The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-05-04

couldn't believe she went so far as to
dislike him. And 30 night came, the
mended coat hung in its place, and
under the fence the undiscouraged Brah-
mas brooded above imaginary eggs.
Next morning they brooded there still,
and there, had they been his own, might
they have continued to brood, forgotten
by Mr.. Butterkin, who, as his late wife
often said, complainingly, never charged
his mind with hens; but these especial
Brahmas possessed peculiar interest as
giving him audience with the charming
widow. Accordingly, in the days that
followed, he lowered about the luckless
bipeds like bird of prey. He bought
the latest treatise on hens, and patiently
tried in succession all the experiments
therein suggested for subduing the wills
of obdurate sitters, Mrs. Ebbeson as
sisting, as in common gratitude she
must. This without producing the
least effect upon the Brahmas. It was
the widow that grew restive, conscious
of the absurdity of Mr.. Butterkin's sud-
den and ostentatious regard for fowls.
She knew the very moment when his
heart turned toward her, but whether
hers inclined similarly toward him
wasn't for her to say till he asked; yet,
coy little woman, she gave him no
chance to put the question.
And, such is human perversity, the
more she seemed not to care for him, so
much the more was Mr.. Butterkin re-
solved that she should care for him.
Before July was ended he had fully
made up his mind to propose, inwardly
assured that his late wife would sane
tion the proceeding, not if she were re-
turned to flesh, of course-in that case
he would not ask it-but as shade she
would not wish to stand between him
and her beloved Ruth. OF Mr.. Ebbe-
sons shade he scarcely thought, doubt
ing, perhaps, whether man on earth
destitute of moral substance could at
death attain the dignity OF heavenly
shadow. But there is vast difference
between purposing to propose and pro-
posing. Mr.. Bstterkin learned this to
his chagrin after repeated abortive at
te mpts at giving his frequent interviews
with Mrs. Ebbeson a sentimental turn.
At each advance of his she sped away as
shyly as girl, and in the secure retreat
by her mothers couch was as unap-
proachable as if seated aloft in the chair
of Cassiopea. In regard to a written
declaration of love, Mr.. Butterkin would
sooner have attempted an essay on pro-
toplasm. August found him still wait
ing for an opportunity. He, usually so
prompt and unhesitating- first Sc
lectman of the town! The better he
loved the widow, the more he despised
himself, till one soft twilight, when the
zephyrs were whispering tender thoughts
to the leaves, he rose with desperate re-
solve, and strobe boldly round to the
open door of the L. Mrs. Ebbeson sat
just within the sitting room, but he was
too crafty to enter.
"If you'll kindly step this way mo-
ment," he said, ''I've another expert
ment we might try on those hens"
But having lured her to him, his next
words were wide of the mark
81 came to ask-that is, wanted to
KNOWN fact, 1 wanted to have a seri-
ous talk with you"
She believed in free will, he in fore
but his "serious talk" would
not SAVIOR of theology, she knew. She
essayed to confine it to poul-
try.
"Really, Mr.. Butterkin, you take
too much trouble about those hens.
They -
" Nothing 1 do for you, Ruth a
trouble"
They're fairly rheumatic from stand
ing in that barrel of water, and, for all
that, they're not cured of setting"
:" AS was saying, Ruth -
Don't say any more about 'em, Mr..
Butterkin, beg"
"I'm not speaking about hens, Ruth"
Here Mr.. Butterkin wiped his brow with
his handkerchief-a widower's grimy
kerchief. 81 came to talk about you.
Don't go. Your mother didn't call. Why
won't you marry me, Ruth 2"
She gave him dozen reasons on the
spot; but the fallacy of feminine logic
being proverbial, Mr.. Butterkin was
not the man to heed them. At least
this know before the snow came the
widow Ebbeson had become Mrs. But
terkin, and frosty evenings she and her
husband might have been seen carefully
sheltering two late broods of chickens,
for in the end the Brahmas had their
way.-Basar.