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

n "there's something for your trouble
5 and say to your missis, I'm highl
r obleeged for her kindness"
8 He emptied the contents OF the plate
3 and dishes into crockery Of his owr
and, without thinking OF washing th
former, sent them back to their owner
. together with the small model of
Ashing-smsck, wrought by himself i
, his hours of leisure while on shore
Miss Hester laughed when she behelt
! these things.
:" Poor man." she said, che hasn'
, got bad heart, after all and it woult
be pity to let him starve."
So. next day, she sent him daintily
cooked dinner.
"Miss Hesper," said Captain Tile
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 I see they're
broke through"
; "Why, it would be convenience *
have them palings mended," she ad
mitted.
Whereupon Captain Seth set to work
and, with hammer and nails, manfully
repaired the fence.
"Jest call on me whenever you're in
need OF sich jobs" he remarked, amia-
bly,, when it was completed.
"And I'll do your cooking for you
while you're ashore, Captain" re.
sponded the gratified Miss Bittings.
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 worrying your Pink ?"
"Why, he is a worriting dog" the
lady replied, obviously.
"I'll send him away |" said the Cap
tain, magnanimously.
ella! what an idea, Captain Oh,
no let the critters alone. I dare say
they'll be friends after awhile. It's all
our duties to be friendly to one an
other, you know"
"To be sure !! acquiesced the Gap.
tain, heartily. Wherefore, it follers
thet you and me ought to be friends,
as we'll as Pickle and Pink"
"Tm sure I've no wish to be other
wise with any body" said Miss Hes.
per, looking down at her knitting.
"Then," said the Captain, slowly,
and somewhat difidently, "maybe you
would not object to"
"To what, Captain?"
"To enter into kinder partnership,
you see-you and me together-to be
help to one another?"
"I'm willin' to do what help I can
for you and my other fellow-creeters,
l hope and believe" responded Miss
Bittlngs, piously, "It's my duty, when
I see forlorn body in need of help, to
do what can to make 'em comforta-
After this, very few words were nec-
essary; and an hour subsequent, Cap.
tain Seth Tiller was seen with beam
ing coantenance 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.
That evening, as he sat at luxurious |
supper with his wife, to the great ad-
of the small handmaiden, and |
the apparent bewilderment of Pickle |
and Pink, the following note was left
for him:
"Captain Tiller, I've been consider
in of what you said, and, as second
thoughts wiscst, hev come to the con.
clusion that it will be comfort to hev
a hand to help me down into the valley
O. the shadder. Yours truly,
W1pDER TYRoN."
"Durn the valley O. the shadder y
exclaimed Captain Tiller, throwing
aside the note, and betaking himself
anew to his oysters.
The tempting bivalves were scarcely
disposed Of, when hard knock at the
door heralded harsh voice, which in
quired:
"Capt'n Tiller to hum ?"
"Yes'm," responded the small hand
maiden, promptly.
"Then give him this" said the hard
voice and bit of paper, folded tri-
angularly, was thurst into the girls
hand, while hasty steps were heard re-
treating.
"The paper contained these mysteri-
ous words, in pencil:
eff Captain Tiller he will step round
It Miss g. Hobson's-and hopes he will
excuse Blinker, which she knows and
believes his intentions was not to be
.ude to her, and mistake on @. HIS
oart-I will be pleased to see him.
OH"
burned if I co." muttered Captain
FILLER, lighting his pipe.
'Why, what's it all about ?" inquired
lis bride, glancing somewhat suspici-
ously at the two notes.
So the captain told her
Humph!' said Mrs. Seth Tiller
md sat thinking, rather moodily.
"You see," suggested her spouse
leprecatingly, 81 hadn't IN idea then
hat you'd have me-"
Mrs. Tiller was sensible woman, and
'he accepted the explanation without
more ado.
"Please, SIR" said the small maid,
With very big eyes, "her's boy come
md brought another letter"
"Let's see," said Mrs. Seth, exercis-
ng her matrimonial privilege. And she
'ead aloud the following, written on
'ink-tinted paper, and sealed in an en-
'ossed envelope:
"DEAR CAPTAIN TnLER.-Been ex-
,ecting you round to-day. Hope no
,fense as you know when a woman's
ook by surprise she's obliged to say
What she don't always mean. I'm to
lone this evening from to 10.
"Traly yours,
"Well." said the Captain, running
lis fingers through his hair, "if this
lon't beat all Rum critters, them ,
women p I
"And bold enough, some of 'em,'
oined in Mrs. Tiller. "To be making
to a m arried man |"