Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-21
"auEss YOU DON'T KNOW WHO AMP"

cy Higgins, dragging his scoop net be-
hind him in search of scallops. Persis
was digging clans along the flats.
They were clad in manner that was
hardly calculated to make an impression
on each other, yet Tim wore a soft place
in his heart ever after, although that
important organ was reputed to be
rather hard specimen of its kind.
Hello, friendn' Tim shouted. "Any
luck?"
"Only a few"
q Guess you'd do better If you was up
Povert! point"
IT. too fur for me-"
'If I'D jest as soon, I'd admire to
take you 'p thar. "Tain't outen my way
a mite. / come up as nigh as l darst,
an you can Tade out"
Persis nod I her assent. She was
dressed for her work and wore pair of
rubber boots which were evidently made
for man. In few minutes the pair
were tacking toward Poverty point.
Don't know as I've ever seen you be-
fore. But p'r'aps you've heered o me.
I'm Tim Henderson, that lives down
NewtOwn way. I'm Il member o No A.
| 90 scallopin in winter an drive car
rage in summer. | amt one o the kind
that ioafs around tween times nuther.
I'm ready for anything that'll bring in 10
cents. What ! get is enough for ma and
me. Besides, we have generally put
Ieetle in the bank when the end o the
season comes. That's more'n most do
down here
Eyes, / know you. I've seen you drivin
carriage. The summer folks say you are
as 'commodatin as can be-"
"Well, l try to be jest civil; that's
about all"
That's more than some is anyhow"
"Well, ] guess you're right. But it
don't pay"
Guess you don't know who | am?"
''Ill have to cave on that, sure. I've
''nough to do without keepin track o the
girls in this town. Never was any great
after 'em anyhow"
I'm only Persis-Persis Hayward.
sell cigars over the counter at the Sea
View House in the summer an do any
thing that comes along in the winter 'cept
work out. | won't do that. Never could
get along with women anyway"
Persis observed her new friend closely,
but Tim seemed hardly to notice her
His eyes were busy with the horizon,
which was a triie threatening. But the
eye of sailor will sweep in more in one
glance than hndubber in n week.
Persis Hayward was worthy Of more
attention than she received on this occa-
sion She was accustomed to more, too,
which made it harder to bear. A feeling
of pque was rising within her. An ap-
premiership of four summers in serving
the narcotic tastes of "all sorts and con-
ditions" of men had given her an insight
into the masculine nature. Whether it
was the best side is a matter for others
to decide. There is no doubt at all that
there were not few who liked her better
than the cigars she dispensed. The wives
and mothers who approved of her might
he numbered on the fingers of one hand.
But, in spite of all this, Persis was all
right. Neither does it matter great dea
whether she was pretty or not The
young men thought she was, while Older
ones said she was invariably cheerful ant
'good to pass the time O. day with" IL
reality she was as trim as steam yacht
ever ready with n sparkling retort, ant
her deft parrying with words would have
made mediaeval swordsman invulnera
bic. Deep down in her heart Persis ha'
not very high opinion of the species o
mankind that hung over her counter ant
gossiped with her by the hour. No mat
ter how the outside world looked at he
conduct, she, in truth, had certain pr+
conceived ideas as to the qualities whlcl
constituted real man.
The evening of the day she had me
Tim Henderson, while she was shellin
the clans, which she had found in plenty