The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24

low ought to tell err" he inquired
ignoring the protest.
Tell 'er wot?"
Il want to marry"
"Eh?" she vried. with sudden interest
| 'I-want-to-marry.'' he shouted
Marry" cried Mrs. Grummidge. with a
gasp. "Oh. cap'n! 1 never thought of
such thing, But as it's you as harsks
me" .t'ft-
She flung herself upon the captain S
manly breast. with one bony arm tight
round his collar She still held the wet
dishcloth in her hand, and in her excite
ment she squeezed 1t so hard that per-
feet torrent ran down the back Of his neck.
The rest Of the scene was too painful to
dwell upon. Within twenty minutes Mrs.
Grummidge was richer by cotple of SOW
ereigns and the captain was poorer by a
housekeeper. go rH1tl
I'D write and harsk Jack, -. ruminated
the good man. mournfully "but 1 wasn't
never no hand at writin'." Then he had
another bright idea. THE very thing."
he told himself; and off he rushed to the
| Widows.
Good evening, Mrs. Riley" he said.
| Good evening, captain" She COM
menced to get out the half ounce.
Il didn't come for 'baccy." he said.
1.-THE fact is. Mrs. Riley. came for-er-
/
antly than usual a b-744
| Fancy you comm to me-; she said,
archly. Il s'pose it's about-tobacco?"
| MO-" he confessed, "er-not exackly.
| It-er-well, the fact is, It's about court
in"
"courtin' ! Lor'. captai.. AS If knew
anythink about it!''
| ITS like this ERE" he explained. ga
| friend Of mine He coughed deprecat-
| ingly. "a pertikler friend O. mine wants
| to go courtin' LADY,
Then" said the widow, why doesn't
| he?"
"'E don't know exackly 'ow to give 'er
| a int
youthful customer appeared at this
juncture and was served with an ounce of
acid drops. Then the widow returned to
the tobacco end of the counter.
Are you sure she doesn't know" she
enquired.
'E-er-'asn't told 'er." The captain
mopped his brow with the red handker-
chief which had put the crows to fight.
'She might guess she suggested docs
e go an see her often?"
% Bout four times day he confessed
wy doesn't e 'arsk 'er right out?''
E don't know egzakly 'ow to do it,"
said the captain in a muffl ID voice.
There's lot of ways" said the widow.
leaning her elbows on the counter and rest
ing her chin upon her hands. Cant you
think Of way. captain?' There was pro-
voking CLEAN in her black eyes.
"Wot." he asked doubtfully. ''wud be the
usual thing?"
"Lor. captain. 'aven't been through it
a 'undred times" She shrugged her plump
shoulders.
a. E thinks horful deal of 'er," he said.
eoJa rfpb toIt
mightn't 'e?''
Yes" she agreed. Certainly e
might
Mr.. Brown. the sexton. came in and
twaddled about the crops and the parsons
new pony. After waiting five minutes the
captain bowed, and took his departure.
"I'll never ave the art to say it, he
muttered to himself. "I'll ave to give it
up"
All next day he kept away from the vii
lage and smoked from his store. I'm
never go there no more he vowed ut
amt no manner Of USE" But In the after
noon he wet.
wy. captain," said Mrs. Riley, 81 won
dered wotever 'ad 'appened to you.
Did you, now?' he said with delight,
did you?" IN
Il was wantin' to ask you for somethink,
too?" -......-.+
''Marrers?" he replied, promptly. cor
peas? Or"
"No. no." She laughed. advice"
"Ay!" His knees trembled, and he look
ed round for the shop chair.
Its gone-to be mended," she told hin,
with suppressed smile. Won't you come
inside. captain" 7tf
You're very kind, ma'am," he said,
nervously. She lifted the counter-fap. end
he followed her into the coy little parlor.
He felt he told Brother Jack afterward
rs il he was riding on lee shore in gale
with a weak bow anchor.
Anybody could be VERY comfortable
ere" he remarked. when he had sat fer a
minute or two on the sofa
If they got on with me- suggested the
widow.
Nobody couldn't 'elp that stated the
captain, with conviction. Il don't believe
you wasn't never out of temper in your
life
Nonsense. captain," She sat dos on
the other eRd Of the sofa. I'm out CT tenn
per now
Ali" said her admirer. uneasily.
ITS about friend Of mine. an gen.
tleman." 4
e ought to be ashamed o. ITSELF" sail
the captain. ferociously. "wot's e bin an
done?'
"'E don't do nothink." said Mrs. Riley. |
only 'angs about. That's we're it is
The captain dropped his cap suddenly and
picked it up again.
"'Asnt e given er no 'ints?'' he de-
manded.
1T depends on what you call 'ints''
Sent her marrers, say, an suchlike?"
Yes" she admitted. 81 believe e
as
Come to see 'er reg'lar?"
"sev'rel times dav. but still" SIZE
shook her head over unnamed deficiencies
Maybe" said the captain. TREMENDOUSLY.
ed like to make 'isself bit clearer, if
e knowed 'er mind"
"'Ow." said she, innocently. "is e to
know II e won't arsk err"
Couldn't she give i'm int?
Not" the widow said firmly unless !
she was quite certain that he wanted |
one"
''She might reckon on that" assented |
the captain, with unmistakable emotion.
Mrs. Riley studied the floorcloth intent
ly. Then her gaze wandered up the OPP
posite wall, until it rested upon a bright
colo-ed calendar. with picture at the top.
protesting to represent the balcony scene
from Romeo and Juliet AS Romeo had
only the tip of one toe upon the ladder,
there were obvious reasons. why he should
put his arms round the almanac Juliet's
neck
That is avery pretty picture" said
the widow, with a becoming BUSH The
captain dropped his cap again and edged
along the sofa.
Mrs. Riley he said, If you was on
A balcony. an l was on a ladder"
No. you wouldn't" The captain edged
quite close.
Mrs. Riley" he whispered. eff you'll
go an look out o. the top window-I'il
take the liberty O. borrerin' your steps."