids, accepting this application to he
words, and there is Captain Ben takin.
up with Just what housckceper he cal
got, and no housekeeper at all. 1t woul,
be nm excellent home for you, Persis-
Captain Ben always had the name o
making kind husband"
She sighed again, whether from rcgre
for the bercaved man. or for the multi
tude of women bereft of such husband
By this time Captain Ben'S head wa
at the door.
" Morning." said he, while his fee
were coming up. "Quite an accden
down here below the lighthouse last night
Schooner ran ashore in the blow an
broke all up into kindling wood in les
than no time. Captain Tisdale has beel
out looking for dead bodies ever sine
daylight
III knowed it, sighed Mrs. David,
81 heard rushing sound some tim
about the break of day that walked m
out Of sound sleep, and | knowed the
there was spirit leaving the body.
heard it the night Davids went, Or | eN
pect | did 1t must have been very neal
ly at that time"
Well, guess it wasn't a spirit las
night" said Captain Ben " for, as | wa
going to say, after searching back an
forth Captain Tisdale came upon the folk!
man and a boy, rolled up in their We
blankets, asleep behind the life boa
house. tie said he felt like he coul
shake them for staying out in the wet
Wrecks always make for the ligthous'
so he s'posed these ones were drowned
death, sure enough
Oh, then it couldn't have been then
was warned Of" returned Mrs. David
looking as though she regretted it. :"
was right over my head, and | walked u
just as the thing was rushing past. 70
- havn't heard, have you she continue'
"whether or no there was any other dan
age done by the gale p
." | don't know whether you would ca
: it damage exactly" returned Captai
Ben; but l,ozian Mullers got so scare
i. she left me and went home. She sal
/, she couldn't stay and run the chance
5 another Of our coast blows, and off Il
trapesed."
Mrs. Davils sighed ike November
" So yon have some hard luck, as well
myself don't supposa You can get
housekeeper TO keep her long" said sh
l dismally.
Abel Grimes tells me it is enoul
sight easier getting wives than hous
keepers, and I'm some of n mind to Il
that tack, replied Captain Ben, smiil
grimly.
Mrs. Davids put up her hand to feel
her back hair and smoothed down h
a apron while Miss Persis Tame blush,
Z like a wthered rose, aud turned her ey,
/ modestly out of the window.
!. %" am so. But the difficulty is, W.
II will it be There are so many to sele
from it is fairly bothersomc," continu,
Captain Ben, winking very fast and loo
/. ing as though he was made of dry 90
:, cobs and hay.
= Miss Pcrsis Tame lurhcd about a
n ruptly.
!. The dead alive % rho calculated vi
/ such sudden emphasis that the dish
g shook on their shelves and Captain b
y in his chair. 4" II makes me as mad ms
n March hare to hear men 90 on as thou