Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-06

don't believe you've changed your
clothes sence you got here. You must
have been soaked through too. I wish
you wouldn't take such risks. You
hadn't ought to have come over here u
day like this anyway. Not but what
the Lord knows it's good to have yOu
here" he added hastily.
The housekeeper seemed surprised.
"Cap'n Eri," she said, II b'lieve II
you was dyin' you'd worry for fear
somebody else wouldn't be comf'table
while you was doin' 1t. 'Twou!d b
pretty hard for me to change my
Clothes" she added, with laugh.
"seein' that there probably amt any
thing but mems clothes in the place"
Then, with sigh. Poor fellers. they
won't need 'em any more"
That's 80. And they were all alive
and hearty this mornin'. It's an awful
thing for Luther. Has he told any
thing yit bout how it come to hap
penT
"Yes, a little. The schooner was from
Maine, bound to New York. Besides
her own crew she had some Italians
aboard-coal handlers, they was, goin
over on job for the owner. Capn Da-
Wis says he saw right away that the
lifeboat would be overloaded, but he
had to take 'em all; there want time
for q second trip. He made the schOOn-
ers crew and the others lay down In
the boat where they wouldn't hinder
the men at the oars, but when they got
Jest at the tail Of the shoal, where the
sea was heaviest, them Italians lost
their heads and commenced to stand
up and yell, and fust thing you know
she swung broadside on and capsized.
pashy says Luther don't say much
more, but she jedges from what he
does say that some Of the men hung OH
with him for awhile. but was washed
Off and drownded."
That's right. There was four or five
there when We saw her fust. Twas
Lute's grip on the centerbOard that
saved him. It's an awful thing-aw
fulw
"Yes, and he would have gone, too, II
1t hadn't been for you. And you talk
about my takin' risks"
"Well, Jerry hadn't ought to have let
you come
LET me come! I should like to have
seen him try to stop me. The idea
Where would | be II 'twa'nt helpin'
you, after all you've done for me?'
"Fve done? haven't done any.
thingw
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.
"It's you that's been kind" said the
captain. you've made home for
me, sOmethin' I amt had afore sence ]
was boy"
Mrs. Snow went on as If he had not
spoken.
"And to think that you might have
been drownded the same rs the rest"
she said. II knew sOmethin' was hap
PENN. l jest felt 1t. somehow. l
told Elsie was sure of it. l couldn't
think of anything but you all the fore
noOn."
The captain sat up on the couch.
-Marthy." he said In an awed tone.
"do you know what was thinkin' Of
when 1 was pullin' through the wust
of 1t this mornin'? I was thinkin' Of
you. l thought of Luther and the rest
of them poor souls, Of course, but
thought of you most Of the time. 1t
kept comm back to me that If l went
under shouldn't see you agin. And
you was thinkin' Of me-"
"Yes. When that Mayo man said he
had awful news l felt sure twas you
he was goin' to tell about. never
tainted away In my life that l know
of, but think most tainted them
"And you cared as much as that"
"Yes."
Somehow both were speaking quiet
ly, but as il it was useless longer to
keep back anything. To speak the ex-
act truth without reserve seemed the
most natural thing In the world.
"Well, we'll, we'll" said the captain
reverently and still In the same low
tone. II said once afore that l b'lieved
you was sent here. and now I'm sure
of 1t. 1t seems almost as II you was
sent to ME, don't IT."
The housekeeper still looked out Of
the window, but she answered simply,
Il don't know"
."It does. 1t does SO. Marthy, we've
been happy together while you've been
here. Do you b'lieve you could be hap
py with me always-if you married me,
I meanT
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. / amt very
young, and amt very rich"
"What am I" with little smile.
"And you really think you could be
happy IL you was the wife Of an old
codger like me"
"Yes." The answer was short, but 1t
was convincing.
Captain Fri rose to his feet.
Gosh" he said In sort Of unbeliev-
ing whisper. "Marthy, are you willin'
to tryT
And again Mrs. Snow said Yes"
fro N Continued