Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-06

folloW MS sister = example, anu tnke unto
himself a helpmate, but the Captain was
rather ditiden, on this point, and avcrred
that he had no time TO waste in courtship.
| II the right woman were to turn up, who
would marry him right away, without any
decentralization and fooling. why he might
be induced to think Of il, for his clothes
were woefully in want of repair. and his cook
ing was none Of the best, to say nothing of
house cleaning. and other such drudgery, for
the execution Of which women had been
specially created by kind and considera,e
| Providence.
A. i, vas, the Captain slowly shook his
iron gray locks, and brnyely announced his
own and Pickles intention to rub along to-
gether. and rough 1t ou, as bes, they nigh;
maybe something would turn up in time.
The Captain was Of philosophic turn Of
mind. and inclined to take things easy. Not
so Pickle. who mads an occasion Of demur
or aggression Of everything tha; fell in his
way.
And thus i, had been. indeed. ,ha, Cap
tain Teller had had the misfortune OF a mis-
understanding with Miss Mshitable Parsons.
before he had been three days her neighbor.
II bad all come about through Pickle and
Spice. Spice had. Throughout, her life, en-
joyed the undispuicd privilege Of daily sizes
,as on the summit Of the fcnce-po sepa-
rating the two gardens which Pickle. OBJ
serving. had resented and resisted
~arrantable intrusion upon his own and his
masters domestic privacy.
| A deadly fcud had thereupon sprung up
between these two. resulting in more than
| one bloody encounter, wherein Pickle had
nearly los, an eye, and Spice had narrowly
escaped With her life.
Miss Mahi,Ahle had taken par, with her
pcrseeuted cat, and Captain Teller had de
Tended the cause Of his axgrieyed dog so
that the ooolness existing between those two
animals had extended to their owners.
No one, hoxever-noi even Mahi,able--
hal dreamed Of the Captains carrying the
matter so far as 10 threaten 10 murder her
| precious cat
Spice was the best known and mos, highly
respected cat in the town, and. with the cN-
eep;on Of that inoorrigible youngster. Dick
| Purnel-La~ycr Purnel's son. 10 whom most
Of the mischief in the community might be
iraoed-no one had ever We, dared 10 shy a
briekbat a, Nj. Parsons asori,e, or 10
shave her tail and string il with spools Of
assorted siyes
| As for Pickle, a bow legged. crop-eared
bull-;erricr. his master often declared him
10 be the perfection Of the canine species,
With whom he would not par, for his weight
IN gold. Pickle has one weakness. the Cap
tam sorroufully admitted. and tha, was rats
On this particular April morning, Captain
Teller, having paid an early visI, 20 the boat
| returned home to his seven o'clock break
| fast. lie entered a, the front door with a
cheerful counienance. followed BY Pickle
bu, when, fifteen minutes later he made his
appearance in his back garden. for the pur.
/ pose Of cutting ~ood for his Ere his broad.
honest and not unoomely countcnance wore
a thoughtful and severe aspect, and hi. eve.
rested s;ernly upon Sally. she fled into
her mistress back door with Spice IN her
apron.
Captain Teller turned over a log with his
foot. and muttercd TO himself
Rum 'un, she Is All ~immen folks are
yum 'uns seems TO me. Glad I've got moth
| IN wha;sOme,er to do with All, Of EN-. I'm
independent Of the hull set am ."
lie turned the log again, looking for a
favorable spot ~hereupon TO commence op-
era,ions. glanced at his ,attcred coat and
,Tovsers airing on the back s;oop. and
| sighed
Not bu, ~ha, there may be some good
ones among EN-. Il body only knew where
10 find en- as the di'mond- " asher said to
| the pebbles. A smart. tidy. cheerful, willin'
house keeper, rouid be a convenience TO hev
about ones house bui-ahem ,--she's \ rum
specimen, there's no den,in.' What's got
her back up so sudden this time like that
pcsky cat OF hers"
II Mas AZ this moment that Miss Parsons.
with ,irtuous Indignation in her eyes, and
outraged innocence in her aspect made her
appearance on her back porch.
''Cap'n Teller :"
Good mornin', marm." responded the
person addressed. with much dignity.
I'm st1prised al you" said Miss Par
sons, by way Of commencement, and with
marked emphasis
Same to you. marin. If | may be per
nittsd so to express self-nie aiming moth
ing disrespeciful TO u ~immin."
Miss Mahitable's face flushed.
ii don't see. Csp'n Teller, Why YOU should
be surprised q, womsn's having word to
say for herself, when she's abused and ILL.,
treated"
Very sorry, marm, if you've been wor-
ried. Pickle never meant it for YOU. So
longs your cat riH aggerava,e him by in
vadin' his premises, he can skeersly be
blamed for showin' the independence OF his
natur'. If she'd keep on her own side,
,here'd be no difficulty"
My cat has So; on that fence for over
three years undisturbed, TIL you and
your dog came here TO meddle and worry,
and make fuss in the neighborhood," said
Miss Parsons, Indignantly. "What harm
does the cat do? It's all owing to that
nasty, ugly, mean -natured dog Of yours.
And you dare to think Of shooting my Spice,
for sake Of an ugly brute like that :"
Captain Teller stood erect, and with one
hand resting on the handle Of the axe and
the other extended in noble, oratorical at
,itude, replied, with kindling eye and flushed
face:
"Marm, fur be it from me to stoop to wor=
nit and badger a helpless wimmen. Blu,
when il comes 70 situation such as the
present, when you call my dog-a dog like
that. manipulating to Pickle, who with
head and tail erect, was smiling in the di-
rection of Spice, dozing in the window
when you call him nasty and mean-na-
tured, and threaten to pizen him. all on &C
count Of a pesky critter sich as that cat O.
yours"
Il didn't say word about pizen. II was
you threatened to shoot my Spice" said Miss
Mahitable. Indignantly.
"Marm? The word shoot hasn't passed
these lips Of mine, that Pm aweer Of Blu,
the word pizen. I've got writ down in black
and white, as you well know
"Cap'n Teller, don't know what you're
talking about, and I'm doubtful whether
you know it yourself What have got to
do with pizen' And didn't you send me
note this very day, threatening to shoot my
cat'"
Seems to me, Miss 'Hitable, you've 20,
your idears oddly mixed up this mornin',"
responded the Captain, grimly. If I'm to
believe my own senses, it was you, sent me
note. as found under my street door this
morning, informing me Of your kind inten-
tons t. pissn my dog" .
"Well, l never CALCULATED Miss Mahita-
bic. "Why, never dreamed Of such an out
rageous thing! You're making up that
story against me. Cap'n Teller, for no earthly
purpose except to excuse that note Of yours
about shooting my cat, and you know it,"
Captain Teller manifested no indignant
resentment at this accusation. On the con-
trary, sudden light and intelligence came
into his eyes. He uttered not word, but