Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-08-01

Ii seems pity couiuu accept "a Ic"
triain' fayors from them without having it
called encouragement They A all have
to speak to outside Of this house, anyway.
Nobody with a grain of sense could have
any intercourse with these spleeny, gossip
in women As for MARI. ing either of 'em
| haven't the least idea of it. The last
thing want is to get married to any
body
If ye git merried We must put yer
trust in the Lord" sighed Mrs. lothian.
''Jothams a terrible good husban' as hus-
bans go; but there, catch me ter git mer-
ried again if was single! But, Mary
Olive. it does pear ter me that you're
a-leadin both them men on, and ye'n git
yerself inter hot water if ye don't quit it.
| don't feel right a-havin' Ben here ser
much, nohow. He a Demercrat, ye know
kinder lukewarm, mebbe-but Demer-
Gratis are as wicked as the Borgies. If they
git inter power the country will all go ter
nothin', the mack'rel fishery be split, and
the Pope of Rome will grab us all under
his thumb: the minister says so. Joe's a
respectable Republican, at least. He was
kinder maxim up ter Maria Antinette Spur
lin when you got home"
"Well, he'd better stick to Maria Anti
nette. There's no reason why he shouldn't
because he comes over here of an evening
sometimes. He likes to sing, ard Maria
Antinette hasn't got an instrument, and /
have; that's most likely one thing that
takes him here so much. But, mercy sake,
Sabriny, l won't condescend to talk any
more about As if a woman of my age
thirty five my last birthday-hadn't got
Judgment enough to know what's suitable
in the way of friends without anybody's in
reference! And I must say l never heard
such nonsense talked about politics, nor
met so much politics in my whole life, as |
have since l came back to Swans Island.
If the Pope of Rome was to grab this
place, he'd drop it quick enough, there's
no doubt about that; and | reckon there's
some cracks and damages in the ship of
state whichever party sails it. Both
parties are wicked enough. They both
say, like those plaguey patentmedicine
men, take my pills and you'll be all right,
and offer a hansome chrome as a reward
into the bargain. Joe Neatly expects to
get the light because he turned Republi-
can year ago. That's his chrome"
"Why, Mary Olive, 1 should think twas
plain ernough which side was right. All
the ministers and deacons is Republicans,
'cepting Deacon Goodwin, and he's dret-
full queer Christian-goes trampin' and
sailin' all over the country on the Sabbath
day if he happens ter take a notion"
Il don't care anything about his politics,
but he's worth all the rest of the island put
together. | don't sees how he stands such
narrow minded set as he has to deal
with"
''0h, dearl dear! dear! 1t pears to me
you must be crazy. | reely believe you're
Demercrat too. Jotham, he amt real
strong on the right side neither He don't
want ter set in the store and argify nor
nothin'. An you a perfessor, Mary Olive,
What would Elder Wright sayl He"
This conversation was interrupted by the
entrance of Joe Neatly, who brought some
thing in basket, which he handed to
Mary Olive with smile
"Why, it's setting of ducks eggs" she
said, lifting the cover. ''Twas real good
in you, Joe, but l didn't expect you to GO
and get 'em just because l said l wanted
'em. l was calculating to go over to the
Point tomorrow and get some. And il
here isn't Ben with ducks eggs too!' she
proceeded, as the door again opened and
another man with basket appeared on the
threshold. you're both as kind as kind
can be. l don't know what l shall dc
without you two good neighbors when I &C
away from the island.
Both men looked glum, and then glaret
at each other.
'You don't say you're goin' to leave us
Mary Oliver" said joe pulling at his sandy
whiskers
''Not till Sabriny gets real smart again
not this summer, or | shouldn't be setting
hens. But of course l amt going to stay
here for good. What is there for me to Dc
on Swans Islands"
II got some Pekin ducks eggs for you
Mary Olive. They say you can bring zen
up bout as you would chickens, will
skursely any water and thought they'(
be just the thing for you, as the pond is /;
consid'a able distance off," said Ben, whit
would not acknowledge Joe's surly nod o
greeting.
''Poohl l don't take no stock in then
kind O. ducks" remarked Joe, scornfully
"Ducks must have plenty o water. They
take to it as natural as life."
''Just as natural as some folks take t
lyin' and connivin' in all kind of underhant
ways to cheat other folks out of thei
dues" said Ben, his blue eyes flashing
with wrath and contempt.
Joe started up in a towering rage
'"What do you mean7'' he cried d"
"Therel" said Mary Olive, interruptins
him. '1f you and Ben are going to quarre
here, I'll never speak to either of yor
again. Sit down, Joe, and don't be such ;
goose. I'm ashamed of you, Ben. Why
can't you be friends9 You used to be, In
sure and such old neighbors too"
Il amt a. goin to have my house a scene
o. contention and quorlin', nohow," pipet
Mrs Jotham. at want never sech (
place, and never will be if ken help it.
''Beg pardon" said Ben, promptly. 81
hadn't ought to have said what l did,
know, but there's limit to mans endur
ance sometimes
''Ben thinks I'm trying to cheat him ou
of his dues because the folks about her,
think I'd ought ter have the light" sai(
Joe, with a sneer.
''Princerpul is princerpul, and the right
eous party is in power" said Mrs. lothian
with closed eyes, as she swayed to and fn
in her splint rocker. "'His father d orte
died last year afore the Democrats wen
out, if Bend wanted ter keep the place"
Never mind Sabriny, Ben. She always
feels obliged to testify to her politics a
well as to her religion" said Mary Olive
looking half alarmed, half amused.
People did not generally mind Sabriny
very much. Ben hardly knew what sh,
had said. lie was regarding Joe with
look of most intense disgust.
That's a strange way to put it," h,
said. "The people round here want yol
to have the light, and yon're so might!
obiging as to resort TO lynn and cheatin