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

can't stay moored there always.
What a ships for is to sail.-The Log
Book Of The Lyddy.
Five weeks later a fine autumn day drew
near to it's close and the waning sunshine
filed the hollows of the Cape Cod sand
dunes with dark. purple shadows. West
ward the blue expanse Of Cape Cod bay
rippled In the late afternoon light. East
ward the deeper, more metallic blue Of the
Atlantic glowed between the scrub pines
The captain sat in a huge chair upon the
piazza of his home and chewed gioomly
upon the stem of an unlighted pipe The tan
of many years had faded his rugged face,
and it was somewhat thinner than 1t had
been when few other signs of the Illness
which had left him as vigorous as ever In
mind, but uncertain as to legs.
Near him sat Mrs. Burgee busy with her
knitting and occasionally (and as If anxious
not to have the action observed) wiping her
eyes with the completed end Of the blue
sock which was under construction by her
needles.
A pleasant breeze stirred the loose locks
of Norah's hair, as she, seated on the top
step of the piazza, leaned back against her
husbands knees. She was gazing into the
glimmering eastern glow, but 1t was plain
to see that her thoughts were not on the
calm grandeur of the sea. Parton himself
In a barrel chair above her, somewhat ner-
vously pulled the smoke from cigar into
the gentle eddies of a light breeze, and
watched 1t as it drifted. One hand rested
upon Norah's shoulder. where 1t caressed
loosened lock of hair The other bent ana
unbent the paper of a letter which was neIo
open in it.
The captain was the first to speak.
What makes me so John mad, he salo'
sis the idee of gettin' up at such an hour;
nrt,- hnr
back there to South Africky, but 1t ain
civilized to expect no man-not no sick
man, anyway-to git up at no such hour
as o'clock. Adams! l might jest as well
be back to sea agin. If they can't run
their trains at more respectable hours than
that, I'm goin' to move off the cape. Yes,
sir by John Quincy Adams-Tm a-goin' to
move to some place where you don't have
to stay up all night in order to git started
in TIL mornin'. What's tn use anyway?
Hey? What's tn use? What's tn use O.
Twin on tn cape? There's Lyddy there.
She'll be a-bawlin' around here soon's
you're gone; an l s'pose that woman there
that Nory that you all talk s'much about
g If she was all they was on earth--shen
be screechin' all over TIL place within
minute after you git good an gone. No,
cir, by John! I'm a-goin' tc move off the
cape
Don't know where I'm goin' to move
to; don't know an don't give al don't
give d-ni There, now, Lyddy Sheffield,
you jest make tn most o that, WIFI you?
I don't give a d-n! That's tn first time
I've took TIL name of TIL Lord, my God in
vain for a John Quincy Adams long time.
But l don't give d-n. An'-an' what's
tn use?'
No one answered. so after waiting a
while he went on
You English folks make me mad-thats
what you do. You make me mad. Us
United Statesers come out of you, and l
guess we didn't come none too soon. If
we'd stayed with you few years longer
va a I
we'd been jest tn same helpless, useless
sort O trash that you be. But I don't give
a d-n! Now, if you want to git mad at
me, Lyddy, cause I've been swearin you
git mad That's all. Git mad!'
II amt a-gittin mad, Obed,' said Mrs.
Burgee. somewhat weakly and wiping her
eyes. Guess 1 feel bout tn same you
do, only L don't put it quite that way"
She paused for a moment as If consid-
erfng the matter of whether she, too,
might not get some satisfaction out of pro-
fame swearing.
I'D knows It's very bad way, though.
F. 1 thought I'd git any comfort out of it,
I'd say it, too. But it don't seem to me
that it'd make me feeling any wilmer 10
comfort out Of 1t. though. Obed. why you
cuss. 1 won't say nothin now or never, If
you cuss about his goin. Only-well,
course, they two knows best They know
what's right for them to do. But 1t does
Jest seem-well, it Jest seems hard. l spose
it's harder yit for them, Obed, than it is for
us two. though. They're goin' to be sep
rated by it. But 1 jest soon you'd cuss
agin. Obed. If 1t don't make Henry OF
Nory feel bad to hear you"
She turned to the young people. Does
1t. children she asked.
Go on" said Parton. II like it."
Norah sat silent for moment, and then
she gently disengaged herself from Parton,
and going first to the captain and then to
his wife, kissed them both. Then she sat
down again In her chair and leaning her
head over until it rested upon Parton
shoulder. began to weep quietly.
STOW it, said the captain slowly. STOW
that. Nory! If you don't stow it I'll be
a-bellerin' myself. Thatd be nice now,
wouldn't it? You folks made all fergt
what / started in TO say. What 1 was "a
goin to say was that you Britishers make
mad. You make me mad! You am
got no eddicatiOn. That's what's tn ma.
ter with you-no eddication. Nothin' WORT
mentionin, anyhow. I'd jest be 'shamed.'
why, Obed!' said his wife reproachfully
why. Obed."
Well" went on the captain. Il mean Il
II Parton there'd been proper brought VI
he know how to do somethin or other 70
himself He cid be a carpenter, Or
plumber, or a farmer-or somethin'. ii
wouldn't be Jest a John helpless lunatic
wantin' TO go back to South Africky to dill
for little stuns. l amt a-blamin' him any
an I'd know as Norys goin TO be mucl
bother to Lyddy while you're gone. Blu
now l tell you what-it makes me all cho6
up to think of your bein' such a little foo
when you was young as not to git no usefu
dedication at some practical trade or other
sos't you could make Twin here on tn
cape without goin' OF 10 some outlandlsl
place or other. an leavin' all your folk
behind to worry
No one attempted to make any reply Z
this extraordinary speech but the captain
went on rapidly as If TO avoid any possible
Interruption.
Now don't be a'telln' me we amt your
folks. What is a man after another MAJ
has saved his life? Amt he that man.
folks? And what's a woman after a mar
has saved her husbands life? Amt she his
folks too? WE'LL jest want to know u
she ain't?'
Mrs. Burgee got up slowly and went int
the house. When She reappeared she ha
her sunbonnet on. 1t was the first time SIN
had shown any signs of really brealdH!
down under the prospect of parting IRON
these young folks whom she had learned 4
love so well. and whom the old captain
now that he was partially restored I
health. had done nothing less than apprc
pirate as a sort of gloIified daughter an
sdored
Wei. I'm a-goin' down to tn post OF
fee" she said simply. "'F / stay here an
longer a-listenin' to you I'll be bellerir
like fog horn"
Mrs. Burgess pilgrimages to the pos
office had become as regular as the com