Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-07

II was NhN sN"i bNaA' ny
got the Corners postoffice. which. by
the good will of providence and my
friends. I've held ever since, no matter
who was "in" at Washington, that
first took notice of Shiftless Rufe Dun.
ming. He lived with his father and
mother Just across the flats at the
foot of West Hill, in the edge of the
big woods.
There was a heavy underground OF
hardwood and hemlock to the vest
that stretched away back don't know
how many miles. Here and there in
the little openings on the side OF
West hill log houses in them were
sometimes pretty primitive.
The Cummings were probably the
most no.aCcount of the lot. They lived
in a little shanty old Rufe had knocked
together out Of slabs given him by the
sawmill boss. They had only a little
patch OF ground and they lived on
what they raised. the fish they caught
and what they trapped and shot. They
didn't steal, as | know of, but they
were all mortal shiftless.
Young Rufus was 22 before anybody
suspected that he could possibly Rave
any ambition at all. But one day he
saw Kitty Sylvester. She was the
daughter of the first manager of the
big Barley estate.
Now Kitty was real sensible go
ahead girl. She knew the Sylvesters
were as good as anybody around the
Corners, II not little better and she
tired to live up to the family reFuta
ton in all ways. Every morning In the
winter she was up early, and got
breakfast by candle light. All day
long she woye carpet or quilted com
iorters, or spun stocking yarn, or did
something else that counted. Every
morning in the summer she was up
with the sun. and every day when *
went down she had churned and work.
ed more butter. or made more cheese
or in some other way done more work
than any woman anywhere round could
do.
And she was the savlngest girl in
the county. Everybody said she was
the smartest young woman going. and,
naturally. she was considered a highly
desirable catch. But she held herself
mighty shy Of them all for awhile, and
1t was regularly given out that no
young man need ever think of keeping
company with Kitty Sylvester who
wasn't fully her match, both at work.
ing and saving.
So when II was noised about that
young Rufe. of all the world. had got
him pair of fine boots, ruffled shirt,
doeskin pantaloons and a broadcloth
coat, and had begun to shine up to
Kitty, there was a general uproar.
Now, as II turned out, Shiftless Rufe
Ought more of Kitty than any of the
others, and at the very beginning she
gave him little encouragement. Not
much. to be sure, but enough to reform
him completely. He was naturally
mighty bashrul when he called at the
big mouse, and fixed up In clothes no
wasn't used to, and Kitty at first pre-.
tended she didn't understand that he
had come to see her.
"I'll call my father" she said. Per.
haps you want to talk about cutting
some cordwood."
No" said Rufe. directly. II want
to know II can keep company with
you?"
Certainly not. You're too law to
be allowed TO keep company with any
one" Then an idea flashed through
her mind. But II you'll cut cordwood
whole year every day but Sundays
and holidays you may come and see
me-just once. Here comes father
and you'd better make arrangements
to cut for him on shares"
To Kitty's surprise. Shiftless Rufe
stood his ground, and when her father
, came in started at once to discuss the
proposed arrangement
Wal, Mist Sylvester" said Rufe.
grasping the old mans hand, 81 amt
never been no great hand for work, but
( ! must have a chance to keep compny
with Kitty, and she says | may come
and see her after I've chopped cord
wood year"
Sylvester was at first inclined to be
angry at Kitty for triling with Rufe
, but concluded to huinor the situation
and bidding Kitty to leave the room
told the young man he was ready 10
make bargain with him.
you can cut cordwood off the cs
tate on shares RUFF, of course, If you
want to, and I'll set aside some frees
, right near your fathers shanty on the
other side Of the flats. But you want
! TO take off them fine boots and them
doeskin pants, and that there broad,
cloth coat, and YOU don't want to put
them on again till you've worked rard
whole year You're too shiftless to
! be allowed to think single minute
about Kitty now, and | suppose you al
ways will be, but"
You needn't say no more, Mist
Sylvester" put in Shiftless Rufe. But
can't ! see Kitty again just long
enough to, say goodnight"
YES" said the old man. you may
and I'll tell her we've made the bar
gain she suggested.
Then he called Kitty into the room
As she entered she noticed for the