The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-02-07
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.Perhaps, because they never camsi'''
said the neighbors.
"You're looking uncommon well, Miss
Hobson,' said the Captain, planting his
hands on his knees, and gazing at her with
what he meant to be an amiable smile
mindful, from his late experience, that it
might be necessary to do a little in the
counting line before popping the question:
Pm pretty well, 1 thank you" responded
the lady, drily.
"And monstrous snug and comfortable
lookin'," resumed the sutton, glancing
round. "But, ain'tyou a little lonesome at
times?"
"NotI! I've got q dog, and two cats
them as you see there; and mean to hev a
mockin' bird. soon's Jabez Long can git one
or me. So, I've got no reasons to be lone
some"
"But cats and dogs amt human critters,
Miss Hobson,'s said Captain Tiller, insinu-
atingly.
81 reckon l don't need to be told that,
| Captain. They amt human c~reeters, but
somethin' better, if anything"
"Not equal to a husband. maybe, Miss
| Hobson-or a baby"
"a whatr' shrieked Miss Charity,
fiercely, glancing over her spectacles.
son, nothin' particular: Only I'd think
| III WOulu Dc Il IhCtdlSlOly lliiIS " a Wotuuh
to be all alone with a LOT O. cats and dogs, as
| she's gettin' on into the downhill o. life
| and o-he remembered Mrs. Tyron's express
| sion-s and the valley o. the shadder. Cats
| and dogs can't lick away the wrinkles from
her face, nor bring down her grey hairs
| with-with pleasure to the grave"
"Caps'n Tiller,'' said Miss HObson, lay
ing down on her lap the stocking she was
knitting, and looking at him, with a flush
o~ -. ,ono-- ohnaG SC,rt>p Til1ar Vsd
like to know, once for all, what you mean Z"
He saw that she was angry. He didn't
know why-but felt it incumbent upon him
to soothe and please her. So he drew his
chair across the floor, and sat down close
beside her.
Come, now, let's you and me have a
friendly un~derstandin' together" said he,
leering coaxingly into her face. I'm sure
I've got none but the softest kind O. feel
ings to'ard you, and Idon't see why you
shouldn't reciprocate. And, to add point
to his words, he put his left arm across the
back of her chair, and with his right fore
finger touched her delicately and playfully
in the ribs.
Miss Charity Hobson bounded from her
seat as though q bombshell had exploded be-
meath it.
"Git ont out O. this house." she shrieked.
,'I'l let YOU know how to come round, sass
1 lily Il ItlC "oLushAls aiiN IA ASh W 49,
too! Here, blinker! at him I! Ketch him!"
and with Blinker at his heels, and Miss
Hobson following ~wrathfully in his wake,
| the innocent-minded Captain Tiller made
his exit from the house which he had en-
tered with such aimable intentions.
Very dejectedly he walked nome. 1t
| wasn't such a very easy thing, after all to
get a wife; and he felt for the present COM
pletely discouraged from any further at
tempt in that line. Moodily he sat down
on the bottom of q tub-he rarely took
chair, unless he was co~mpelled-and unused
upon his adverse fste. He felt humbled and
forlorn.
please. sir, missis have sent you some
supper" whined a very small voice behind
him; and the Captain turnee, beheld Miss
Hesper Billings very small servant, bear
ing in his arms a very large tea tray, laden
with good things. There was o pitcher of
steamIng coffee, a plate OF hot buttered
cakes, o nice steak with onions, and other
good things all done to the poiE: OF perfec-
ton. Poor Captain Tillsr's hear. warmed
at the sight, even in the mid OF his aston
ishment.
..You don't mean tn say" he remarked TO
the very small servant-"you don't mean to
say that she-that Miss Hesper Billings sent
me these ere fiiXin's?'
Eyes. sir, she did sir responded the d.
munltlfc HanuilidIQcE. taStIiy. put saiu
she couldn't abide to see even a dog Twin in
such q way and eating such victuals."
The Captain wasn't offended. He felt too
much subdued for that now: and, besides,
the sight of that sapper-tray wsuld have
overcOmea any feeling of rising wrath in his
bosom. He was even sensible of a glow of
emotion, he took down from the mantle
shelf a stuffed green parrot, glued TO a sea-
shell, and thrust II into the hands OF the
small maiden.
There, my lcetle gal," he said, there's
something for your trouble; and say to
your missis, I'm heartily Obliged for her
kindness.
He emplicd the contents of all the plates
and dishes into crockery of his own, and,
without thinking of washing the former,
sent them back to their owner, together
with the small model of a fishing smack,
wrought by himself in his hours Of leisure
while on shore. Miss Hasper laughed when
she beheld these things.
"Poor man. she said. she hasn't got a
bad heart, after all; and it would be a pity
to let him starve."
So, next day she sent him G d4!n,iiy cooked
dinner.
Miss Hesper," said Captain TilIer, that
afternoon, rather shyly, addressing her as
she sat at her window sewing, wouldn't
you like to hev your fence palings fixed up
a bit? see they're broke through"
"Why, it would be q convenience to have
them pslings ~mended," she admitted.
Whereupon Captain Seth set to work, and
with hammer and nails manfully repaired
the fence.
"Just call on me whenever you're in need
o. sich jobs" he remarked, amiably, when
it was completed.
"And I'll do your cooking for you while
you're ashore, Captain" responded the
gratified Miss Billings.
A sudden light flashed upon the mind of
Captain Seth. Why had he never before
thought of this?
Miss Hesper," he said, "you don't mean
to say that you'll forgive Pickle for worry
ing your Pink:'
"Why, he is a worriting dog" the lady
replied; obviously.
I'm send hin awsyr' said the Captain,
magnanimously.
"Lal what an idea, Captain! Oh, no!
let the critters alone. l dare say they'll yet
be friends, after q while. It's all our duties
to be friendly to one another, you know"
"TO be surei" acquiesced the Captain,
heartily. "Wherefore, 1t follers that you
and me ought to be friends as well as Pickle
"I'm sure I've no wish to be otherwise
with anybody" said Miss Hesper, looking
down at her knitting.
"Then," said the Captain, slowly, and
somewhat efficiently, "mebbe you wouldn't
object to"
"To what, Captaing"
IN IT, l.Ia. -.-.l