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