Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-03
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retorted the Cap'n, bridling.
You amt a gentleman, and you amt fit to
taller his bootsl" the widow snapped.
The fact that any person could class him below
any human in the town of Smyrna-hm the skipper
that had been king of the coaststlrred all the old
sea-dog's pride and resentment. He was about to
enter into vigorous expostulation when she picked
up a hay-fork and drove him out of the barn-one
vigorous thrust that brought blood from his tough
palm showing him that she meant business.
He heard her say once more to Mullen: You're
a real man., and he scufed down the road growing
oaths and meditating revenge.
YOU'RE the man they call Mournfu amt your"
asked the widow, when the two were alone.
MY name is Mister Andrew Mullen and if the
hectors in this place have tackled any nickname
onto me they amt got any right to do it.
We'll, all | know is they say you never laughed
hearty in your whole life and couldn't ever stand
it to have like that hangln round much. No
wonder your first wife ded!'
The folks that is alltls goin' round tee-heein
amt got much brains usly,' he retorted
mo surs at me-" she said srnartly 90 like fun
and l know jest much anyone People that
can't laugh when there's call for it has got
thin the matter with 'em" Then she signifed to
Mullen that she had enough of his society for that
day and she did SO by picking up hoe and going
out into the garden, leaving him without word
Therefore the Cap'n trudged one way consumed
by pique and rage that a woman should so
slight him; "Mournful" Mullen trudged the other
And as the days went past that feeling in
creased in each of those rugged breasts, until it
became a desire to show the contemptuous
woman that they were no such persons as she
had imagined.
Now all that Smyrna understood about the
matter was that both Cap'n lothian Sprague
and ''Mournful" Mullen We're showing atten-
tions to Widow Briggs, running on her errands.
spelling her at her teamwork and in general
acting out like two rivals who dead in love.
The Cap'n remained saturnine Mullen re-
manned mOurnful.
So it came along into August when the DAYS
We're hot and muggy, and the flies pestered the
bald-heads and the careful housewives and
the in the pasture
For her Jersey that she had named May
belle the widow had developed an almost
ssterly affection. When she Maybee
franticaly lashing herself in the pasture with
her tail stamping in the yard to dislodge
flies her heart sweled with sympathy She
wondered why it that farmers had
invented anything to keep flies away from
COWS. She laid the negligence to their hard
hearts. 1t was the same Caousness she re-
aected, that took away the little calves and
gave them to the butchers for few paltry dollars.
She didn't what other people thought, she
made up her mind to do something to allay poor
Maybelles fortunes. So she planned and stitched
and at last her invention ready.
1t happened that the Cap'n was the faithful
servitor to present himself first that day.
The two had arrived at that point in their
relationships that they glared at each other when
they met and clenchcd fists behind their backs
But as far as they could see, the widow inclined
neither to one or theother If she praised the Capn
for his good nature and funnystories she gave him
fits the next moment for his awkwardness.
A commentator of Mournful Nullen's han
diness was always followed by such senti-
meat this :" But oh, that face of yours would
Hoy IAN can 90