Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-05-20
NUMBER 81.


dinner mildly chided her for going out
without her bonnet.
Busy over his coat that afternoon, Ruth
naturally thought Of Mr.. Butterllin, while
he, wedding the late turnips, recalled her
bushes, and clumsily tried to analyzo
them. On the whole he couldn't believe
she went so far as to dislike him. And
SO night came, the mended coas hung in
its place, and under the fence the undis-
couraged Brahmas brooded above mag
mary eggs. Next morning they brooded
there still, and thore, had they been his
own, they might have continued to brood
forgotten by MIR. butterkin, who, rs his
late wife often said complainingly, new
er charged his mind with hens but
these especial Brahmas possessed pecul-
lar interest rs giving him audience with
the charming widow. Accordingly, in
the days that followed ho hoverod about
the lucklcss bipcds like bird OF prey
He bought the latest treatise on hens and
patiently tried in succession all the ex-
! periments therein suggested for subduing
/ the wills Of obdurato sitters, Mrs. Ebbe-
son assisting, as in common gratitude sho
must. This without producing the least
effect upon the Brahmas. 1t was tho
widow that grew rostive, conscious Of
the obsurdity Of Mr.. Butterbn's sudden
anl ostontatious regard for fowls.
She knew the very moment when his
heart turned toward her, but whether
hers inclined similarly toward him wasn't
for hor to say till he asked yet, coy little
woman, she gave him no chance to put
the question.
And such is human perversity, the
moro she seemed not to care for him, so
much the more WAS Mr. Butterkin re-
| solved that she should care for him. Be-
fore July was ended, he had tully mado
up his mind to propose, inwardly assured
that his late wife would sanction the pro-
ceodiug, not if she were returned to the
lesh, Of course-in that case be could not
ask it-but as shade she could not wish
to stand between him aud her beloved
Ruth. or Mr.. Ebbesons shade ho
scarcely thought, doubling, perhaps,
whethor man on cath destitute Of moral
substance could at death attain tho dignity
Of a heavenly shadow. But thore is
vast difference between purposlng to pro-
pose and proposing. Mr. Butterkin
learned this to his chagrin attor repeated
abortive attempts at giving bis frequent
interviews with Mrs. Ebbeson II sont-
mental turn. At ench advance Of his
she sped away rs shyly as gitl, and in
the secure retreat by her mothers couch
was as uuapproachahle as II seated aloft
in the chair Of Casslopoa. In regard TO
u written declaration Of lovo, Mr., Butter
kin would sooner have attempted an essay
on protopasm. August found him still
waiting for nm opportunity. lie, usually
SO prompt and Undertaking Grst SO
| lectman Of the town I The better he
loved tho widow, the more he dospised
himself till one soft twilight, whom tho
zephyrs were whispering tender thoughts
TO tho leaves, he rose with desperate re-
solve, and strobe boldly around to the
open door OF the l.. Mrs. Ebbeson sat
just within the sitting room, but hO was
too crafty to enter
If you'll kindly step this way mo-
menl," he said "I'ye another expert
ment We might try on those hens"
But having urod her to him, the nOHt
words were wide Of the mark:
81 camo to ask-that is, wanted to
now-in fact, wanted TO have u serious
talk with you"
She beloved in free will, he in fore-or-
ordination but his serious talk would not
SAVIOR Of theology, she knew. She nary
ousy essayed to condne it to poultry.
Really, Mr.. Butterkin, you take too
much trouble about those hens. They
"Nothng do for you, Ruth, ia u
trouble"
"Thoy're fairly rheumatic from stand
ing in shat barrel Of water, and for all
TINT, they're not cured OF setting"
"As WAS saying, Ruth"
"Dont say anything more about 'em.
Mr.. Butterkin, beg"
"I'm not speaking about hens, Ruth"
Here Mr. Butterkin wiped his brow with
his handkerchief -a a wdower's grimy
handkerchief ~ came to talk about
you. Don't 60. Your mother didn't
call. Why won't you marry me, Ruth :"
She gave him a dozen reasons on the
spot; but the fallacy OF feminine logic
being proyerbial, Mr.. Butterkin was not
the man to heed them. At least this l
know; before the snow came the widow
Ebbeson had become Mrs Butterkin,
and frosty evenings she and her husband
might have been seen carefully sheltorng
two late broods OF chickens, for in tho
end, tho Brahmas had their way.-Hdr-
per''s Ba<aar.