Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-07-27
Vol. xxi. Whole No. ll2l. No. 80.

she dislodgea them; six times they rein
stated themselves; and now at noon there
they sat brooding over the pile of bricks
she had heaped in their nests, winking
their small, round eyes at her in lazy tri-
uTph! |. was too much Was an immor-
tai woman to be outwitted by couple of
finite hens?. The little widow renewed the
conflict, but not daring again to lay hands
upon the belligerent bipeds, she resorted
to the discreet experiment Of poking at
them through the open window, thus af-
| fording Mr.. Butterkin, as he rounded the
corner. confused vision of agitated calico
dancing about distracted rake-handle.
| What! setting again. Mrs. Ebbeson?
The email lady, till then unconscious OF
the gentleman's proximity. hastily with
drew her head from the window and look
ed down In some confusion from her perch
on an inverted barrel.
Yes, they're setting again; but it's just
as well-just exactly as wel,' said she
rather incoherently, narrowed by the fear
lest she were displaying her ankles.
| Now. now, we must see about this re-
| sponded MIR. Butterkin fishing in his
pocket for a ball of twine he had bought
that day for stringing tomatoes, and mean
while glancing over his shoulder, appar-
emily to assure himself that the orchard
was where it should be. He would have
4 Hktu uOtuluS DctlcT tndu 10 llit the WIDOW
down. but his instinct told him she would
prefer to descend by herself, unobseryed,
and he was man capable of self-sacrifce.
Wen tie the hens to the fence, he added
presently, conscious OF q thrill OF delight
as he pronounced the we
1 He knew himself better than iu the ear
| ly morning, and could not disguise the fact
that he felt Il personal satisfaction in en-
tering into even the humblest partnership
with Mrs. Ebbesou-a satisfaction evident
| y not shared by the Brahmas, who. re-
senting his continued Interference. tore his
coat mercilessly. It was Jagged rent
| from pocket to hem, in his Sunday gar
ment, too, which in Roxanna's time had
never gone to the village on week day;
but who was there now to watch over Mr.
| Buiterkin's apparel? Not Mr. Butterkin,
| surely. to whom the distinctions of dress
were but as sounding brass and timkling
| cymbal.
What a wicked wicked shameu cried
Mrs. Ebbeson. in distress. But I'll darn
| Il just as well as | can.
| No, no, thank you. it's of no conse-
queuce, replied Mr.. Buttcrkin, with manly
indifference.
1 But Esther cant mend broadcloth.'
| 'Can'ty You don't say So
/ lmbued with the masculine superstition
| that incapacity with the needle betokens
! dioCy. Mr.. Butterkin looked agha~t.
| No; she's young. you know, and not
used TO sewing Besides, I'm responsible
| for this rent Let me attend to 1t, please.
| He removed the garment without word,
! his face flushing like berries In au-
tumm. Not at the thought that. since E.
thcr was incapable, he must be indie bted To
the widow for past ftyors with The needle
indeed he would have unblushingiy de-
clarcd that this was the first occasion since
/ RoXanna'. decease that garment Of hi, had
needed rcpair-but he felt rclurtauce to
being dependant upon Ruth for mrujal
service. when il was now the growing d.
I sire of hi heart that she should lean upon
/ hlu.
Seeing hIm color. Mr. Ebhcsun, GU, nt
/ sympathy. culDred too, aud such Vivid
ana lasting crimson thar her mother at din
ner mildly chided her Tor going out with
/ out her bonnet.
Busy over his coat that afternoon, Ruth
naturally thought of Mr. Butterkin, while
! he. wedding the late turnips, recalled her
| bushes, aud clum,ily tried to analyze
them. On the whole, he couldn't believe
I She went so lar a 10 dislike him. And 30
/ night came, the mcndtd coat hung In its
/ place, and under the fence the uudiScOur-
! aged Brahmas brooded over imaginary
eggs. Next morning they brooded there
still, and sthere, had they been his own,
might they have continued to brood, for
gotten by Mr.. Butterkn, who. as his lake
wife often said compIainingIy. never
charged his mind with hens; but these es-
pecial Brahmas possessed peculiar interest
as giving him audience with the charming
widow. Accordingly. in the day that fol-
lowed, he hovered about the luckless hi
pcds 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 obdu-
rate sisters Mrs. Ebbeson assisting as in
common gratitude she must. This without
producing the least effect upon the Brah-
mas. 1t was the widow that grew restive,
conscious OF the absurdity of Mr.. Butter
kin's sudden 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 TIL he asked; yet. coy little
woman, she gave him no chance TO put the
question.
And, such is human peryersity, the II ore
she seemed not to care for him, so much
the more was Mr.. Butterkin resolved that
she should care tor him. Before July was
ended he had fully made mp his mind to
propose, inwardy assured that his late
wife would sanction the proceeding, not if
that case he would not ask it-but as a
shade she would not wish to stand be-
tween him and her beloved Ruth. OF jlr
EbbesOns shade he scarcely thought,
doubling, perhaps, whether a man on
earth, destitute of moral substance, could
at death attain the dignity of heavenly
shadow. But there is vast difference be-
tween proposing to propose and proposing.
Mr.. Butterkin learned this to his chagrin,
I..ifa taI
his frequent interviews with Mrs. Ebbeson
a sentimental turn. At each advance of
| hi, she sped away as shyly as a girl. and
i'll the secure retreat by he motLer's couch
was as unapprOachable as il seated aloft
in the chair OF Cassiopea. In regard TO II
written declaration of love. Mr.. Butterkin
would sooner have attempted an essay on
protoplasm. August found him still wait
| Ing tor an opportunity. He, usually so
prompt and unhesitating-the first s"lect-
man of the townl 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 resolve, 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 a moment
he said, I've another experiment to try on
those hens
But having lured her to him, his next
words were wide OF the mark
Il came to ask-that is. | wanted TO
know in fact, wanted to have a serious
talk with YOU
She believed in free viii, he in foreordi-
nation; but his serious talk would not sa-
vOr of theology, she knew. She nervous
ly essayed to confine it to poultry.
Really Mr.. Butterkin. you lake 100
much trouble about those hens. They
Nothing do for you Ruth, is trouble
They're fairly rheumatic from standing
in that barrel of wafer and tor all that,
they're not cured of setting
AS was saying, Ruth
Don't say any more about 'em, Mr.. But
terkin, l beg
i am not speaking about hens, Ruth.
,, Here Mr. Butterkin wiped his brow with
! his handkerchief. i came to talk about
YOU. Don't 90. Your mother didn't call