Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-07-30

you see. TERED been a big excur-
sion from Boston down the day before
and some Of the folks come down my
way to have sort of picnic. Two Of
EN-, factory girls from Brockton they
was, come to the house for a drinl, Of
water. They Were gigglin' foolish
enough critters, but asked 'em IN and
they eat their lunches on my table.
They left two or three story papers
and that Chime thing when they went
away.
well, l looked it over and almost
the first thing l saw was that adver-
tisement signed Skipper 1t didn't
read like the other trashy things in
there and it sounded honest. and all of
a sudden it come over me that I'd an
swer it. l was lonesome and tired and
sort of DIDN'T care, and l answered it
right Off without waitin' another min
ute. That's all there is to tell. When
/ come here to be. housckeeper L. wrote
the folks that's takin' care of NV. fur
niture-they're reel kind people: l was
goin TO board there if / had stayed in
Nantucket-to keep it till / come back.
There! l meant to tell you this long
ago. and l don't know why l haven't"
The captain knew why she hadn't.
1t was easy to read between the lines
the tale of the year of disappointment
and anxiety. Such stories are not easy
to tell, and he respected the widow
more than ever for the simple way in
which she had told hers.
THAT land company business" he
said, carried off a good lot of Cape
Cod money. l never saw but one man
that l thought was glad it busted, and
that was old Caleb Weeks, over TO
Haruiss. The old man was rich, but
closer'n the bark of a tree-he'd skin
a flea for the hide and taller-and used
to be a hard case into the bargain. One
time they had a big revival over there
and he got religion. The boys used to
say what caught Caleb was the min
ister's sayin' salvation was free. Well,
anyhow, lac got converted and fined
! the church. That was all right, only
while the fit was fresh he pledged HIM
self to give $500 to help build the new
chapel. When he cooled down a little
/ he was sorry, and every time they'd
| hint at his comm down with the cash
he'd back and fill and put it off for a
spell. When the land company went
! UP he was the only happy one in town,
! cause he said he'd lost ali his money
4, 4Inx,
| couldn't ask him to pay, so he didn't
From what hear he lost as much as
$50"
They both laughed, and Mrs. Snow
was about to answer when she was in
terrupted.
Fri" said a weak voice. "Eri."
The captain started, turned sharply
and saw the sick man watching him
his eyes fixed and unwavering.
Fri" said John Baxter again, "com,
here"
Mrs Snow hurried to her patient
but the latter impatiently babe her lie
him alone.
y "Not you" he said. 81 want Err
! Captain Fri stopped down beside the
/ bed.
What is it, John?' he asked. :.
Fri, s'pose God called you to bfeal
mans law and Keep his, What would
you do"
The captain glanced anxiously at tn
housekeeper. Then he said soothingly
''Oh, that's all right, John. Dom
worry bout that. You and me settle,
that long. ago. How are you feeli1
now?" G
81 know, 1 know with the mono-
onous persistence of those whose mind
are wandering-and then clearly ono
more, "Eri, I've been called"
"Ssh-h! That's all right, John; that
all right Don't you want Mrs. Sno7
to fix your piller? P'raps you'd lay