Sharp County record., 1906-11-09

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bout it if l had TO do any more SWIM
min. Mebbe won't heV' ter"
And Capt. Amos-with deep-water
sailors unerring spring, landed square
ly on the boats half-deck,
The red of the sunset faded into
pearl-and darkening gray. From the
lighthouse on Fort Point golden lin
ger shot seaward and the frosted edge
of the full moon crept gradually into
the clcudless sky. An inexplicable
spell, conjured perhaps by the halr
mysterious peace brOoding under the
wings of the coming night flooded
Capt Amos soul, awakening OLE ana
potent memories.
"Lem?" he said difidently-uncon"
sciously using the familiar diminutlVe
that had not passed his lips for years
-"j'you notice how terribly pretty the
sky looks over there to the westardE
l amt seen it look like that for years,
an it sorter reminds me OF the time
we was young fellers-with old man
Bragg in the Dreadnaught-in g."
Yes" assented Capt. Lemuel,
thoughtfully, "an' speallin' bout the
Dreadnaught, do you remember no"
we uster hook a share of the grog
bein' too young to hey' any, regular.
Blamed if don't wish | had that OIL
tin pannikin O. mine here now, with
some in it,
Capt. Amos heart gave a sudden
throb Of anticipation.
"Say?" he remarked deprecaungly,
"'course l amt a-sayin' there is any
thing O. that sort aboard this dory; but
s'posin' there wuz? Would you PROM
ise--on the Bible if we had ons--not
to say anything to--to-Fairport, bout
my beln' capsized-if ! gin you
some?"
Capt. Higgins stopped his oar and
reaching forth, grasped his dory-
mates shoulder, whirling him around
unceremoniOusly.
DO you mean to say you've got
some ticker, Amos Stubbs?" he de-
mandei sternly.
Capt Stubbs explained and produced
the flask.
is Capt. Higgins elevated il for long
minato and returned it with \ deep
sigh Of satisfaction.
Its curious how act some women
is agin' little licker," he commented,
with glistening eyes; "all foolishness,
too"
80 'tis--so 'tis," concurred Capt
Amos, raising the flask in turn. y al"
lus said so; specially if their fust hus-
bands couldn't stand much; women is
alfred queer, anyhow
"They certainly be-" acknowledged
the tall captain, cycling the flask hope
fully, AN that's one reason I've been
so everlastin' s'prised at seem you a.
chasin one of 'em at your time of life,
throwin' over OF friends an actin
stubborn an cont'ray--s if you was
young feller O. 90"
"Me a-cbasin' of 'em!" retorted Capt.
Amos Indignantly. What hev' you
been dcin yourself, I'd like to know?
Amt you been a-goin' up to the Will
der's every Thursday night for the
last three years? An tryin' to pizen
: her mind agin' me? 'Taint your fault
she amt Mis- Lemuel Higgins this
mint, nuther-why don't you say
suthin?"
Capt. Higgins mOistened his lips.
If 'twan't for things bein' as they
be-" he ventured hesitatingly, Il dunno
but I'd be tempted to make sorter
proposition TO you, Am Stubs; but l
, s'pose il wouldn't be no use--you bein'
SO set on marryin' Mis- Tompkins."
II cont sees I'm any more set on
; marryin' of her than you be-" Capt.
Amos retorted, with asperity. what
3, kind Of proposition was you thinkin'
, O. makin'?"
"Well," returned Lemuel, moving his
oar aimlessly, 'I was goin' to say that
If things was the same between us as
they was once-I mean il there want
no widder-Td ask you if you didn't
, want to come in with ME on my new
lobster contract? Thore'd be good
a money for both of us in it, an I've
got 70 hev' somebody"
? Capt. Amos rubbed his chin, staring
| ahead at the wide and scintillating
fairway the moon had flung down
D clear to the dorys bow.
8 Look here, LEM" he blurted husk-
lily over his shoulder "mebbe I'm
e fool; but somehow, talkin' over old
4 times same's we've been doin', has
kinder made me feel diff'rent from the
1 way I've been a-feelin'. 1t seems to me
l amt so ALFRED set on the Widder as
{ | thought | was. I'm gettin' along in
s years an I'm good deal more set in
0 my ways than you be-you hev'ing
been married onCe-so-so-so--" des-
t perately-"Tll come to the weddin I
amt sayin' this on account O. the offer
e you made me, nuther--though I'd be
; more'n glad to take up with it an do
the cookin'" he concluded resolutely.
= "Do you mean to say that you'll give