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

4 general laugh and doubtful looks fol-
lowed this statement
You're q tarnal eritter. Joe, il you be
'PdbhcaH, said Captain Timothy Drew,
wIo was q frequent caller at lothian
Swans and knew the state Of affairs.
Ben kept away from the store, bat he
heard the whole story. of course. The
place rang with IT, /, got over to the
other island, it was even talked Of over at
Greatport: and some aggravating scribbler
sent an altered and highly romantic ae-
count oft to the county paper Jotham's
front lock, the one which he always
twitched whenever he was angry or excit-
ed, had grown SO thin and ragged that he
was strangely altered in appearance, and
Mrs. lothian was so overcome that she
took to her bed, AS for Mary Olive, she
only remained on the island one night.
lsrael's Phebe was doing remarkably well
as help, and she thought it good time to
make long promised visit to relatives in
Greatport- One outing made her long for
another. she said.
At the end Of three weeks she was back
again, and on the evening of her return
Ben came strolIing down from the hill to
see her.
Flows the ducks lourishinTv he inquir-
ed of Mary Olive, who was standing in the
open doorway.
We'll, declare, I'd forgotten to ask
after EN- myself / left 'em in care of
joey" she said. "IYe been considerable
distance since / saw you last, as you know.
Of course, who doesn't know it? But, Ben
Squirting, don't you go and think that
that | was in love with you because / went
to get ahead of Joe Neatly in that light
business. / wasn't any such thing, but |
was awful mad 10 see such injustice done,
and | hoped right up and off on the
impulse of the moment, and I'm glad
did. I'd "a done it for old Cap'n Timothy
Drew under the same circumstances |
never knew till afterward that-I liked
you''-with a sudden rush of color into her
fair plump cheeks.
II never indulged in any such notion
Twas just like you, Mary Olive: just as
you was when you was little girl" said
Ben, vehemently.
well, but, you see, l should have to
marry you now anyway; that is, if you
were of the same mind. Folks never a
get tired of talking about it if didn't; if |
do, they'll quiet off in little while, may
be. But l amt going to live on this
island, Ben, thorgh love the place. It's
too political. You'll have to give up the
light house or me, after all"
We'll" said Ben, with his face aglow.
I'm 'tached to the light, but I'm 'tached
to you a good deal more. Father m
mother both 5ein' sick so long, I've been
| obliged to stay here so fur, with now and
| then little run O. coastin', so + haven't
laid up any capital to start out in any kind
o. business with; but I calculate l could
support you tollable well a-eoastin'. Oh,
Mary Olive, if you do like me-"
Don't talk abo1t coasting, Ben. To
tell you the truth, Uucle Rube left me a
little money. I've got most four thousand
dollars in all. It's q wonder I've been
able to keep it a secret; but have so far.
what do you say to our setting up a store
over to Greatportl"
But, after all, the pair began house
keeping at the lighthouse. 1t was evident
that Ben had great many friends on the
island still in spite of his politics, and
Mary Olive made haste to have a charming
little cottage built adjoining the old one at
the foot of the light. surrounded by a
flower garden that was the wonder Of the
town.
Cupid appears to be uncommonly live
" over here ON Swans Island; laughs at
politics as well as at locksmiths,' said the
captain of the supply boat, as he landed
with his cargo of oil for the light, to old
Captain Hardy, who was louuging on the
wharf.
"Coopid' Yes, Coopid is kinder beatin
down polertics, as 'twere. Mariar Anti
netts Spurlin' Civ Joe Neatly the mitten
tother day, N is goin' ter marry Dan
Thomas, the Democratic representative
from Western Harbor over yonder I'm &
'Publikin my SELF but, Lor', there's jest as
good Democrats as there is 'Publikins, N
there's jest as good 'Publikins as there il
Democrats, n that's the long m short o
it. The folks about here is a-beginnin' tel
find it ont, too, in spite of all the stump
speaking there's been about, m the minis
ter ser dretful onesided p-Susen Hartley
IN Hdrpers Uoekly.