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

come out OF the car. Tnat woman at
the house is the real Marthy Snow all
right, and we've got to go right up
there and see her. Come On!"
But Captain Jerry mutinied outright.
He declared that the sight Of that dar-
Ky had sickened him of marrying for
ever and that he would not see the
candidate from Nantucket nor any
other candidate.
"Go and see her yourself II you're
so set on II" ,">lle declared. 81 shan't"
"All right" said. Captain Fri calmly.
II will. I'll tell her you're bashful. but
Jest dyin' to be married and that she
can have you il she only waits long
enough"
With this he turned on his heel and
walked out.
Hold on. Eriw shouted the frantic
Jerry. Don't you do it! Don't You
tell her that! Land Of love, Perez. do
you s'pose he villa"
IL don't know" was the answer in a
disgusted tone. you hadn't ought to
have been so pigheaded, Jerry"
Captain Fri, with set teeth and de-
termination written on his face. walk
ed straight to the dining room door.
Drawing n long breath, he opened it
and stepped inside. A woman who had
been sitting in Captain Perez's rocker
rose as he entered.
The woman looked mt the captain.
and the captain looked Mt her. She was
of middle age. inclined to stoutness,
with pair Of keen eyes behind brass
trimmed spcctacles, and was dressed in
black alpaca gown that was faded
a little in places and had been neatly
mended in others. She spoke first.
You're not Cap'n Burgess" she
said.
mo. ma'am." said the captain un-
easily. "My name is Hedge. I'm a
sort Of messmate OF his. You're Miss
Snow"
'Afrs. Snow. I'm widow"
They shook hands. Mrs. Snow calm
ly expectant, the captain very nervous
and not knowing how to begin.
II feel as il | knew you, Cap'n
Hedge" said the widow as the captain
slid into his own rocker. "The boy on
the depot wagon told me about you and
Cap'n Ryder and Capn Burgess"
did, hey?' The captain inwardly
vowed vengeance on his chums grand
s.IIAnn hn H. a s.lnun
bill"
"Well, he didn't say nothin' against
you, il that's what you mean. If he
had / don't think it would have made
much dilf'repce. I've lived long enough
to want to find out things for myself
and not take folks say so."
The lady seeming to expect some
sort of answer to this statement, Cap
tain Fri expressed his opinion that the
plan of finding out things for oneself
was a good '.idee" Then, after an
other fidgety silence. he observed that
it was fine evening. There being no
dispute Oh this point, he endcavorcd to
think of something else to say. Mrs
Snow, however, saved him the trouble.
"Cap'n Hedge" she said, ''as I'm
here OH what you might call n business
errand, and rs I've been waitin' pretty
nigh two hours already, p'raps we'd
better talk about somethin' besides
fine evenin's. I've got to be lool;in up
hotel or bOardin' house or some
where's to stay tonight, and | can't
wait much longer. ! jedge you got my
letter and was eXpectn' me. Now, If
II amt askin' too much, I'd like to
know where Cap'n Burgess is and why
he want ut the depot to meet me.
This was leading question. ana the
captain was more embarrassed tIan
ever. However, he felt that something
had to be done and that it was wiscst
to get it over with as soon as possible.
lro RB ooNTIsuEp.l