Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-08-20
CAP'N ERR
By JOSEPH G. LINCOLN
1904. !Au Rights Reserved

This ~. tCr, wa ,ejecfsJ. Then |
F. Captain 5e--' ned yuc for tJrtnight-
for ten da.ys Tally II vas settled
that within ORC wee; from that very
night he was - >,J-r mis- heart and
hand to the lady IN Nantucket. He
pledged his solemn word 10 do II.
Josiah went up TO the postoffice late
in the afternoon OF the next. day. The
cable seaman" was behaving hinself
remarkably well. He had become
real help to Captain Fri, and the latter
said that sailing alone would be doubly
hard when his foremost hand went
back to school again, which he was to
do very shortly,efor Josiah meant to
accept the captain's ofrer and try for
the Annapohs appointment when the
zine came.
Theaboy came back with the mail and
an item OF news. The mail, a paper
only. be handed to Mrs. Snow, and the
news he announced at the supper table
as follows:
"Mr. Hazeltine's goin' to leave the
y cable station" he said.
Coin to lenver' repeated the house
keeper. What for?
IL don't know, ma'am. All l know Is
what heard Mr.. wingate say. He
said Mr.. Hazeltine was goln' to get
through over at the station pretty soon.
He said one of the operators told him
So"
"Well, for the lands sake! Did you
know anything bout it, Eri?'
why, yes, little. met Hazeltine
yesterday, and he told me that some
folks out west had made him a pretty
good offer, and he didn't know whether
to take it or not. Said the salary was
good, and the whole thing looked sort
of temptin He hadn't decided what
to do yit. That's all there is to It."
There was little else talked about
during the meal. Captain Perez, Cap
tain Jerry and Mrs. Snow argued, sur
missed and questioned Captain Fri, who
said little. Elsie said almost nothing
and went to her room shortly after
the dishes were washed.
"Humph," exclaimed Captain Perez,
when they were alone, IL. guess your
matchmakin' schemes up spout, Jerry"
And, for wonder, Captain Jerry did
not contradict him.
The weather changed that night and
it grew cold rapidly. In the morning
the pump was frozen and Captain
Jerry and Mrs. Snow spent some time
and much energy in thawing it out. 1t
was later than usual when the former
set out for the schoolhouse. As he was
putting on his cap Elsie suggested
that he wait for her, as she had some
lessons to prepare and wanted an hour
or so to herself at her desk. They
walked on together under a cloudy
sky.
II s'pose you was glad to hear the
news last nightT' asked Captain
Jerry.
"What news?"
"Why, that bout Mr.. Hazeltine's
goin' away. You're glad he's goin', OF
course"
Miss Preston did not answer imme'
diaaely. Instead she turned and looked
wonteringly at her companion.
"Why should l be glad, prGy?" sh'
asked.
why. / don't know. 1 jest took i
for granted you would be. You didn'
he was gone he couldn't come, So
"Just a minute, please. What make
you think didn't want Mr.. Hazeltin
to callf"t
And now ii was the captains turl
to stare and hesitate.
'sWhat makes me think he gasped
s'Why-you told me so yourself"
ELSIE Preston he calculated, "ar
you losing your memry or what
Didn't you pitch into me hotfoot for lie
Atin' him be alone with you? Didn
YOU give me 'hark from the tomb Il
gittin' up and goin' away? Didn't 20
say his calls was perfect torture to yo'
and that you had to. be decent to hi
Jest out Of common politeness? Nov
didn't you?"
"No. / didn't You misunderstood
me. I did object to your leaving Il
room every time he called and makiI
me appear so ridiculous, and l did 81
that his visits might be a torture 4
all that you knew TO the contrary, b
/ certainly didn't say that they were
l"Sufferin'! And you amt glad
stopped comin'?r
sumed by the young lady was a t
umph.
why. OF course" she said, IN
Hazeltine is a free agent, and I dol
know OF any reason why he should
compelled to go where he doesn't wi
TO go"
Captain Jerry was completely crus
ed. My! My, Myw he murmur'
"And after my begin his pardon a
allr'
Begging his pardon? For whatT
"why, for leavin' you two alone.
course. after you pitched into Sme
i see how foolish I'd been actin. ant
honest. / didn't sleep scursely a
that night thinkin' bout it. Thinks
IF Elsie feels that way, why, thu
hot L. -