The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-02-07

flour, while an appetizing DIOR of cookies
issued from the comfortable kitchen.
At that smell, the visitors heart enlarged,
and his nostrils expanded as those of q war
horse who hears from afar the din of the
battle.
.Why. hawks a-mercy, is it you, Cap'in
Tiller? Hope notoin's happened-leastwise
THAT'S jest 1t, widder," responded the
captain, sloomiIy shaking his hesd, "That's
jest what is the matter. How Nancy came
to make such a fool of herself, when she'd
a good home, and clothes, and v~ictuals, and
the whole house to herself when Pm
away"
"Now, that's what 1 call unreasonable OF
you, Cap'iu Seth" interrupted Mrs. Tyron,
seriously taking up the cause of her sex, as
| she wiped the flour from her hands, and
out of respect to her visitor sat down to her
knitting. "a wOman's a woman, and
mustn't be expected to deny herself every
thing for the sake o. clothes and victuals.
She must hev somebody to keer for her
more than q brothers likely to do. It's
only nature, after all. What'd become O.
the world, If everybody took to leadin'
single lives, I'd like to know?'
"Well, l guess there's some sense in that,
wilder" ouoth the Captain, scratching his
head under his sou'wester, "and I'm
rayther rejiced to her you express such SEN
timents, seein' as it'll likely help us to an
"AhI" said Mrs. Tyron. putting back the
border Of her cap and Pricking up her ears.
"You see," resumed he, in a business
like manner, "a man can't do to hum with.
out a woman to look round and see after
things. It's their business, you knew. We
can't go rubin and scrubbin' round in the
kitchens and bedrooms. Now, I've heerd
from Nancy that you're q norsble house
keeper and manager"
"Oh you want me TO keep house for you,
mebbe?"
ABOUT that" replied the Captain, star
ing steadfastly into the fire.
"What celery?"
"Why, / wasn't jest calculatin' upon q
salary. Thought we might 90 into partner
ship together, If it's agreeable. Pm plain
business man, as you know, wilder; and all
I've got to say is, that, if you'll be Mrs. Cap
tain Seth Tiller-"
"Say a minute. if you please, Cap'en!"
exclaimed the lady, hastily jumping up.
He waited patiently while she busted her
self about the oven. Then she came back.
wiping her heated face on her clean apron,
and placidly resumed her seat and her knit
ting.
swell, wilder, what's the agreement:"
inquired the sutton, then.
"Why, you see, Captain Tiller,'' she an
swered, slowly and thoughtfully, ''I've been
c%Onsiderin' of it while tendin' them cookies.
and I've about made up my mind that /
needn't be in a hurry to marry again. I've
had my share of awffe's trouble, and l feel
like takin' a little rest to myself nov as | go
downward into the valley of the shadder,
where We'll all find our everlastin' rest"
81 might. perhaps, help you on the way,
you know" said the Captain argumenta-
lively.
"I'm obleeged to you,, she responded
with a sigh, "but I'm pretty strong yet,
thanks be to goodness J" and can get along
well enough without help-leastwlse, for a
spell longer"
"Well," said Captain Tiller, slowly ris-
ing, off that's your resolutions, l needn't
waste nc more o'yOur valuable time about
it, 1 calculate. Good mornin', widder!"
"Stay q mint, Cap'ini Won't you hey
some cookies and a cup of tea, aiore you
gow
"No, thank you, marin. I'm ob'eeged to
you the same. Good mornin'."
And the captain walked home, and sat
down on the three-legged stool, and gazed
into the fire as before.
The result of his wooing had been to him
altogether unexpected. Here was a woman
III Ia ASludlly lCSCitSu thllu hNICttCu d
proposal, without giving it more than q mo-
ment's thought. o.
81 guess she's too old and worn out, as she
says" he continued; land | must look out
for a younger wilder, who'd likely not be
inclined not to think SO hard Of the matter.
There's Miss Fuller, she as was Melissy
Brown, If | remember rightly. She's about
thirty. Rather too young for my ideas /;
but l s'pose | must put up with it,"
~,- ~ .Io,. 4a%al .-N
"Miss" Fuller was In her garden, planting
hollyhock roots. She wore a tlouncei calico
dress, and girlish white apron, deliberately
rufled, and locked, as the Captain thought,
like q ta~ut-rigged schooner under full sail.
For an instant his heart misgave him,
though he felt treasured by the gracious
smile with which he was received, as the
young widow furtivcly adjusted her front
hair beneath her ~sun-bonnet, and gave the
latter itself a coquettish tilt on her head.
swell, Miss Fuller, you're preparing for
spring betimes, l see. Fancy garden-truck
-eh? ?"
"To be sure, Captain! like flowers and
other pretty things, Don't you?" answered
she, with a sidelong glances of her black
eyes.
'"Wen, l skeereely know" replied the
Captain, doubtfully. ''TO my mind, there's
nothin' prettier than"
ssThan what?' urged Mrs. Fuller, pre-
tending to look unconscious.
'Than a net full o. fine herrin's. You
ought to "a seen my last load, all alive an
kicking, and squirming and sparkling like
like" the Captain was not remarkable for
a lively fancy, SO he added-''like nothin'
but fresh herrin' can squirm and sparkle! ~
The widow stopped down, and grubbed
at a marigold root.
81 hate h%eIrings,n said she.
"Yes? Well, now, that's rather unfor-
tunate. The woman that takes me must
take my herrin's likewise"
"Who's going to take your"
"Why, l hope she amt SO very fur Off"
said the Captain significantly. "Leastwise,
not outside this ere garden"
"You don't mean me?"
"Well, p'r'aps l do mean you"
"Humph!" said the widow, with a toss
of her s%un.bonnet, and e short laugh.
swell, 1 must say this is a queer way to
come a courtin' ?"
"Oh," said the sutton, a little cres.fallen, |
81 don't get up to be much in the courtin' |
line, like the young sparks hereahaut. You
and me amt neither one of us chickens, you
know, Miss Fuller; SO we can arrange SEN
sible-like, without any nonsense o. that
kind"
ARRANGE what?" inquired the lady flash
ing her black eyes rather ominously upon
the Captain.
"Why, about our marriage, you know"
Gas If l would have you'll" she burst
forth, angrily. GA man that walks Into
my garden suddenly, In his workday |
clothes. and without even settin' down, or
sayin'a wordo' courtin', for decency's sake,