Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-09-10
CAP'N Fri
By JOSEPH G. LINCOLN

BY JOSEPH G.. LINCOLN
Copyrighted 1901 AL Rights Reserred
ave done? 1 haven't done any
4 thingl"
you've made me happier'n I've been
for years. You've been so kind that
that
She stopped and looked out Of the
window.
"Tt's you that's been kind" said the
captain. you've made home for
me, sOmethin' / amt had afore sence /
was boy" sSE
Mrs. Snow went on as if he lad not
spoken.
"And to think that youNfnight have
been drownded the SANG rs the rest"
she said. II knew souethin was hap
PENN jest feltfit. somehow. 1
told Elsie was6sure OF It, I couldn't
think Of anything but you all the fore
noon"
The canfafn Eat no on the couch
MaEfI{sP be said in an awed tone,
"dQNfon know what / was thinkln' of
N NiNN was pullin' through the wust
ofIi this mornin'2 l was thinkin' of
y0u. / thought of Luther and the rest
IA Of them poor souls, of course, but l
thought Of you most Of the time. 1t
kept comm back to me that If went
under l shouldn't see you ag'in. And
you was thinkin' of mer'
'Yes. When that Mayo man said he
had awful news felt sure twas you
he was goin' to tell about. l never
tainted away in my life that 1 know
of, but l think l most tainted then"
"And you cared as much as thatl"
eyes"
Somehow both were speaking quiet
ly, but as if it was useless longer to
keep back anything To speak the ex-
act truth without reserve seemed the
most natural thing In the world.
"Wen. well, well!' said the captain
reverently and still In the same low
tone. Il said once afore that b'lieved
you was sent here, and now I'm sure
of It. 1t seems almost as if you was
sent to me, don't it,"
The housekeeper still looked out of
the window, but she answered simply,
81 don't know"
cit does 1t does so. Marthy, we've
been happy together while you've been
here. DO you b'lieve you could be hap
by with me always-if you married me-
/ meanF'
Mrs. Snow turned and looked at him
There were tears in her eyes, but she
did not wipe them away.
YES" she said.
Think now, Marthy. 1 amt very
young. and l amt very rich"
what am 20 with a little smile
"And you really think you could be
happy ieSy ia was the wife of an old
codger /, Nte?"
"Yes3 capeik answer Was short, but IL
was convincing.
Captain Fri rose to his feet.
"Gosh!' he said in a sort of unbeliev
ing whisper. 'Marthy, are you willin
to try"
And again Mrs. Snow said Yes"
When DR.. Palmer came he foun,
Luther Davis still in bed, but Captain
Fri was up and dressed, and there wa
such quiet air of happiness abou
MIN, that the man of medicine wa
arhazed
sGood Lord, man." he exclaimed,
expected to find you fiat on your bacl
and you look better than I've seen 70
for years. Taking salt water bath
midwinter must agree with YOU"
1T 4in't so much that" replied Il
captain serenely. Its the pay l g
for takih' it."
When the doctor saw Perez alone
asked the latter to keep close watC
on Captain Eri's behavior. He said
was afraid, that the exertion and e
posture might have affected the ca
tain's brain.
Perez. alarmed by this caution, d
watch his friend very closely, but
saw nothing to frighten him until
they were about to start for hoi
Captaip Fri suddenly struck his thi
n resounding slap.
"Jerryr' he groaned distressfully.
clean forgot I've gone back on Jerr!