Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-11-14
CHAPTER ~.

S41Ak 464S
~ OMETHING over fortnight
IoI went by, and the three cap.
kSf5.:sI tains had received no an
(Sx. swers from the advertise.
ment in the Nuptial Chime. The sus,
pense affected each Of them in a diff
ferent manner. Captain Jerry was
nervous and apprehensive. He said
nothing and asked no questions, but II
was noticeable that he was the first to
greet the carrier Of the mail box
when that individual came down the
road, and as the days passed and moth
ing more important than the Cape Cod
Item and a patent medicine circular
came to hand look that suspicious
person might have deemed expressive
Of hope began to appear in his face.
Captain Perez, on the contrary, grew
more and more disgusted with the de,
lay. He spent a good deal Of time
wondering why there were no replies,
and he even went so far as to suggest
writing to the editor Of the Chime. He
was disposed to lay the blame upon
Captain Erl's advertisement and hint.
ed that the latter was not Catchy
enough.
The first batch Of answers from the
Chime came by an evening mail. Cap
tain Fri happened to be at the post.
office that night and brought them
home himself. They filled three Of his
pockets to overfowing, and he dumped
them by handfuls OIL the dining table
under the nose of the pallid Jerry.
What did ! tell you, Jerry?" he
crowed. Il knew they was on the
way. What have you got to say about
my advertisement now, Perez"
There were twenty-six letters alto
gether. 1t was surprising how many
women were willing. even anxious, tG
ally themselves with IAN ex-seafarine
man Of steady habits" But most OF
the applicants were of unsatisfactory
types. As Captain Perez expressed It,
There's too many Of them everlastin
blonds and things"
There was one note, however, that
even Captain Fri was disposed to con-
slider seriously. 1t was pOstmarked
Nantucket, was written OH half sheet
of blue lined paper and read as fol
lows:
Mr.. Skipper:
Sir-I saw your advertisement In the
paper and think perhaps you might suit
me. Please answer these questions by
return mail: What is your religious be-
lief? Do you drink liquor? Are you a
profane man? II you want to. you might
send me your real name and photo
graph. II think you will suit maybe we
might sign articles. Yours truly,
MARTHA B. SNOW.
Nantucket. Mass.
"What like about that is the ship,
shape way she puts it," commented
Captain Perez. "She don't say that She
jest adores the ocean"
"Shes mighty handy about takin
hold and bossin' things, there amt nc
doubt of that" said Captain Fri NO
tice it's us that's got to suit her, not
her us. kind Of like that 'signin' arti'
cles too"
81 blieve she's Jest the kind we
want" said Captain Perez, with con-
victiOn.
What do you say, Jerry!" asked
Captain Fri. You're goin' to be the
lucky man, you know"
"Oh, 1 don't know. What's the use oi
hurryin'? MOre'n likely the next lot oi
letters II have sOmethin' better yit."
Now, that's jest like you, Jerry Bur
gessw exclaimed Perez disgustedly
want to put off and put off and put
off. And the house gittin' more like the
fo'castle on cattle boat every day"
81 don't b'lieve myself you'd do much
better, Jerry" said Captain Eri seri
ously. II like that letter somehow
Seems to me it's worth try"
"Oh, all right. Have it your OWL
way. OF course l amt got nothin tc
say. I'm only the fool that's got to gi'
married and keep boarders, that's all
am. l don't care what you do. &c
ahead and write to her II you want to
only l give you fair warnin AIM
goin' to have her If she don't suit.
amt goin' to marry no scarecrOw."
Between them and with much diplo
macy they soothed the indignant can
didate for matrimony until he agreed
to sign his name to letter to the Nan
tucket lady. Then Captain Perez said
but, l say, Jerry. she wants YOU
picture. Have you got one to sent
herr"
"I've got that daguerreOtype hat
took when l was married afore."
He rummaged II, ,out Of his chest ant
displayed it rather proudly. 1t showet
him as a short, sandy haired youtl
whose sunburned face beamed from
the depths of an enormous chOker ant
whose head was crowned with tall
fat brimmed silk hat Of forgotten
style.
The daguerreotype, carefully wrap
ned. was mailed the next morning, &C
companied by a brief biographical
sketch of the original and his avowet
adherence to the Baptist creed and til
Good Templars' abstinence.
81 hope she'll hurry up and answer,
said the impatient Captain Perez. :"
want to git this thing settled one wa!
or another. Don't you, JerryT
YES" was the hesitating reply
Zone way or another"
Captain Fri had seen John Baxte
several times since the evening OF til
"Come Cutters meeting. The old maj
was calmer apparently and was dis
posed to take the billiard saloon mat
ter less seriously, particularly as 1t wa
reported that the town selectmen wer
| to hold special meeting to conslde
the question of allowing Mr.. Saunder
to continue in business. The last nam
ed gentleman had given what he wa
pleased to call q blowout" to hi
regular patrons in celebration Of tn
granting of the license, and Squeale
| Wixon and one or two more spent
dreary day and night In the town loci
I'D in consequence. Baxter told tn
CAPTAIN that lie had not yet made up hi
mind concerning the proposed Bosto
| trip, but he thought ''more'n likely" b
should CO.
Captain Fri was obliged to be col