National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-02-13

| OH, bhlu INC bulCOT, uttlo GIGS
fallen, ~ don't set up TO be much
the courtin' line, like the young sparl
hereabouts. You and me amt neitht
one of US chickens, you know, Mii
Fuller 80 we can arrange sensible-lik
without any nonsense OF that kind"
"Arrange what ?" inquired the lady
flashing her black eyes rather ominoui
ly upon the captain.
"Why, about our marriage, 20
know"
"As il I would have you |" she burs
forth, angrily. "A man that walks int
my garden suddenly, in his workda
clothes, and, without even sittin' down
or sayin' q word o. courtin', for decen
cy's sake, tells me I'm no chicken, an
asks me downright to arrange for mar
rying him, jest as he'd ask to buy
green goose or sucking pig for hi
Sundays dinner
And without another word, the Widoy
Fuller founced into the house, Will
the disappointed suitor walked rathe
blankly out at the gate.
"They're hard set, them widders,
he meditated. "I'll give 'em up,
guess, and take single woman. But
won't hev young, skittish one, to b.
rampaging about while I'm out O. th'
way. There's Miss Charity Hobson
She's good manager, and guess shell
do bout as we'll as any.
He had turned in the direction o.
Miss Charity's house, when he remem
bered Mrs. Fuller's hint about hit
clothes. So he went home, put on gor
geous flowered vest-kept for State oc
casions-lubbed handful of hogs
lard into his hair, anointed his boots
with the same, and set forth with
renewed vigor on his wife.hunting ex'
pedition.
Miss Charity looked up grimly as he
entered her neat kitchen, and placing
a chair for him, herself took another at
the opposite side of the room.
"You're lookin' uncommon we'll,
Miss Hobson," said the Captain, plant
ing his hands on his knees, and gazing
at her with what he meant to be most
smile-mindful, from his late
that it might be necessary
to do little in the courting line before
popping the question.
"Tm pretty we'll. thank you," re-
sponded the lady dryly.
"And monstrous snug and comfort
able lookin'," resumed the suitor,
ylancing round. "But amt you q
title lonesome at times ?"
"Not I! I've got dog and two cats
them as you see there; and mean to
lev mockin' bird as soon's Jabez Long
IAN git one for me. So I've got no reas-
ms to be lonesome"
"But cats and dogs amt human crit
ers, Miss Hobson," said Captain Til
er, insinuatingly.
II reckon I don't need to be told
reeters, but somethin' better, if any
hing"
"Not equal to husband, maybe,
Hiss Hobson-or babby-"
"a what |" shrieked Miss Charity,
iercely, glaring over her spectacles.
"Oh, nothin' particular. Only I'd
hink it would be a melancholy thing
or a woman to be all alone with lot
; cats and dogs, as she's gettin' on into
he downhill O. life, and"-he renem-
'ered Mrs. Tyron's expression" and
he valley O. the shadder. Cats and
ogs can't lick away the wrinkles from
ler face, nor bring down her gray hairs
to the grave"
"Capt'n Tiller," said Miss Hobson,
aying down on her lap the stocking
he was knitting, and looking at him,
With flush on her sallow cheek
Capt'n Tiller, I'd like to know, once
or all, what you mean?"
He saw at once that she was angry. |
Ie didn't know why-but he felt it in
on him to soothe and please
er. So he drew his chair across the
oor, and sat down close beside her.
"Come, now, let's you and me have
friendly understandin' together"
aid he, leering coaxingly into her face.
I'm sure I've got none but the softest
ind O feelings to'ard you, and don't
ee why you shouldn't recipercate."
nd, to add point to his words, he put
is left arm across the back of her
hair, and with his right forefnger
ouched her delicately and.playfully in
he ribs.
Miss Charity Hobson bounced from
er seat as if bomb-shell had exploded
eneath it.
'Git out O. this house," she shrieked.
I'll let you know how to come round,
assing lone woman, and in her own
ouse, too Here, Blinker at him
.etch him !" and with Blinker at his
eels, and Miss Hobson following
in his wake, the innocent
linded Captain Tiller made his exit
rom the house which he had entered
18th such amiable intentions.
Very dejectedly he walked home. 1t
'asn't such an easy thing, after all, to
ct wife and he felt for the present
discouraged from any fur
1er attempt in that line. Moodily he
1t down on the bottom of tnb-he
arely took chair unless compelled
nd he mused upon his adverse fate.
[e felt humbled and forlorn.
"Please, sir, missis have sent you
ome supper" whined very small
Dice behind him and the Captain,
,rning, beheld Miss Hester Bittings'
nall servant, bearing in her arms
cry large tea-tray, laden with good
,ings. There was pitcher of steam
lg coffee, plate of hot, buttered
axes, a nice steak, with onions, and
ther good things, all done to the point
perfection. Poor Captain Till6r's
cart warmed at the sight, even in the
lidst of his astonishment.
" You don't mean to say" he re.
larked to the very small servant
you don't mean to say that she-that
[iss Hester Bittings sent me these ERE
xin's?"
eyes, sir, she did, sir" responded
le diminutive handmaiden, eagerly.
She said she couldn't abide to see
zen a dog livin' in such way and eat.
X sich victuals.
The Captain wasn't offended. He felt