The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-09-04

t and see alter the things. IT'S thei
: business, you know. We can't o
rubbin' and scrubbin' around in tR
kitchens and bedrooms. Now "
lheerd from Nancy that you're a no
table house-keeper and manager"
"Ob, you want me to keep hous
| for you, mebbe."
"About that, replied the Cap
tain, staring steadfastly into tn
| fire.
"What celery?
"Why, wasn't jest calculatin' up
on salary. l thought we nigh
go into partnership together, if it,
agreeable. Pm a plain. business
man, as you know, widder; and al
I've got to say is, if you'll be Mrs
captain Seth Tiller-"
"Stay a minute, if you please
Cap'in!" exclaimed the lady, hasti
ly jumping up. 81 do believe then
cookies is burning!"
He waited patiently while she
busted herself about the oven. Then
she came back, wiping her heated
face on her clean apron, and placid
ly resumed her seat and her knit
ting.
"Well, widder, what's the agree.
ment?" inquired the suitor then.
"Why, you see, Cap'in Tiller," she
answered, slowly and thoughtfuliy
'I've been considerin' of it while
tendin' them cookies, and 1 about
made up my mind that l needn't be
in hurry to marry again. I've had
my share of wife's trouble, and
feel like takin' a little rest to myself
now, as go downward into the val
ley of the shadder, where well all
find our everlastin' rest"
Il might, perhaps, help you on
the way you know" said the Cap
tain, argumentatively.
"Pm obliged to you," she respond
ed, with a sigh, "but Pm pretty
strong yet, thanks be to goodness
and can get along well enough with
out help-least-wise, for a spell long
er."
"Well,' said Captain Tiller, slowly
rising, ''if that's your resolution, I
needn't waste no more O. your or
my valuable time about it, l calcu-
late. Good mornin' Widderi"
"Stay minute, Cap'in! Won't
you have some cookies and cup O.
tea afore you go?"
mo, thank you, marin. I'm
obleeged to you the same. Good
mornin', widder!"
And the Captain walked home,
and sat down on the three legged
stool, and gazed into the fire, as be-
fore.
The result of his wooing had been
to him altogether unexpected. Here
was a woman who had actually re-
ceived and rejected a proposal with
out giving it more than a moments
thought.
81 guess she's too old and worn
out, as she says" he cogitated, and
l must look up a younger Widder,
who'd likely not be inclined to think
so hard of the matter. There's
Mrs. Fuller-she as was Melissy
Brown, if remember rightly. She's
but thirty. Rather too young for
my ideas; but l s'pose l must put
up with it.
No sooner thought of than acted
upon.
Mrs. Fuller was in her garden
planting hollyhock roots. She wore
a flounced calico dress, and girlish
white apron, deliberately ruffled, and
looked as the Captain thought, like
taut-rigged schooner under full
sail. For an instant his heart mis-
gave him, though he felt resssured
by the gracious smile with which he
was received, as the young widow
furtively adjusted her front hair be-
meath her sun bonnet, and gave the
latter itself a coquettish tilt on her
head.
swell, Miss Fulle- you're prepar-
in for spring, betimes, see. Fam
cy garden truck-ah?"
'To be sure, Captain! I like flow
ers and other pretty things. Don't
your" answered she, with side
long glance of her black eyes.
"Well, I scarcely know" said the
Captain, doubtfully. "To my mind
there's nothing prettier than"
"Than what?" " urged Mrs. Fuller,
pretending to look unconscious.
"Than net full O. fine herrin's.
You ought to q seen my last load,
all alive an kickin', and squirming
and sparkling like-like-" the Cap
tain was not remarkable for lively
fancy, so he added-"like nothin'
but fresh herrin's can squirm and
sparkle!"
The widow stopped down and
grubded at a marigold root.
81 hate herring" said she.
eyes? Well, now, that's rather un-
fortunate, The woman that takes
me must take my herrin's likewise. y
"Who's goin' to take you?"
"Why, I hope she amt so very fur
off," said the Captain signifcaDtly =;
''least-wise, not outside this ere gar
den."
"You don't mean me2"
"Well, p'raps 1 do mean you"
"Humph!" said the widow, with
a toss of her sun bonnet and short
laugh. "Well, must say that this
is a queer way to come a courtin' -
oh" said the suitor little crest
fallen, 81 don't set up to be much in
the courtin' line, like the young
sparks hereabouts. You and me
amt neither one of US chickens,you
know, Miss Fuller, so we can arrange
sensible-like without any nonsense
of that kind"
Arrange what?" inquired the
lady, flashing her black eyes rather
ominously upon the Captain.
"Why, about our marriage, you
know"
Gas il 1 would have youl" she
burst forth angrily. A man that
walks into my garden suddenly, in
his work-day clothes, and, without
even settin' down, or sayin' a word
O. courtin', for decency's sake, tells
me Pm no chicken, and asks me
downright to arrange for marrying
him, jest as he'd ask to buy a green
goose or a sucking pig for his Sun