Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-12-19

Ralph Hazeltine's frequent calls gave
him the inspiration he was looking for.
This was to bring about q marriage
between Ralph and Miss Preston.
After deliberatiOn he decided that II
this could be done the pair would live
somewhere else, even though John Bax-
ter was still too i'll to be moved. Elsie
could come in every day, but she would
be too busy with her own establish
ment to bother with the Improve
ment" of theirs. 1t wasn't very bril-
liant plan and had some vital objec'
tions, but Captain Jerry considered It
wonder.
He broached it to his partners, keep
ing his real object strictly in the back
ground and enlarging upon his great
regard for Ralph and Elsie and their
obvious fitness for each other. Cap
tain Perez liked the scheme well
enough, provided it could be carried
out. Captain Fri seemed to think 1t
better to let events take their own
course. However, they both agreed to
help II the chance offered.
So when Mr.. Hazeltine called to
spend the evening Captain Jerry would
rise from his chair and, with an elab-
crate cough and several surreptitious
winks to his messmates, would an
nounce that he guessed he would take
a little walk" or "go out to the barn
or something similar. Captain Perez
would more than likely 60 also. AS
for Captain Fri, he usually "caPlated'
he would step upstairs and see how
John was getting along.
But in spite Of this loyal support the
results obtained from Captain Jerry's
wonderful plan had not been so star
tlingly successful as to warrant his
feeling much elated. Ralph and Elsie
were good friends and seemed to enjoy
each others society, but that was all
that might be truthfully said 80 far.
Captain Jerry, therefore, was little
discouraged as he sat In the sunshine
and smoked and pondered. He hid his
announcement, however, and In re-
sponse to Captain Eri's question con-
corning the progress Of the matchmak-
Ing said cheerfully:
"Oh, it's comm along, comm along.
Kind of slow, of course, but you can't
expect nothin' diff'rent. s'pOse you
noticed he was here four times last
week.?
"Why, no." said Captain Fri, II don't
know g l did"
"Well, he was, and week afore that
twas only three. So that's gain, amt
itY
"Sartin."
81 didn't count the time he stopped
after q drink of water neither. That
wasn't real call, but
"Oh, 1t ought to count for somethin'.
Call 1t haf time. That would make
four times and a ha'f he was here"
Captain Jerry looked suspiciously at
his friends face, but Its soberness was
irreproachable, 80 he said:
well, it's kind Of slow work; but, as
said afore, it's comm along, and l
have the satisfaction Of KNOWN It's all
for their good"
"Yes, like the feller that ate all the
apple dumplin's so g his children
wouldn't have the stomach ache. But,
say, Jerry, come cut to ask II you'd
mind bein' housekeeper today. Luther
Davis has been after me sence don't
know when to come down to the life
sayin' station and stay to dinner. His
sister Pashy, the old, maid one, Is down
| there, and it's such fine day thought
I'd take Perez and Elsie and Mrs.
Snow and maybe Hazeltine along.
Somebody's got to stay with John, and
thought p'raps you would. I'd stay
myself only Luther asked me 80 par
| ticular, and yon was down there two or
three months ago. When Josiah comes