The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-09-25

good for her, anyway; but / hope he
will get her il he wants her and come
out of his dumps"
Reuben did not recover his usual
spirits; his good old mother insisted
that he was not we'll and needed physic.
Reuben took the medicine, being
good deal of a child under his moth
er's roof, obeying and yielding to her
in nearly all of her whimsies, which
were leavened with much shrewdness
and knowledge of human nature.
Mother" suid he, "it does me no
good, but | will take it to please
you"
"My son, you just wait; you've
been behindhand some time, and it
will take while to get you before
hand again. These herbs never failed
in my experience and I've had good
deal in sickness of one sort or au-
other.
Herbs, mother, are good in their
place. like the smell of them, but
the taste"
That's just it, my son; the smell
is sweet, which shows the taste is good
medicine. It's just like being in
love and marriage; one you like aud
the other you must take, because it is
best for everybody and naturally fol-
lows; and sometimes" she added,
with sly look at Reuben, ''it cures
love-"
I'm not going to marry never, 80
you are out of your reckoning there,
mother"
"Well. don't know. Your father
before you SAID that; 50 did Until
l was asked. Nobody means what
they say when in love, or rather they
mean just the other way. | think
now / know what it is the trouble
with you, R,uben," and she poured
out the dose and gave it him, saying:
'It will keep up your spirits at any
rate, until Rebecca gives you some
soothing syrup-ch, my boy? SO
cheer up"
Reuben grew thin and nervous in
spite of the medicine, but he went
about preparations for the winter
cruising. Bad luck continued to fol-
low him, small fares and falling prices
discouraged him more and more. But
the greater his depression the more
his mind dwelt upon Rsbecca. In
some curious, involved way he had
come to connect his ill luck with her.
His brother fishermen, however,
thought it was all on account of his
not wearing white mittens when he
set and handled his trawl lines, it be-
the universal belief OF superstition
that white mittens must be worn to
Insure poot iuCh III Niu'ol tthNilhS.
But Reuben paid no attention to what
he thought was mere fancy. He felt
rather that he was working with a half
hearted energy, and all on account of
his dubious relation with Rebecca.
H. determined to see her again and
arranged to see her when her mother
was absent.
II have come to see you once more, "
he said on meeting her; ''but per-
haps L had better not come again.
"Why?" said Rebecca; "aro you
not always welcome, Captain Gage?"
eyes, we never quarrel and we
never get any further along from one
time to another"
This was more than he had ever
been able to say before in regard to
their personal relation, and he was
frightened at himself. s. he began
again from what he thought was an
other point, yet, as out of the fullness
OF the heart the mouth speaketh, he
could not help betraying his true feel
ings.
"I'm not getting on very well now,
no luck, no money, anu the Anna
Sheafe getting in debt. L thought /
would tell you, though | do not know
as you will care.
"Yes, / do care-very much, Cap
tain Gage. i knew something was the
matter and | heard from one of the
village gossip, it was because you
neglected or sneered at the custom of
wearing white mittens as the other
fishermen do when setting their travis.
DO you think it is silly supersti :
tion?"
''Yes, do, in the main"