The Woman-Haters
ver was securely renailed above him. Brown and the light-keeper lifted the box into the back part of the "open wagon," and Atkins drove triumphantly away, the pup's agonized
own, "did he take h
ut the willin' part, but he'll t
ink you ungrateful for refu
cal'lated to leave him with Aunt Olive-that's Henry's sister, keepin' house for him-but she'd gone out to sewin' circle, and there wa'n't nobody to home. The side door was unlocked, so I lugged that box into the settin' room and left it there. Pretty nigh broke my back; and that everlastin' Job hollered so I thought t
assistant smi
What a pleasant surprise for f
pper's eat up-she's got some of her brother's stinginess in her make-up-so I cal'late Henry'll get home afore she does. I shouldn't wonder," w
send the dog b
nt here, no matter what becomes of him. And if anything SHOULD be broke in that settin' room-well, there was SOME damage
esulted in his removal from this vale of tears. Neither the lightkeeper nor his helper ever saw him again, and when Seth next
no more disclosures concerning his past life-that remained a secret-but he did suggest his helper's going to inspect the schooner. "Just walk across and look her over," he said. "I'd like to know wh
been manufactured "out of nothing." Her seams, those which the sun had opened, were caulked neatly; her deck was clean and white; she was partially rigged,
. She's only got a fores'l and a jib, and the jib's only a little one that used to belong to a thirty-foot sloop. Her anchor's gone, and I wouldn't trust her main topmast to carry anything bigger'n a handkerchief, nor tha
t anybody ever comes here for you to mention it to, but I wouldn't want . . . You see, nobody in Eastboro or anywheres on the Cape knows where I come
half confidence and Brown's sympathetic reception of it. Each was lonely, each had moments when he felt he must express his hidden feelings to some one, and, though neither recognized the fact, it was certain that the time was coming when all my
red who on earth he could be talking to. A glance around the doorpost showed that he was, apparently, talking to himself-at least, there was no other human being to be
demanded Brown, eme
re! take a squint through them glasses and
he village, was rocking and dipping over the dunes. The assis
there are three people i
end the day, sure's taxes. And they'll want to be showed round the lights and
ed. He had no desir
coming here?" he asked. T
k you'd know by this time, there ain't no
ded, "Well, you'll ha
wil
art of the assist
t. That chuckle grated o
istant," he decl
? What are
g here. And, according to the government rules, those you've got posted in the kitchen, the lightkeeper is oblige
ed after him a profane opinion concerning his actions. Th
e helper heard his name shou
here, Mr. Brown! Come up
hiskers, and wearing an antiquated straw hat, the edge of the
n," stammered the little man, "
m. Y
t of picnic like. We've got her cousin, Mrs. Sophia Hains, along. Sophi's a widow from Boston, and she ain't never seen
Mr. Atki
n' terrible. He told me not to say nothin' to the women folks, but to hai
On his way he caught a glimpse of the buggy, the horse dozing between the shafts. On th
r panted
kitchen; "don't tell my wife nor Sophi about Seth's
as spoken made the subst
ot?" h
's one of them 'New Thoughters' and don't believe anybody's got any right to be sick. The two of 'em ain't done nothin' but argue and row over diseases and imagination and medicines ever since Sophi got here.
room. He was dressed, with the exception of coat and b
er?" demanded th
roaned Seth
at is it? Shall I 'p
e of my attacks. I have 'em every once in a while. Just let me alone, an
's so s
Now run along, like a good feller, and
esser stood against the wall beyond the bed, and in its mirror he caught a glimpse of the fac
e Stover man waiting
ready?"
Brown, absently.
never seen one afore. Atkins said that, bein' as he
did,
aid you'd
, out of darkness, a light has suddenly burst. "I
Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he strode out o
which Seth had recently purchased for him in Eastboro.
he said, briskly, "we do. Are you
et to say," began B
at his elbow, int
us around," he said quic
er worried. Mr. Atkins, my chief-I believe you know him, Mrs. Stover-has been taken su
ike a sleepy cat at the sound of the dinner bell. "Is Seth sick
lone," put in her husband anx
u got any medicine for him?" Mrs. Stove
haven't. That is, I ha
ins of Boston, now brok
ne's nothing but opium and alcohol. Fil
Stover. "As if a body could be cured by hot air! I believe I'll g
you," he said. "I couldn't think of troubling you when you've
y too glad to do what I can. And, if I do say it, that shouldn't, I'm always real handy in a sick room. 'Bijah
as at her co
goin' to die, and such stuff. What he needs is cheerful conversation and mental uplift. It
amed the irate Abijah. The women answered not. They w
ies," he said. "Righ
an. Mr. Atkins turned on his bed of pain, c
time?"
ladies have heard of your sickness, and, having had experience in such cases, have kindly offered to stay with you and
hose face was a picture, he hastened to the kitchen, ch
man. "NOW you've done it! Didn't I tell
while, and, as he did so, a new thought struck him. He remembered a story he had read in a magazine years before. He crossed to the pantry, found an empty bottle, rinsed it at the sink, stepped again to the pantry, and, entering it, closed the door behind him. There
own!" she exclaimed. "I wo
Brown, the keenest anx
ay and hear over and over again that what ails 'em is nothin' but imagination, it ain't to be wondered at that they get mad. W
nking-" be
s you th
family receipt, handed down from the Indians, I believe. I always have a bo
parkled. Patent medi
e is principally stomach. Some of them Indian medicines are mighty p
so recently found there. Now, however, it was two thirds full of a black st
erful," she sa
?" handing her a tablespoon. He wa
fering palate rebelled at THAT taste. "I
ry thing he needs. At any rate, it c
sted, under the influence of the
care if every New Thoughter in creation says n
s every fifteen minutes. I do hope it will help him. Give
ght" and the practice of medicine had once more clashed. The argument waxed and waned. Followed the click of a spoon against glass. And then came a gasp, a gurgle, a choking y
tover sat gloomily meditating, and ran lightly down the path to the creek and the wharf. The boathouse at the end of the whar
mber procured on his most recent trip to the village. The Stovers and their guest had departed. Their buggy was out of sight beyond the dunes. A slight
Mr. Brown. "What?
wn the pape
erved drily, "i
ELL?" quer
Been for a stroll up Washin'ton Street, hav
as intended to be withering. Mr. Brown, ho
w you were in safe hands and well looked after, so I
n' there all this time? I hoped you was-that is, I begun to be afraid you
s-almost," he said, solemnly. "I think
'Stomach Balm,' hadn't you? That'
in case you have another attack. By the way, I notice the dinner dishes haven't been washed. I'll do them at
much. However, he made no objection when his helper, rolli
and during supper. But that evening, as Brow
as cheerfully as if
tly. He had been thinking once more,
ybe I've got a grudge against you on account of
d. I'm glad
you put in it?-I was about ready to murder you, but I've got over
sfied, if
rstand is why you didn't wan
sons, such as they were. Why di
for a moment or two. Then he spoke
alize it or not, and perhaps I shouldn't be the one t
dded. "I realize
g'lar assistant keeper app'inted long ago. The gov'ment don't pick up its lightkeepers same as you would farm hands. There's civil service to be gone through, and the like of that. But you
nodded again. "All right," he observed, car
women, you understand-you've got to be guide. I'll forgive you to-day's doin's. I tried to play a joke on you, and you evened it up with a better one on me. That's all right. But,
affair settled. Brown caught his co
u and I'd like to please you; but if what you say is final, then-as they u
u mean yo
than do
t w
way, you haven't told me why you o
females. They're
declaration, it was repeated. The lightk
ll the women!" sh
d John Brow
o his lap. "What?" he cr
aid
why . . . you d
" bitterly
more, closed his lips on the words, rose, wal
on't. If you ain't, I-I . . . See here, do you remember what you asked me that nigh
ngly. "Why, yes," he s
ung feller, I'm goin' to tell you what no other man in Os
Billionaires
Romance
Romance
Romance
Billionaires
Romance