The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
CAPTAIN BEN'S CHOICE.

with fsherman's blue boat rocking OF
the bay, and two white sails glistenins
lar away over the water Above, tn
blue shining sky, and below, the blue, shin
ing sea.
" 1t seems clever to have pleasant day,
said Mrs. Davids, signing.
Mrs. Davids said everything with sigh
and now she wiped her eyes also on heI
calico apron. She was a woman with
complexion like faded seaweed, VIII,
seemed always plying herself
g | tell them," said she, 81 have haC
real hard luck. Ny husband is buried
away off in California, and my son dice
in the army. and he is buried away dowr
South Neither one of them is buried to
gether"
Then she sighed again. Twice, thi
time.
And So" she continued, taking out
pinch of bayberry snuff, " am left alon,
in the world Aioae, say ! why I've got
daughter, but she is away out West
She Is married to an engineerman. AnC
I've got two grand children"
Mrs. Davids took the pinch of bayberr,
and shook her head, looking as though
tnat was the " hardest luck" of all.
Well, everybody has to have theil
posters, and you'll have to have yours,
reloined Miss Persis Tame, taking pincl
OF snutf-the real Maccaboy-twice a.
large, with twice as fierce an action. "l
don't know what it is to bury children
nor to lose husband | s'pose | don't
but know what it is to be jammcd rounC
the world and not have ruff to stick my
head under. | wish had all the money
| ever spent travelng-and that's twelve
dollars" she continued, regretfully.
why in the world don't you marry
and have home of your Own?' sighed
Mrs Davids.
Well, don't erpect to marry Idon't
know as | do at my time OF life" re
SpOnded the spinser. 81 rather guess m,
day for chances is gone by"
You amt such dreadful sight oldel
than | am, though" replied Mrs. Davids
refiectively
:" Not so old by two full years returned
Miss PANE, taking another smart pinch
OF snuff, as though it touched the empty
spot In her heart and did it good. ." Bu
you amt looking out for opportunities yet
l suppose"
Mrs. Davids sighed evasively. "W
can't tel what is before us. There i
more than one man in want of wife"
As though To point her words, Car
tam Ben Lundy came in sight on tn
beach, his head long way forward an,
his shambling feet trying in vain to keeI
up.
Thirteen months and a half sine
Lyddy was buried" continued Mrs
DavidS, accepting this application to he
words, "and there is Captain Ben takin,
up with just what housekeeper he Cal
Ct, and no housekeeper at all 1t woul,
be an excellent home for you, Persis
captain Ben always had the name of MAX
ing kind husband"
Che sighed again, whether from regre
Tor the bereaved man, or for the multi
tu OF women beTeft of such a husband
By this time Captain Bens head was a
the door.
Morning. said he, while his feet wer
coming up Quite an accident dow
here below the lighthouse last nigh
Schooner ran ashore IN the blow an
broke al up in kindlingwood in less tha
no time. Captain Tlsdale's been ou
looking for dead bodies ever since day
light"
Il knOwed it, sighed Mrs. David.
L heard a rushing sound some time abou
The break OF day tlat walked me out of
sound sleep, and l knowed then there wa
spirit leaving its body. / heard it tn
night Davids went, or expect | did.
must have been very nearly at that time.
Well, L guess it wasn't a spirit, la:
night, said Captain Ben; Z" for as | wa
going ON TO say, after searching back an
forth, Captain Tisdale came upon tb
fOl6s, a man and a boy, role1 up
their vet blankets asleep behind the lif,
boat house. He said he felt like ne coul
shake them tor staying out in the we
Wrecks always make for the lighthous,
50 ne sposed those ones were drowned t
death, sure enough"
., then 1t couldn't have been them
was warned Off returned Mrs. David
looking as though she regretted it. 81
was right over my head, and walked u
Just as the thing was rushing past Yo
haven't heard, have you," she continue,
whether or not there was any ether dan
age done by the gale? ?"
dont know whether you would ca
~ ciDtfge exactly" returned Captain Bel
bat LoIZah Mullers got so scared she lie
me and went home. She said she couldp
stay and run the chance of another of OF
coast blows, and off she trapsed"
Mrs. Davids sighed like Novembe
% you have some hard luck, as well ;
myself don't suppose you can get
housekeeper to keep her long," said sh
dismally.
Abel Grimes tells me it is enough sigl
easier getting wives than housekeeper
and I'm some of mind to try that tack
req he'd Captain Ben, smiling grimly.
Mrs. Dayids put up her hand to feel
her back hair, and smoothed down b.
apron; while Miss Persis Tame blush,
like withered rose, and turned ber ey,
modestly out of the window.
:" l am so. But the difficulty is, wi
VIII IL be: There are so many to sele
1rom IL Is ialrly bothersOme," continue
captain Ben, wlnking fast and looking
though ne was made of dry corn-cobs an
hay
Miss Persis Tame turned about a
ruptly 1.-The land alive" she eiac
lated with such sudden emphasis that d
dishes shook on their shelves Al
Captain Ben in his chair. cit makes n
mad as March hare to hear men 90 ,
as though all they'd got to do was
throw down their handke-chers to
woman, and, no matter who, she'd spriI
and run to pick it up. 1t is always WI
will | marry?' and not Who will mar
mes'"
WnJ, tnere Is Twice tnc numDer
widders that there is widderers here
the Pint. That was what was in m
mlnd, said Captain Ben, in a tone
meek apology There is the Wido
kecns, she that was Azubah MuchmOr
don't know but what she would d,
Lyddy used To think everything of he
and she is first-rate of housekeeper
Perhaps so,p assented Mrs. David
dubiously. But she is troubled sgl
with the head complaint; suppose yc
know she is. That is against her"
Yes assented- Miss Tame. "TI
MuchmOres all have weak heads. An
too, the Widow keens, she's had a IA
lately. She was up in chair cleanir
her top buttery shelf, and somehow OF
of the chair legs give way-it was loo
or something, / expect-and down 81
went her whole left. She keeps abou
but she goes with two slaves"