Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-14

GUESS 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 Il soft place
in his heart ever after, although that
important organ was reputed to be a
rather hard specimen Of its kind.
Hello, friend" Tim shouted ANY
lucllE'
"Only few"
Guess you'd do better if you was up
Poverty point
It's too fur for me-"
If you'd jest as soon, I'd admire to
take you up thar. 'Tain't outen my way
a mite. I'll come up as nigh as l darst
an you can wade out"
Pcrsis nodded her assent. She was
dressed for her work and wore pair Of
rubber boots which were evidently made
for a man. In n few minutes the pair
were lacking toward Poverty point.
Don't know as I've ever seen you be-
fore. But pr'aps you've heered o me.
I'm Tim Henderson, that lives down
Ncwtown way. I'm member O. No. ~.
| 20 scallopin in winter an drive Il car
riagc in summer. ] amt one o. the kind
that loafs around tween times nuthcr.
I'm ready for anything that'll bring in 10
cents. What | get is enough for ma and
me. Besides, we have generally put
leetle in the bank when the end O. the
season comes. That's morc'n most do
down here"
"Ncs, know Won. I've seen you drivin
carriage. The summer folks say you are
as 'commodatin as can be-
well. | 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 | amp
IN 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-Perss Hayward. |
sell cigars over the counter at the Sea
View House in the summer an do any
thing that comes along in the winter ccpt
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,
eye of n sailor will sweep in more in one
glance than landlubber in week
Persis Hayward was worthy of more
attention than she received OH this occa-
sion. She was accustomed to more too,
which made it harder to bear, A feeling
of pique was rising within her. An APP
premiership Of four summers in serving
the narcotic tastes of ''all sorts and CON
ditlons' of men had given her an insight
into the masculine nature. Whether it
was the best side is 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
ana mothers who approved of her might
be numbered on the fingers of one hand.
But, in spite Of all this, Persis was all
right. Neither does it matter a great deal
whether she was pretty or not. The
young men thought she was while older
ones said she was invariably cheerful and
good to pass the time o. day with" In
reality she was as trim rs n steam Yacht
ever ready with a sparkling retort and
her deft parrying with words would have
made medlaeval swordsman invulnera-
Bile. Deep down in her heart Pcrsis had
not very high opinion of the species Of
mankind that hung over her counter and
gossiped with her by the hour No mat
ter how the outside world looked Mt her
conduct, she, in truth, had certain pre-
conceived ideas as TO the qualities which
constituted real man.
The evening Of the day she had met
Tim Henderson, while she was sheling
the clans, which she had found in plenty,
she wondered that her efforts had met
with such poor success When the clans
were shelled, she sat down to sew on her
next summers dresses, still thinking of
Tim.
Tim was in No. As room, where he
spent every evening talking to men of
ms own ilk, omitting the common courte-
sizes of clubmcn.
NO. 4 is unique institution on the is
iahd or Nantucket. 1t derives its name
from the lire engine which is its special
charge. 1t Is an old hand engine and has
mad its nose put out of joint by the new
steamer which the town in "A fit of 2rodi-
gality purchased recently. Some people
say 1t is more ornamental than useful,
and 1t certainly does look pretty when 1t