The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-16

D
and, without thinking OF washing the
former, sent them back to their owner,
together with the small model OF a
fshing-smack, wrought by himself in
his hours OF leisure while on shore.
Miss Hester laughed when she beheld
these things.
{" Poor man." she said, she hasn't
got o bad heart, after all and 1t would
be q pity TO let him starve." y ]
So. next day, she sent him daintily.
cooked dinner. rtt Ii
miss Hesper," said Captain Tiller
that afternoon, rather shyly. addressing
her as she sat at her window sewing,
wouldn't you like to hey your fence
palings fixed up bit? / see they're
broke through" ..4
"Why, 1t would be convenience TO
have them palings mended," she ad.
mitted. ,-
Whereupon Captain Seth set to work,
and, with hammer and nails, manfully
repaired the fence. n
hJest call on mo whenever you're in
need OF siclliebs," hp remarked, amia-
bly,, when 1t was completed. i
"And I'll do your cooking, for you
while you're ashore, Captain re-
sponded the gratifed Miss Bittings.
A sudden light flashed upon the mind
OF Captain Seth. Why had ho never
before thought OF this2 i- .s.4 n
"MIiss Hesper," he said, "you don't
mean TO soy that you'll forgive Pickle
for worrying your Pink :"
"why, he Is q worriting dog" the
lady replied, dubiously.
dTll send him away |" said the Cap.
tain, magnanimously.
"Lal what an idea, Captain | Oh,
no let the critters alone. / dare say
they'll be friends after awhile. It's all
our duties 10 be friendly to one an
othor, You Know
"To be sure r. acquiesced tho Gap.
tain, heartily. "Wherefore, ii triollers
tibet you and me ought 10 be- friends,
as well as Pickle and Pink" ti I.
elm sure I've no wish to be other,
wisewith any body" said Miss Hes
per, looking down at her knitting.
"ThGn," said the Captain, slowly,
and somewhat diflidently, "maybe You
WOulu uOt ODlecttO-
ITO what, Captain2p lgs ul "
"To enter into q kinder partnership,
you see-you and me together-to be q
help to one anotherp ia -ll
"Tm willin' 10 do what help I can
for you and my other fellow.creetefs,
hope and believe responded Miss
Billings, piously, "It's my duty, when
see a forlorn body in need Of help, to
do what can to make 'em comforta-
ble." ta- . af.- lf a.
After this, very few words were nee
essary; and m hour subsequent, Cap.
tain Seth Tiller was seen with beam.
ing countenance entering the gate OF
Parson Dempster's yard. And on the
following day the twain-that is, Cap
tain Seth Tiller and Miss Hesper BIT.
tings-were made one. u r.gi
That evening, as he sat at aluxurious
supper with his wife, TO the great nd.
miration OF the small handmaiden, and
the apparent bewilderment OF Pickle
and Pink, the following note was left
for him: a-h 'lt re 1Fi \
"oaptain Tiller, I've been consider.
in of what ysu said, and, as second
thoughts wisest, hev come TO the con.
clusion that IL will be comfort to hey
q hand TO help me down into the valley
O. the shadder. Yours truly c'cs
WIDDER TrRoN."
"Durn the valley O. tho shadder |"
exclaimed Captain Tiller, throwing
aside the note, and betaking himself
anew to his oysters.
The tempting bfvalyes were scarcely
disposed OF, when hard knock at the
door heralded harsh voice, which in.
quired
"Capt'n Tiller to HUMP"
"Yes'm,r responded The small hand
maiden, promptly.
"Then give him this" said The hard
voice rand q bit Of paper, folded tri.
angulafly, was thurst into the girls
hand, while hasty steps were Heard re.
treating. -e-,-
"The paper contained these nysteri-
Gus words, in pencil ~, 80 loI
( "1f Captain Tiller he will step round
at Miss q. Hobsons-and hopes he will
excuse Blinker, which she knows and
believes his intentions was not 10 be
rude to her, and mistake on O. Il. .'s
part-I will be pleased TO see him. II
OH"
"Durned II 60" muttered Captain
Tiller, lighting his pipe.
"why, what's it all about ." inquired
his bride, glancing somewhat suspici-
ously at the two notes. II
So the captain told her
"Humph r said Mrs. Seth Tiller
and sat thinking, rather moodily.
"You see," suggested her spouse
deprecatingly, "I hadn't, an idea them
that you'd have me-"
Mrs. Tiller was a sensible woman, and
she accepted the explanation without
6Piease, siri'tsaid the small maid,
with very big eyes, "her's boy come
and brought another letter" III
i"Let's see," said Mrs. Seth, exercis.
ing her matrimonial privilege. And she
read aloud the following, written on
pink.tinted paper, and sealed in an en-
bossed envelope: tJI1p ll
"DEAR CAprA1N TnIER Been ex-
pecting you round to-day. Hope no
oifense ; as you know whom woman's
took by surprise she's obliged 70 say
what she don't always meansi I'm TO
home this evening from Z 10.
~ "Truly yours, ~.
.9EA Aa 80" MELIssA FUIIEn."
"well," said tho Captain, running
his fingers through his hair, "ii this
don't beat all Rum critters, them