in a kile on you as the world."

"How about that strong-looking young man?" I said. "Very easy,
swaggers gracefully--with the blue eyes."

"Neow I know jest who you mean! You mean Note Garrison. Sartin, Vesty
's done herself reound him from childhood to old age, as ye might say.
I don't know whether he c'd ever unkile himself or not, but I shouldn't
want to bet on no man's 'charnces with a woman like Vesty all weound
areound and reound him that way. Some says 't he wouldn't look at a
Basin when it comes to marryin'. But thar'! Note all'as kerries sail
enough ter sink the boat--but what he says, he'll stick to."

"He is rich, then?"

"Wal, yes. They own teown prop'ty somewhars, and they own all the Neck
here, and lays areound on her through the summer. Why, Note's
father--he 's dead neow--he and I uster stand deown on the mud flats
when we was boys, a-diggin' clarms tergether, barefoot; 'tell he
cruised off somewhar's and made his fortin'.

"I might 'a' done jest the same thing," reflected Captain Leezur aloud,
with a pensiveness that still had nothing of unavailing regret in it,
"ef I'd been a mind tew; and had a monniment put up over _me_ like one
o' these here No. 10 Mornin' Glory coal stoves."

I too mused, deeply, sadly.

O placid, unconscious sarcasm! innocent as flowers: wise end, truly, of
all earthly ambition! How much more distinguished, after all, Captain
Leezur, the spireless grave waiting down there in the little home lot
by the sea. Since five-cent suppers do not enrich the donor, and the
treasury of the United Burying Ground is permanently low.

"Never mind, Dilly! crawl up agin. What ef ye did tunk onto yer little
head; little gals' skulls is yieldin' and sof'."

"What is the weather going to be, Captain Leezur?" I said, following
his gaze skyward.

"Wal, I put on my new felts," said he, indicating without any false
assumption of modesty those chaste sepulchres enclosing his
feet--"hopin' 'twould fetch a rain! said I didn't care ef I did spot my
new felts ef 'twould only fetch a rain! One thing," he continued,
scanning the dilatory sky with a look that was keen without being
severe; "she'll rain arfter the moon fulls, ef she don't afore."

I reluctantly made some sign of going, but was restrained. "Wait a
spall," he said; and ran his hand anticipatively into his pocket. He
brought to light some lozenges that had evidently just been recovered
from blushing intimacy with his "plug