Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12

In tn water for me-iateIy. Haint been
nothin' round tn house"
tor. said. He'll eat his head off in the
stall with all you folks a-waitin' on him.
Make him go and do your errant."
Hopeless imbecility was only degree
Norah. Parton and the captain had been
reduced by this conversation.
Mrs. Burgee went back into the '1ean-to"
for moment The apprehensive curiosity
volley Of questions Of the doctor If she
had not returned a moment later with an
arnnful Of simple tools. There was q
Ratchet. saw. a hammer, two augers ana
a poker. +
There" said she, as she dropped them
on the floor BESIDE the now empty satchel,
II reckon that'n be all the tools he'll need
to take with him on that Grant"
This attended to. she pulled many gar
ments from the hooks and shelves OF the
closet.
1T amt a-goin' to let Obed take no cold
whilst he's a-doin' of this Grant for me"
she said, and there was certain grimness
in her tone. The captain knew 1t as the
same which had made protests futile In
the early days Of their married life when
he had been ashore and she suggested that
he go to church. He was entirely aware
that when that look was on her face there
was no room for argument.
Now you, Henry" said Mrs. Burgee,
you come here and help me git the capn
ready"
In few moments his thin legs were en-
cased in great pair of sea boots reaching
into the sleeves of vast pea-jacket
About his neck was twisted many times a
muff1er knit years before by MIS- Burgee
own untiring fingers, and a glazed SOU
wester was put upon his head and pulled
well down about his ears.
The metamorphosis was absolute. The
man who sat there no longer looked the In
valid. Parton had seen him so dozen
ffyv,aS in ST. nd OF n d.
despite the queer preoccupation which Mrs
Burgess manner caused, told Moran SO In
whispered words. Even in the wheeled
chair of an invalid the captain looked the
sailor every inch.
Mrs. Burgee was first impressed by the
metamorphosis For moment she stood
silent and gazed at him with an almost awe
struck admiration Then she swooped down
on him and kissed his puzzled face
do you wonder he could run ship?" she
asked, indefinitely. Just look at him now.
Nory's the only one that amt seen him
that way. Look at him, Nory"
And certainly the captain seemed ship
shape.
"Git your sack and bunnit on, Nory,"
said Mrs. Burgee. ''Git your sack and
bunnit on. Let's all go down and help
Obed do his Grant"
Norah, amazed, but believing that the
best thing was to humor this remarkable
whim of the old ladys, started for her
wraps.
Git your nat, Henry, sald MIS- buTSee.
"Lyddy," said the captain, almost pitt
fully, "be you out of your head?"
The doctor had stepped out of the room
for a moment, and Ms. Burgee surveyed
the group.
Yes" said she, 81 iess 1 be-"
She waited a moment longer amid Won
dering silence. There was such an air
of happiness about her, though, that the
others were as expectant as they were per-
picked.
Before more could be said there came
a loud rapping at the door
There" said Mrs. Burgee, they've come
to take the captain down. The rest of US
will walk along by the wagon / guess most
of the folks down to the village has come
up to go along with us. Seems to me l en-
hear the crowd out there. They'll all be
awful glad-most everybody likes Obed.'
What be you a-talkin about, Lyddy?"
pleaded the captain.
"Oh," said she, as if she had quite forgot
ten such an important Cetail, Il amt told
you, have I?' a1
There was a sound of many shuf1ling feet
on the piazza and low whispers of many
suppressed voices
"No-you know you amt, Lyddy.' said
her husband.
Well" she said, slowly, well, Cap'n
Sears, he come in this afternoon
She paused, as If that were reason enough
to give for all her strange performances.
Yes" said the captain, almost peevishly,
II see him pass
wen, oclu buTSec, ulu yOu uOllCc
that he was town somethin'?''
He'd picked up a raft or suthin,' said
tie captain. Il see it trailin long behind
He's allus a-pickin' up some trash or
mother" -f -.,.- .s
What he was town." said Mrs. Burgee
slowly, and hiding her face for a moment in
the middle of the sentence behind her apron,
what he was town, Obed.. was tn Lyddy.
He picked her up a-foatin' derelict.
The captain gasped. Norah grasped Par
toms hand almost convulsively
Yes said Mrs. Burgee, with a calm
that was as puzzling as her recent efferves-
cence had been, shes tied up down there
to tn dock right now. 1 reckoned mebbe
you'd all go down to see her.
She solemnly went the rounds, beginning
and ending with the captain, and kissed
each one of them. Then she turned to Par
ton.
That's why 1 put them tools there in
that bag. l reckoned they'd be useful in
that diamond mimi enterprise that you re
goin to carry out. Amt it nice that you'll
be able to go right to work at it here on
the cape instead of goin' to South Africky?'
(To be concluded)