Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-13


II ever q man was mad and disgust
ed, that man was the captain. In the
first place, Ms he said. what he had
done was nothing more than any other
man 'longshore would have done, and,
secondly, 1t was nobody's business.
Then again he said, and with truth:
"This whole fuss makes me sick.
Here's them fellers In the crew been
goin' out season after season takin'
folks off wrecks, and the fool papers
never say nothin' bout 1t, but they 60
out this time and don't save nobody
and git drownded themselves, and
they're heroes of sudden. hear
they're raisin' money up to Boston to
give to the widders and orphans. Well.
that's all right, but they'd better keep
on and git the gov'ment to raise the
sal'rics of them that's left in the serv-
ice"
Shortly after 4 o'clock one afternoon
Of the week following that Of the
wreck Captain Err ventured to walk up
to the village, keeping weather eye
out for reporters and smoking his pipe.
He made several stops, one Of them
being at the schoolhouse where Josiah.
now back at his desk, was studying
overtime to catch up with his class.
AS the captain was strolling along
some one touched him from behind,
and he turned to face Ralph Hazel
tine. The electrician had been pref
ty regular caller at the house Of late,
but Captain Eri had seen but little OF
him for reasons unnecessary to state.
Hello, captainw said Ralph. "Tak-
Ing constitutionalT
"Oh, say" said Captain Erl. I've
been meanin' to ask you -somethin'.
Made up your mind bout that western
Job yit?'
Ralph shook his head. mot yet" he
said slowly. II shall very soon, though,
l think. l am not anxious to go my
self. My present position gives me
good deal of leisure time for expert
mental work, and-well, I'll tell you In
confidence-there's possibility Of my
becoming superintendent one Of these
days IL wish to-"
"Sho, you don't say! Mr.. Langley
goin' to quit?"
HE is thinking Of 1t. The old gentle
man has saved some money, and he
has a sister in the west who Is anx.
ious to have him come out there and
spend the remainder Of his days with
her. II he does can have his position,
l guess. In fact, he has been good
enough to say So"
"well, that's pretty fine, ain't It?
Langley amt the man to chuck bis
good opinions round like clam shells.
You ought to feel proud. Is tother job
so much betterr
"No."
Silence again. Then Ralph said: THE
other position, captain, is very much
like this one in some respects. It will
place me In country town, even
smaller than Orham, where there are
few young people, no amusements and
no society in the fashionable sense OF
the word"
"Humph! l thought you didn't care
much for them things"
'T don't.
Both seemed to be thinking, and nell
thsr spoke again until they came to the
grocery store, where HaSeltine stopped.
saying that be must do an errand for
Mr.. Langley. They said good night,
and the captain turned away, but
came quickly back and said:
"Mr. Hazeltine, II 1t amt too much
trouble would you mind steppln' up to
the schoolhouse when you've done your
errand? I've left somethin' there with
Josiah, and I'd like to have you git 1t.
WIN your
Certainly" was the reply. And It
was not until the captain had gone that
Ralph remembered he did not know
what he was to get.
When he reached the school he climb.
cd the stairs and opened the door, ex-
pecting to find Josiah alone. Instead
there was no one there but Elsie, who
was sitting at the desk. She spranG
up az he entered. Both were somewhat
confused.