The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-04-19

lyddy used to think everything of her,
and she is housckeeper."
" Perhaps so," assented Mrs. Davids
obviously. But she is troubled sight
with the head complaints | suppose you
know she is. That is against her"
Yes" assented Miss Tame The
Muchmores all have week heads. And,
too, the Widow Kcenc, she's had fall
lately. She was up in chair cleaning
her top buttery shelf, and somehow one
of the chair legs give way--it was loose
or something, | expect-and down she
went her whole heft She keeps about,
but she goes with two slaves"
" want to know if that is so' said
Captain Ben, his honest soul warming
with sudden sympathy. "rhe widder
has seen sight OF trouble"
" Yes, she has lived through a great
DEAL that woman has couldn't live
through so much, pears to me but we
don't know what we can live through" :"
reoined Miss Tame
Captain Ben did not reply, but his
ready feet began to move to and fro rest
lessly, for his heart, more ready yet, had
already gone ont toward the unfortunate
widow.
at is so bad for Il woman to be alone, :"
said he to himself, shambling along the
shingly beach moment after. Nobody
to mend her chairs, or split up her kind
lings, or do chore for her; and she
lame into the bargain 1t is too bad"
e" He has steered straight for the Wild
ow Kecns,as sure as A is for apple-bump-
ling" remarked Miss Persis, ,peering after
him from the window.
Well, must admit | wouldn't have
thought of Captain Ben's being email -mor-
ed after such sickly piece of business
But men never know what they want
Won't you just hand me that gum cam
phyer bottle, now you are up? 1t is on
that chest of drawers behind YOU
{" No more they don't" returned Miss
Tame, with a plaintive cadence, taking Il
sniff from the camphor bottle on the way.
However, | don't begrutch him to her
don't know as | do. 1t will make her
a goon hum, though, if She concludes to
make arrangements.
Meantime, Captain Ben Lundy's head
was well nigh at Mrs keens' 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 crockery crate in the
first place, with two windows and rude
door thrown in as aftcr-thoughts. In the
rear Of this house was another tiny build
ing, something like grown up hen-coep
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 alto.
gether there, as the English say.
She was about this business now dress.
ed in primitive sort of bloomcr, with q
wash tub and clothes wringcr before her
and an army of bathing suits of every
kind and color, tapping wildly in the fresh
sea air at one side.
e From little further on, lningling with
the sound Of the beating surf, came the
merry voice of bathers-boardcr at the
great hotel on the hill.
Here you be Hard AT it - sal Cap
: tain Ben, putting around the corner like
a portable west wind. "Ive understood
you've had a hurt Is that so ?"
: 80 no Nothing to mention" return
Mrs keens, turning about face bright
and cheerful as the full moon; an(
throwing, as by accident, red bathing
suit over the two broomsticks that Leaned
, against her tub.
Unlike Mrs. Davids, Mrs. Kcens Meth
er pitied herself nor would allow any on,
a else to do So
, "Sh" remarked Captain Ben, leelin,
, detrauded. He had counted on sacrifc
| ing himself to his sympathies, but he didn'
. give up yet " You must see some prctt,
D.. tough times pears to me with such par
Gel of little ones, and only yourself to lool
to, said he, proceeding awkwardly dowl
to hang the pile of wrnng ont clother up
! on an empty line.
" | don't complain" returned the wild
+ ow bravely. My children are not tire
I some and Jack, why, you would be sur
l prised to see how many things Jack cal
do, for all he isn't quite right"
As she spoke thus with aiicciionat
n pride, Jack came up wheeling ronghl
made cart filed with wet bathing clothe
u from the beach He looked up at tn
sound of his mothers voice with some
I thing of the dumb tenderness of an intel
/, ligent dog. Jack helps, Jack goo,
!, boy" said he, noddine with happ
smile
"Hes,Jack helr- We don't complain
repeated the mother.
II 1t would come handy, though, t
n have a man around to see to things an
A kind o provide, wouldn't it, though ?
4 persisted Captain Ben.
If Some might think SO, replied Mr.
g keens, stopping hor wringer to reflect
little. "But haven't any wish to chang
my position" she added, decidedly, %
Is ing on again with her work
Il Sure ont - persisted the Captain
p, Certain" replied the widow
Captain Ben sighed. Il though, may
u be you was having hard row to hoe
E. and | thought like enough"
y What he never said, except by a b,
e sceching glance At the cheerful widow ,tt
Just then an interruption came from som
Of pcnplc after bathing suits.
II So Captain Ben moved of with a III
III NAL countenancc But before he ha
> gone far it suddenly frightened. -"
might not be for the best" quoth he
10 himself. Like enough not. | was vcr
ct careful not To commit myself. and | al
ID very glad | didn't" He smiled as he r.
X ifccted on his udicious warnc>s. Bl
III however" he continued, Il might as We
finish up this bu>ine now. There
b- Rachel Dooliitlc Who knows but she
make likely WIFI Lyddy sol a goC
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