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

Not thai | know OF. Take seat,
Aleck." said Mary Olive. Il hope you've
had good luck.
'.Tollable, thank ye; but I've seen big
ger load of mack rel brought in fore now.
| / shouldn't ha' come in soon but my
boats kinder CIV out. she amt nothin
more IL nailsick, though. But | can't stop.
! | come after Joe. | brought over friend
of his, Nat Jones, from Greatport. He's
got some business on hand that he wants
! to see Joe about"
well, s'pose | must be g0in', then,
said Joe. "Where'd you leave the boat.
| Alecklr
Sorry 10 have you leave so soon," said
Mary Olive; but there was an amused
twinkle in her eyes at his very evident re-
luctance to take his departure and the
| quick furtive glance of hatred which he be-
slowed on Ben, as if the unfortunate cir
cumstance had been Of his especial plan
ming
IL hope we shan't be cheated out of our
music the next time l come over" he said,
still lingering on the threshold, while the
somewhat impatient Aleck, who had
already said goodnight, waited outside.
Come, joe" he ventured at length;
"Nats a-waitin', you know, and he won't
! know what's become of me-"
''Well, guess nobody will be stunded
if be waits awhile lolger. He amt afraid
of the dark, is he7"
When the door finally closed upon him
conversation rather Jagged. Mrs Jotham
was grim and severe, but very sleepy. \
! loose board in the floor complained dole
fully under her slowly swaying rocker.
! The fire fell into pile of scarlet Goals, and
left the large room with one faint lamp in
semi darkness Mary Olive scarcely moved
her knitting-needles. Ben sat, with eyes
fixed upon the floor, in a most detected
attitude. Mrs. Jotham's knitting work fell
to the floor.
'She'S asleep, amt shel" remarked Ben
with nod in the direction of the now sta
tionary rocker.
''Oh, Lor', yes. She's usually pretty
sleepy evenings you know"
'fWell, as longs proverdence has taken
away Joe Neatly for an hour or so, and
has shut Mis- Jotham's eyes at the same
time, I'm going to say something to you
Mary Olive, for goodness knows when l
can get another chance. I know 'tasn't
any use. JOe's great deal better match
than l am, as far as property goes, and you
pear to like him considerable well; but I'm
going to have it out anyhow, and if there
amt the least hope for me, l want
you to say so. keep a-saying SO to my
self all the time, but"
''0h dear me, Benz interrupted Mary
OLIVE. ''why will you be so foolishs Why
do you take it for granted that there's got
friendly with you and Joe, and accept
neighborly kindnesses from both of your
l haven't the least idea of taking either of
you, or of getting married at all, as far's
that goes. I'm good deal better of as l
am. An old maid won't put up with the
contrary dispositions of men, and all trying
ways and notions, jest for the sake Of get
ting married, as silly girl will
4 BboC an Nputldi u lHS1
SAID Ben, meekly; 'but worship the very
ground you walk on, Mary Olive. l did
before you ever left the island; but l was
dreadful bashful, shilly-shalling idiot,
and you never dropped your eyes and was
sheepish and quiet, like the other girls, to
give feller chance to speak"
81 guess you wasn't in a very desperate
state, Ben, or you would have dropped
over to Greatport to see me now and then,
or written to me or something. You was
there, and never laid eyes on you, only
once or twice when l happened to meet
yon in the street. was an awful homely
girl, and don't suppose twas natural that
any man should really fall in love with
me-"
''You was always picture to me-" sal d
Ben, simply; ''but as for going to see you
to Greatport, why daresn't. You never
would ask me, in the first place, and when
l happened to meet you over there in the
street, you were always so kind of pert
and off-hand, and dressed so nice, didn't
feel as If l was anywhere"
Mary Olive colored deeply. 81 thought
if you wanted to see me; you could come
without asking" she said. "Queer,
would have liked to have had beau then.
All the other girls had them, but not one
came near me. Late years, when I've had
something else to think of, pear to have
become a belle"
"You amt going to have Joe, theng" in
quired Ben, anxiously.
"Why, didn't just tell You, Ben, that |
din't want to marry anybody" she an
swered, laughing
''He thinks you favor him, I'm certain;
and l heard over t the Point yesterday
that you was engaged"
"Never mind what he thinks. He hasn't
any reason to think anything. The folks
over to the Point must have something to
talk about, anyway"
Mrs Jotham awoke with start at this
point, and looking about her with some be-
wilderment, remarked that she ''shouldn't
wonder if Jotham got in that night, as
| sue uuu just Dttu uTtdlliluS iudG IL Cldll
voyant came in AID told her he was a-com-
ing"
Ben arose to take his leave, looking rath-
er dismal.
Eyes, you're in hurry to go now.
s'pose 'taint so interesting, now I've woke
up" said the drowsy lady, with unusual
vim.
''Sabriny Swan" said Mary Olive, 'you
certainly are not very interesting the little
time when you are awake late days"
lothian did get in that night. lie ap-
peared at the door soon after Ben took his
departure, filling the room with an odor
of saltwater, tar and fish.
'.Therew said Mrs. lothian. II reckon
you'll begin ter b'lieve in my dreams byme
! by! What did l tell yer ANY luck, Jo-
than"
'Tollable. Not sich great k ketch but
the fish sold WELL | stopped to the store
on my way up. There's a sight there a
} talking"
! 'Polities, of course l do hope You
won't get political, Jotham," said Mary
} Olive.
"'Well, faint exactly polertics. They're
having it over bout the light. Joe, he 5
| detarmiued To pit II: and some folks say