Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-15

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Mrs. Davids put up her hand TO feel Of
her back hair, and smoothed down her
aprcn while Miss Persis Tame blushed
like wihered rose, and turned her eyes
modesly out of the window,
IL am So But the difficulty Is, who will
it be? There are SO mauy 10 select from it
is fairly bohersome,' continued Captain
Ben, winking fast and looking AS though
be was made OF dry corn coEs aid hay.
Miss Persis Tame turned about abruptly.
"The land alive r. she CALCULATED with such
sudden emphasis that the dishes shook on
their shelves aud Captain Ben in his chair.
1T makes me as mad as q March hare to
hear men 60 on as though all they'd got to
do was to throw down their handkerchers to
a woman, and, no matter who, she'd spring
and run to pick it up. 1t is always Who
will l marry? and not Who will marry
me?''
"Why, there is twice the number Of wild
ders that there is of widderers at the Pint
That was what was in my m,nd," said Cap
tain Ben, iE a tone Of meek apology.
"Thereis is the Widow keens, she that was
Azubah Muchmore. l don't know but she
would do; Lvddy used to think everything
of her, and she's frst-rate kind of a
housekeeper."
"Perhaps so," assen;ed Mrs. Davids du-
biousIy. ''But she is troubled h sight with
tie ,ad complaint; l suppose you know
she is. That is against her.
"Yes,' assented Miss Tame. "The
Muchmores all have weak heads. And,
too, the Widow keens, she's had fall late
ly. She was mp in chair cleaning her
top buttery shelf, and somehow one Of the
chair legs gave way-it was loose or some
thing, l expect--and down she went her
whole heft. She keeps about, but she goes
with two staves..'
II want to know if that is So said Cap
ia Ben, his honest soul warming with sud
den sympathy. The widder has seen a
: sight of trouble
dyes. she has lived through good deal,
tha, woman has. l couldn't live through SO
much, pears to me; but we don't know
what we can live through rejoi'ed Miss
Tame.
Captain Ben did not reply but his ready
feet began to move TO and fro res, g sly; for
his heart. more ready VT, had already gone
ort 'owal the unfortunate wiGow.
"' is SO bad for II woman 20 he alone"
sid he 10 himself, shamblitg along the
shlugly beach u moment If er. "Nobody
10 mend her Chairs or sp it up her kindlings
or to do chore for her; and she lame into
the bargain! 1t is too bad
"He has steere ed straight for the Widow
Ke, rs S, as sure rs is apple dumpling,'
remarked Miss Persis, peeplng after him
from the wildow.
"Wtll, ! must admit I wouldn't have
thought of Calt'in Bens being enamored
alter such a sick!y piece of business. Bal,
men never know what they want. Won't
You Just hand the that gum camphyer bottle,
now you are up? 1t is on that chest OF
drawers behind you
mo more they don't" returned Miss
Tame, with a paintiye cadence, taking a
sniff from the canphor- bottle Oh the way.
However, don't know as do. 1t will
make h a good hum, though, if she con-
cludes TO ma,e her arrangements"
Meantime Captain Ben Lundy's head was
well nigh Il, Mrs keenes door, fer it was
situated only around the first sand bill =
She lived in little bit of house that look
cd as though it had been knocked together
for crockery crate in the FIRST place, with
two windows aud rude door thrown in AS
aiterthoughts. In the rear of this hou G
was another tiny building, something like a
grown-up hen coop; and tins was where
Mrs. keens carried on the business be-
queathed to her by her deceased husband,
along with five small children, and one not
so small. Bat. worse than that. one who
was mot altogether there" as the English
would say.
She was about this business now, DIRE scd
in primitive sort of bloomer, with a wash
tub and clothes. ringer before her, and an
army of bathingsults of every kind and col
or Tapping widely in the fresh sea air at
one side.
From little further or, mingling with
the sounu OF the Lcaling surf, came the
merry voices of bahers, boarders at the
great hotels on The bill.
Here you be. Hard at it," Said Cap
tain Ben. putting around the corner like a
portable west wind. :'I've understood you
had hurt. Is that so?'
80 no! Nothing to menton," returned
Mrs. keens. turning about a face as bright
and cheerful as the full moon; and throw
ing, AS by accident, red ba,hing.sui. over
the two broomsticks that leaned against her
tub.
Unlike Mrs. Davids. Mrs Keens neither
pitiei herself nor would allow anybody else
to do so.
"Sho.' remarked Captain Ben, feeling
delrauded. He had counted on sacrificing
himself to his sympathies, but he didn't give
up yet. "1ou must see some pretty tough
tiues pears to me, with such a parcel Of
little ones, and only yourself to look to-
said he, proceeding awkwardly enough to
hang up the pile of wrung- out clothes upon
aD empty line.
~ don't complain" returned the widow,
bravely. "My children are not teusome;
and Jack, why you would be surprised to
see how many things Jack can do, for oil
he isn't quite right"
AS she spoke thus with atfectionate pride,
Jack c. me up wheeling a roughly made
cart filed with wet bathing clothes from the
beach. He looked up at sound of his moth
er's voice with something of the dumb ten
derness of an intelligent dog. Jack helps,
Jack good boy" said he, nodding with u
happy smile: :,
"les, Jack helps. We don't complain, y
repeated the mother.
Il, would come handy, though, TO have
Il man around to see to things and kind o
provide, wouldn't it, thought" persisted
Captain Ben.
"Some might think So" replied Mrs.
Kcens, stopping her wringcr to reflect lit
tie. "But havn't any wish to change my
situation" she added, decidedly, solag on
again with her work.
Sure on'i?" persisted tie Captain.
Certain replied the widow.
Captain Ben sighed. 81 thought ma be
you was having hard row TO hoe, aud ]
thoughts like enough
What he never said, except by beseech-
ing glance at the cheerful widow, for just
then an interruption came flom some peo-
ole after barhing-sui,s.
SO Captain Ben moved off with dismal
coun,cnance. But before he had gone far
it suddenly frightened at may not be
for the bes ," qnoth he to himself. Like
enough not. | was careful not to commit
myself, and am very glad didn't" He
smiled as he reflected on his judicous wari-
ness. "But, however," he continued, u
might as well finish up this business now.
There is Rachel Dooliiie Who knows but
she'd make likely wife? Lyddy sot a
good deal by her. She never had y quilt
ing or sewing bee but what nothing
would do but she must give Rachel Dooit
tie an invite. Y,s; | wonder | never de
.ll ,,,, Lor bofnra Sho will hc olnA of n