Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-03-04

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. know she is. That Is against her 50
"Yes, assented Miss Tame. "Th,
Muchmores all have weak heads. And
too, the Widow Keens. she's had q fal
lately She was up IN a chair cleanin:
her top bunery shelf and somehow one
of the chair4egs give way,-it was loose
or something, l expect,-and down she
went her whole heft. She keeps about
but she goes with two slaves.
= 81 want to know if that is 50, saiC
Captain Ben, his honest soul warming
with sudden sympathy. The widdel
has seen a sight Of trouble.
Eyes, she has lived through a good
deal, that woman has. could MT live
through so much, pears to me but we
don't know what We can live through,
reioined Miss Tame.
Captain Ben did not reply, but his
ready feet began to move to and fro
restlessly for his heart, more ready yet,
had already gone out toward the unfor-
tunate widow.
1T is 50 bad for a woman to be alone, J"
said he to himself, shambling along the
shingly beach a moment after. NO
body to mend her chairs or split up her
I1indlings or do a chore for her; and she
lame into the bargain! It is too bad
He has steered straight for the Wild
ow Keens's as shure as a IS apple-dump-
ling, remarked Miss Persis, peer1ng af-
ter him from the window.
well, / must admit [ would mt have
| thought of Captain Ben's being en-a-
mored after such a sickly piece Of bust
ness. But men never know what they
want. Won't you just hand me that
gum-camphyer bottle, now you are up !?
It is on that chest of drawers behind
you"
No more they don't, returned Miss
Tame, with a plaintive cadence, taking
a sniff from the camphor-bottle on the
way. However, don't begrutch him
to her,-I don't know as do. It viii
make her a good hum, though, if she
concludes to make arrangements.
Meantime, Captain Ben Lundy's head
was wellnigh at Mrs. Keens'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 knock
ed together for a 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 build
ing, something like a grown-up hen
coop and this was where Mrs. Keens
carried on the business bequeathed to
her by her deceased husband, along with
FIVE small children, and one not so
small. But, worse than that, one who
was mot altogether there, IS the Eng
lish say.
She was about this business now,
dressed in primitive sort of bloOmer,
with wash-tub and clothes-wringer be |
fore her, and an army of bathing-suits
of every kind and color tapping wildly
in the fresh sea air at one side.
From a little farther on, mlngEng 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 |
Captain Ben, putting around the corner
like a portable west-wind. I've under !
stood you've had hurt Is thatsO ?"
90 no Nothing to mention, re-
turned Mrs. Keens. turning about face
bright and cheerful as the full moon ;
and throwing, as by accident, red
bathing-suit over the two broom-sticlIs !
that leaned against her tub.
Unlike Mrs Davids, Mrs. Keens neith- /
er Pitied herself nor would allow any
body else to do so.
'.Sho = remarked Captain Ben, feel
ing defrauded. He had counted on
AliAlASN4A " AAAS BQA
he did MT give up yet. you must see
some pretty tough times pears to me
with such a parcel of little ones, and on
" yourself to look to, said he, pro-
ceeding awIwardly enough to hang the
pile of wrung-put clothes upon an empty
line.
Il don't complain, returned the wild
ow, bravely ''Ay children are not
heH5onse,- and Jack, why you would be
surprised to see how many things Jack
can do, for all he is mt quite right.
As she spoke thus with afectionate
pride, Jack came up wheeling a 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.
Eyes, Jack helps. We don't com
plain" repeated the mother.
"It would come handy, though, to
have a man around to see to things and
kind O. provide, would mt it, though p
persisted Captain Ben.
Some might think so, replied Mrs.
Keens, stopping her wringer to reflect a
little. But | have MT any wish to
change my situation she added, de
going on again with her work.
Sure on 't?' persisted the Captain.
Certain, replied the widow. |,
Captain Ben sighed. Il thought ma
be you was having a hard row to hoe, h
and thoughts like enough
EtHaf he never said, excepting by a
beseeching glance at the cheerful widow,
for lust then an interruption came from
some people after bathing-suits.
So Captain Ben moved off with a dis
NAL countenance. But before he had ]
gone far it suddenly frightened. "Itl
might not be for the best" quoth he to
himself. Like enough not. Twas very
careful not to commit myself, and l am
very glad l didn't" He smiled as he
on his judicious wariness.
"But, however, he continued, Il might .
as well finish up this business now.
There is Rachel Doolittle. Who knows
but she'd make a likely wife ? Lyddy '
sot a good deal by her. She never had ]
a quilting or a sewing bee but what moth !
ing would do but she must give Rachel
Doolittle an invite Yes; / wonder
never decided on her before. She viii Il
be glad of a home sure enough, for she
has to live around, as it were, upon l
her brothers"
Oaptaln Ben IG6I QuCkened them
selves at these thoughts, and had almost
0vertaken his head, when behold at
sudden turn in the road there stood Miss t
Rachel Doolittle, picking barberries from {
a wayside bush. My sakes If she
amt right here, like Rachel in the
Bible!" Calculated Captain Ben, taking {
heart at the omen. 5
Miss Doolittle looked up from under $
her tied-down brown hat in surprise at I
such a salutation. But her surprise was
by Captain Ben's next remark.
ut Just came into my mind, = said he, :
that you was the right one to take a..
Lyddy's place. You two used to be such +
great knit-ups that it will seem most like
having Lyddy back again. No, he con :
inued, after little reflection, Il don't /.
know of anybody had rather see sit
ting in Lyddys chair and wearing
7 i IL Il, Il