Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-01-23
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Cupid Anno :
Domfni :
By RICHARD
BARKER SHELTON &
Copyright. 1903, By 7. C. Mcclure

some Indeed as he sat disconsolately
OH the veranda rail swinging his short
legs he could not remember time in
the whole course of his eleven years
experience in this vale of tears when he
had been so utterly alone.
Three days before his father and
mother had started for Ohio to attend
the wedding of DR.. Todd's favorite
niece. and Clifford Worthington, given
his own choice of accompanying them
or remaining at home with Aunt Eli
nor. had chosen the latter course.
AS Il general thing. to stay at home
with Aunt Elinor in charge of the
household was about as near paradise
as one could hope to get. Aunt ElinOr
was young and pretty and full of fun
and, moreover, understood you. She
wasn't forever saying, Clifford, it is
time for your nap" or "Cliiford what
a dirty little boy! Go and cleanse your
self at once" She would go to walk
with you in the pine woods, and she
didn't mind how many pine needles
you threw over her. She would go out
in the bay with you in the naphtha
launch, and she could run the engine
as well as Tarpey. She would read
most delightful stories to you from a
book with red and gold binding, and
she knew jI-t when you were hungry
and smugglcd you plate of tarts from
the cook In Clifford Worthington
Todds elevcn-year-old mind Aunt Eli
nor held first place. yet as he sat on the
veranda rail he gave utterance to his
most lurid oath. a prolonged and dole
full "Oh. gee!'
Yesterday afternoon schooner yacht
with gliste" ns black hull and trim
white sails ID. come into the bay and
dropped an lor opposite the Todd cot
tage. a gig had put out from her. and
tall gent man had disembarkcd Mt
the little pier which ran out from the
Todds' back lawn. This gentleman had
seemed to know Aunt Elnor very well.
She had introduced him to Clifford
Worthington as Mr.. Caverly.
The three had sat on the veranda.
and Mr. Cavcrly had taken great inter
est in Clifford Worthington's conversa
ton. When Mr.. Caverly discovered
that Clifford Worthington was pos
sessed of some guinea pigs and that the
said pigs were roaming about some
where. perhaps even as far away rs
the woods at the end of the road, Mr..
Caverly evincCd a sudden interest in
guinea pigs. He gave him so cents to
catch them and bring them to the We
randa for inspection.
Clifford had had wild chase after
them, but finally. after he had brought
them back, struggling and squealing
and himself perspiring. he had bumped
into Mr.. Caverly. who was making
across the back lawn to the pier. At
the corner of the house stood Aunt
Elinor. her face white and what looked
like tears in her eyes.
AS Clifford WOrthington reached her
he heard her call: Tom! Oh, Tom"
But Mr.. Caverly strobe straight to the
pier and was rowed to the yacht. Aunt
Elinor had gone upstairs, and Clifford
Worthington had spent u stupid after
noon with the Seymour boys. which
ended in a fight.
This morning had been no better.
Breakfast was q sorry affair. with Aunt
Elinor sitting opposite, choking with
every mouthtul of toast and dabbling
her eyes with her handkerchief. After
breakfast she had said:
II think you'll have to do without me
this morning, old chap"
Her tone had forced cheerfulness
about it more doleful than grOans.
Still dabbling her eyes, she went up
stairs. and Clifford heard her lock the
door of her room. 1t was all very dis
heartcning.
For time he sat on the veranda.
Then he decided to seek Tarpey. Tar
pey was an eighteen-year-od mulatto
gardener, man of all work and engineer
Of the launch Clifford found him prop
ped up in tie shade of the boat house
reading some paper covered literature.
Tarpey rose as he saw Clifford, made
some remark about fixing the pansy
bed and strobe leisurely away, leaving
the book behind. Clifford picked 1t up
and began TO read. 1t was filled with
the advcntur"7 of Blackboard the pi-
rate, and h trusty lieutenant. Yard
arm Bill l was bully reading, and by
lunch time clifford had read the book
nearly through and was burning for
adventure.
Aunt Elinor came down to lunch with
very red eyes. She said they'd spend
the afternoon in the woods. but Clifford
said he had rather finish something he
was doing Aunt Elinor looked re.
lieved.
After lun' he sought out Tarpey
and divuleeC his scheme. Tarpey laugh
ed and scout Il it. Then Clifford showed
him the half lollar Mr.. Caverly had do
mated for the chase of the guinea pigs
and Tarpey succumbed.
At 5 o'clock the launch put out from
the pier and headed for the yacht. AT
the bow of the launch streamed black
flag with an attempt at skull and cross
bones on it. Two fantastic figures made
the crew. In the bow was Blackboard
terrible in peaked paper cap and for
midable array of wooden swords, Will"
Tarpcy. alias Yardarm Bill, sat by the
engine, red sash about his waist.
Tucked into ii was an ancient pistol,
family heirloom. which Clifford Wor-
thington had borrowed surreptitiously
from the library.
The yacht had lain becalmed all day,
IN