Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-21

"GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW WHO ANY
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 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
luck?'
"Only a few"
Guess you'd do better il you was up
Poverty point"
Its too fur for me-"
"If you'd jest as soon, I'd admire to
take you up thar. 'Tain't outen my way
mite I'll come up as nigh as | darst,
an you can wade out"
Perss nodded her assent. She was
dressed for her work and wore pair OF
rubber boots which were evidently made
for a man. In few minutes the pair
were lacking 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 member o. No. A.
l go scallopin in winter an drive car
riage in summer. | amt one o the kind
that loafs 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
leetle 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. | 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 / ann"
I'm have to cave on that, sure. I've
'nough to do without kecpin track o. the
girls in this town. Never was any great
after em anyhow"
I'm only Persis-PcTsis 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 trifle threatening. But the
glance than a landubber in a 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 pique was rising within her. An APP
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 il
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
and mothers who approved of her might
be numbered on the fingers OF one hand
But, in spite of all this, Pcrsis 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 ms trim as a steam yacht,
ever ready with a sparkling retort, and
her deft parrying with words would have
made medieval swordsman invulnera-
bic. Deep down in her heart Perss 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 workl looked at her
conduct. she, in truth. had certain pre-
conceived ideas as IL the qualities which
constituted a real man
The evening OF the day she had met
Tim Henderson. while she was shelling
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