Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-11-21

N CONVERSATION among the
i'll captains was for the next
SE5l two days confined to two top
(Sz14k) les, speculation as to how
soon they might expect a reply from
the Nantucket female and whether or
not Mr.. Langley would discharge Ha-
zeltine. On the latter point Captain
Err was decided.
"FIe won't be bounced" said the cap
tain. "Now you just put that down in
your log. Langley amt fool, and he
can put two and two together as well
as the next fcller. If thought there
was any need of it I'd just drop him
hint myself. but there amt. so !
shan't put my oar in. But l wish you
two could have heard that youngster
talk to that Mclaughlin critter.
'TwOuld have done you good. That
boys all right"
Captain Jerry was alone when the
expected letter came. He glanced at
the postmark, saw that 1t was Nam
tucliet and stuck the note behind the
clock. He did his best to forget it, but
he looked so guilty when Captain Pc
rez returned ut supper time that that
individual suspected something, made
his friend confess, and, little later
when Captain Fri came In, the envel-
ope, bearing many thumb prints, was
propped up against the sugar bowl in
the middle of the table.
1--WE didn't open It, Eri," said Perez
proudly. 1--WE did want to, but we
thought all hands ought to be on deck
when anything as important as this
was goin' to be done"
Hes been holdin' 1t up to the light
for the last ha'f hour" sneered Cap
tain Jerry. "Andbody d think 1t had a
million dollars in 1t. For the lands
sake, open it, Fri, fore he has a fit"
Captain Fri picked up the letter,
looked 1t over very deliberately and
then tore of the end Of the envelope.
The inclosure was another sheet of note
paper like the first epistle. The cap
tain took out his spectacles, wiped
them and read the following aloud:
Captain jeremiah Burgess:
Sir-I like your looks well enough,
though It don't pay to put too much de-
pendence in looks az nobody knows bet
ter than me. Besides. I Judge that picture
was took quite spell ago. Anyway. you
look honest. and am willing to risk
money enough TO carry me to Orham and
back, though the dear land knows I amt
got none to throw away. II we don't
agree to sign articles. ! suppose likely
you will be willing to stand half the fare.
That amt any more than right. the way
look at It. shall come to Orham on
the afternoon train, Thursday. Meet me
at the depot. Yours truly,
MARTHA B. SNOW.
p. 81 should have liked It better II
you was Methodist. but we can't have
everything just a. We want 1t In this
world.
Nobody spoke for moment after the
reading Of this intensely practical note.
Captain Err whlstled softly, scratched
bis head and then read the letter over
again to himself. At length Captain
Perez broke the spell.
Jerusalem" he exclaimed. "She
don't lose no time. does sheY
"She's pretty prompt that's fact
assented Captain Err.
Captain Jerry burst forth In indigna-
ton.
"Is that all you've got to say" he
| inquired, with sarcasm, "after gittin'
me into a scrape like this? Well, now,
tell you one thing, r.
"Now, hold on, hold on, Jerry! She
amt goln' to marry you unless You
want her to. faint likely. More ]
think of 1t the more l like the woman's
way of dom things. She's got sense;
there's no doubt Of that. You can't
sell her a eat in bag. She's comm
down here to see you and talk the
thing over, and glory In her spunk."