The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-10

said he to himself, shambling along the
shingly beach moment after Nobody
| 10 mend her chairs or split up her kind
| iings or do chore for her and she lame
into the bargain 1t is too bad"
| He has steered straight for the Widow
Keens', as sure as A is apple dumphngs."
remarked Miss Persis, peering after him
from the window
"Well, | must admit | wouldn't have
| thought of Captain Ben's being enam-
ored after such sickly piece of busi-
ness. But men never know what they
want. Won't you just hand me that gum
camphyer bottle, now you are up? 1t is
on that chest of drawers behind you"
"No more they DON'T" returned Miss
Tame, with plaintive cadence, taking a
sniff from the camphor bottle on the way.
"Howcver, don't begrutch him TO her,
| don't know as do. 1t will make her a
good hum, if she concludes to make ar
rangements"
Meantime, Captain Ben Lundy's head
was wellnigh at Mrs Keen's door, for it
was situated only around the first sand
hill She lived in little bit of house
that looked as though it had been knocked
together for crOckery-crate in the first
place, with two windows and a rude door
thrown in as afterthoughts. In the rear
of this house was another tiny building,
something like grown-up hen coop and
this was where Mrs. Keens carried on the
business bequeathed to her by her de-
ceased husband, along with five small
| children, and one not so small. But,
| worse than that, one who was not alto
| gether there" as the English say.
| She was about this business now,
dressed in a primitive sort of boomer,
with wash tub and clothes wringer be-
fore her, with an army of bathing suits of
every kind and color Tapping wildly in
| the fresh sea air at one side.
From little further on, mingling with
the sound of the beating surf, came the
merry voices of bathers,-boarders at the
great hotels on THE hill.
"Here you be Hard at it ~ said Cap
tain Ben, pulling around the corner like
portable west-wind 1--WE understood
you've had hurt Is that so ?'
90 nol Nothing to MENTION" re-
turned Mrs. Keens, turning about a
| face bright and cheerful as the full
moon; and throwing, as by accident, a
red bathing-suit over the two broom. sticks
that leaned against her tub.
| Unlike Mrs. Davids, Mrs. Keens neither
pitied herself nor would allow anybody
, else to do so.
"Sho !" remarked Captain Ben, feeling
defrauded. He had counted on sacrificing
himself to his sympathies, but he didn't
give up yet. You must see some pretty
tough times pears to me with such a
parcel of little ones, and only yourself to
look to-" said he, proceeding awkwardly
enough to hang the pile of wrung- out
clothes upon an empty line.
81 don't complain" returned the widow,
bravely. "My children are not teusone ;:
and Jack, why you would be surprised to
see how many things Jack can do, for all
he isn't quite right"
As she spoke thus with affectionate
pride, Jack came up wheeling roughly
made cart filled with wet bathing clothes
from the beach. He looked up at sound OF
his mothers voice with something of the
dumb tenderness of an intelligent dog
Jack helps, Jack good boy" said he
nodding with happy smile.
" Yes, Jack helps. We don't complain, u
repeated the mother.
ut would come handy, though, to have
a man around to see to things and kind
O. provide, wouldn't it though ?" per
sisted Captain Ben.
"Some might think So" replied Mrs
Keens, stopping her wringer to reflect a
little. but l haven't any wish to change
my situation" she added, decidedly, going
on again with her work.
"Sure ont? persisted the Captain
"Certain," replied the widow.
Captain Ben sighed. IL thought ma
be you was having n hard row to hoe, anC
/ thoughts like enough"
What he never said, excepting by 8
beseeching glance at the cheerful widow
for just then an interruption came from
some people after bathing suits.
SO Captain Ben moved off with disma
countenance. But before he had gone
far it suddenly frightened. "It nigh,
not be for the best" quoth he to himself
Like enough not. | was very careful
not to commit myself, and l am very GLAD
| didn't" He smiled as he reflected OF
his judicious wariness. "But, however,
he continued, Il might as well finish vi
this business now There is Rachel Doc
little. Who knows but she'd make likely
wife? Lyddy sot good deal by her
She never had quilting or sewing be-
but what nothing would do but she mus
give Rachel DOOlittle an invite. Yes;
wonder | never decided on her before
She will be glad of home sure enough
for she haves to live around, as it were
upon her brothers"
Captain Ben's feet quickened them
selves at these thoughts, and had almOs
, overtaken his head, when behOldi at
! sudden turn in the road there stood Mis-
Rachel DOOlittle, picking barberries from
a wayside bush. "My sakes! If she ain
right here, like Rachel in the Bible 7
CALCULATED Captain Ben, taking heart a
, the omen.
Miss Doolittle looked up from unde
8 her tied down hat in surprise at such
; salutation. But her surprise was Increase
! by Captain Ben's next remark.
1t just came into my mind" said he
that you was the right one to- take Lyd
, dy's place. You two used to be such grea
: knit-ups that it will seem mos like havin
! Lyddy back again. No." he continued
after little reflection, 81 don't know c
! anybody had rather see sitting in Lyd
dy's chair and wearing Lyddy's thing
than yourself"
"Dear me, Captain Lundy, I couldn
q think OF it. Paul's folks expect me to sta
! | with them while the boarder- season last.
and I've as good as promised Jacobs wifi
I'll spend the winter with her"
: Amt that hard life you are layin
out tor yourself? And then bum by yo
: !, will get old or sick ma be, and who
2 going TO want you around then? Ever
= woman needs husband of her own {
take care of her"
"Pm able to take care of myself q
i yet, thanks to goodnessl And / am nc
! ,aid my brothers will see me suffe
case of Sickness" returned Mis-
4 Doolittle, her cheeks flaming up like
' sumach in October
"But hadn't you better take a littl
; time to think it over? Ma be it com
, sudden to you," pleaded Captain Ben.
"No, / thank you. Some things don
, need thinking over" answered Miss Doc
little, pluckingat the barberries more dill
gently than ever
Il wish Lyddy was here. She woul
convince you you are standing in you