Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-28

He had turned in the direction of
Miss Charity's house, when he remem-
bered Mrs. Fuller's hint about his
clothes. So he went home, put on a
gorgeous, lowered vest--kept for State
occasions-rubbed handful of hogs
lard into his hair, Amounted his boots
with the same, and set forth with re-
newed vigor on his wife hunting expe-
dition.
Miss Charity looked up grimly as he
entered her neat kitchen, and placing
chair for him, herself took another at
the opposite side of the room.
1t wasn't her custom to receive the
visits of single men alone in her house,
as she often said. :.
perhaps, because they never come, "
said the neighbors.
your lookin' 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
smiie-mindful, from his late ex-
perience, that it might be necessary to
do little in the counting line before
popping the question.
''I'm pretty well, l thank YOU" re-
sponded the lady, drily.
"And monstrous snug and comfort
able lookin'," resumed the sutton, look
ing round. But amt you a little
lonesome at times?"
mot l! I've got dog and two cats
them as you see there; and mean to
hev mockin' bird as soon's Jabez Long
can git one for me. So I've got no rea-
sons to be Lonesome"
But cats and dogs amt human crit
tiers, Miss Hobson," said Captain Til
Ter, insinuatingly.
81 reckon l don't need to be told
that, captain. They amt human cree
tiers, but somethin' better, if any ching. -
'Not equal to husband, may be,
Miss Hobson-or baby"
ga what" shrieked Miss Charity,
fercely glaring over her spectacles.
"Oh, nothin' particular. Only I'd
think it would be melancholy thing
for a woman to be all alone with a lot
O. rats and dogs, as she's gettin' on
into the downhill O. life, and"-he re-
membered Mrs. Tyron's expression
''and the valley O. the shadder. Cats
and dogs can't lick away the wrink.
les from her face, nor bring down her
grey hairs with-pleasure to the
grave"
"Capt'n Tiller," said Miss Hobson
laying down on her lap the stocking
she was knitting, and looking at him
with a flush on her sallow check
'Capt'n Tiller, I'd hike to know, once
for all, what you mean?"
He saw that she was angry. He
didn't know why-but he felt it incum,
bent on 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 understandin together said
he, leering coaxinglyinto herface. "I'm
sure I've got none but the softest kind
o'feelings to'ard you, and l don't see
why you shouldn't recipercate.' And
to add point to his words, he put his
left arm across the back Of her chair,
and with his right forefnger touched
her delicately and playfully in the ribs
Miss Charity Hobson bounched from
her seat as though a bomb-shell had ex,
ploded beneath it.
"Git out O. this house. she shrieked
"I'll let you know how to come round
sassing lone woman, and in her own
house, too Here, Bunker! at him!
Ketch HIM" and with Blinker at his
heels, and Miss Hobson following
wrathfully in his wake, the Innocent
minded Capt Tiller made his exit from
the house which he had entered with
such amiable intentions.
Very dejectedly he walked home. 1t
wasn't such an easy thing, after all, tc
get a wife; and he felt for the present
completely discouraged from any fur.
Their attempt in that line Moodily he
sat down on the bottom Of tub-ht
rarely took chair, unless compelled
and he unused upon his adverse fate
He felt humbled and forlorn.
please, sir, missis have sent you
some supper whined a very small
voice behind him; and the captain
turning, beheld Miss Hesper Billings
small servant, bearing in her arm l.;
very large tea-tray, laden with gooC
things. There was a pitcher of steam
ing coffee, a plate of hot, buttere(
cakes, a nice steak with onions, anC
other good things, all done to the poinr
of perfection. Poor Captain Tiller'l
heart warmed at the sight, even in tn,
midst of his establishment.
You don't mean to say, he remark
ed to the very small servant-"yor
don't mean to say that she-that Mis-
Hester Billings sent me these 'er,
fixin's?"
Eyes sir, she did, sir, . responded tn,
diminutive handmaiden, eagerly. Ssh,
said she couldn't abide to see a dos
Twin in such way and eating sicE
victuals"
The captain wasn't offended He
felt too much subdued for thatnow; and
besides, the sight of that supper tray
would have overcome any feeling o.
rising wrath in his bosom. He wa.
even sensible of glow of gratitude
and, under the influence of this emo
ton, he took down from the mantle
shelf q stuffed, green parrot, glued to ;
| SSd-Sucll, anu OuTu IL llUO lue uduus
of the small maiden.
There, my leetle gall" he said
there's something for your trouble
and say to your misses I'm highly
obleeged for her kindness
Heemptied the contents of the plates
and dishes into crockery Of his own
and, without thinking of washing tn,
former, sent them back to their owner
together with the small model Of a fish
ing-smack, wrought by himself in hi!
hours of leisure while on shore. Mis-
Hesper laughed when she beheld these
things.
Poor man." she said, che hasn't go
a bad heart, after all; and it would bt
a pity to let him starve'
So, next day, she sent him daintily
cooked dinner.
Miss Hesper," said Captain Tiller
that afternoon, rather shyly, address
ing her as she sat at her window sew
ing, wouldn't you like to hev you
fence palings fixed up a bit? SCI
they're broke through"
why, it would be convenience t.
have them palings mended," she ad
mitted.
Whereupon Captain Seth set to work
and, with hammer and nails, manfull.
repaired the fence.
"Just call on me whenever you're Il
need o sich jobs" he remarked, anna
| hlv when If was cOn,oIatad