Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-02

Un, you cant neyei tell about the
weather long this coast! It's likely
to change most any time. Besides"
with wink that expressed compre-
hension unlimited, II reckon You and
Mr.. Hazeltine don't care much bout
the company of old fogies like me and
Perez. Two's company and three's a
crowd, you know. Ho, no, hO!'
Captain Jerry, come back this min
ute!"
But the captain chuckled and shook
out of the door, followed by the obedi-
ent Perez, who, having pledged fellty,
stuck to his colOrs whatever might
happen.
At another time Elsie would prOba-
bly, have appreciated and enjoyed the
Joke as much as any one, but this
evening it did not appeal to her in the
least. Ralph put in a very uncom-
Portable half hour and then cut lis WIS.,
it short and departed.
1t certainly was Captain Jerry's I'M
lucky evening. for he left Perez chat
ting with a fisherman friend who had
left Il favorite pipe in his shanty ana
had come down to get ii and entered
the house alone. He had seen the c!"c-
trician go and was surprised ut the
brevity of his call, but he WAS AZ far
from suspectng that he himself was
the indirect cause of the said brevty
as mortal could he.
He came into the dining room, hung
his cap on the back Of chair and re-
marked cheerfuliy: well, Elsie. what
did you send your company home so
| quick for! Land sake II o'clock
want none too late for me when
was young and goin' round to see the
girlsw
But Miss Preston did not smile. On
the contrary, she frowned, and when
she spoke the captain had vague
feeling that some one had dropped an
icicle inside his shirt collar.
Captain Jerry" said The young lady,
81 want to have talk with you. Why
do you think it necessary to get UP
and leave the room whenever Mr.. la
zeltine calls! You do it every time,
and tonight was no exception, except
that by what you said you made me
appear a little more ridiculous than
usual. Now. why do you do it,?
The captains jaw fell. He stared
| at his uuestioner to see if she waS not
Joking but. finding no encouragement
of that kind stammered: "Why do
do it? Why"
"Yes, why?"
We'll. | don't know. thought you
two would ruther be alone. | know
when used to 20 to see my wife fore
we was married T.
please, what has that got 10 do
with Mr.. Hazetine's visits herc:''
"Why, why. nothin'. | s'pose. If you
say So jest thought
What right have you to SuppoS"
that Mr.. uazeltine is calling Oh nr
more than any other person or persons
ia this house,
This WAS something Of Il poser, but
The captain did his best. He sat OF
the edge of chair and rubbed his
knee and then blurtcd out: We'll. /
s'pose THAT Is. we thought he vas.
lest cause he naturally would: that's
bout all. II I'd thought-why. see
here. Elsie. don't you think he's comm
to see you|
Il don't know that | do. ~ any
rate. have given you no authority -
act on any such assumption AMI |
don't want you TO put me aga.n IN the
ridiculous position yJu did this even
ing and as you have done 80 often be.
fore. Why, his visits might be- perfect
torture to me. and still should hive
to endure them out OF common polite
ness. couldn't go away ami lcav"
him alone
Captan Jerry's face was a study OF
chagrin and troubled repentance.
Elsie" he said I'm awful sorry
am so. If Id thought | was torlurin
of YOU stead of maxim it pleasant
I'd never have done it, sure. | won't
90 out again. | won't, honest. hope
YOU won't lay it up against me.
meant WELL
Now. if Captain Perez had delayed
his entrance to that dining room only
two or three minutes longer. if he had
not come in just in time 10 prevent El-
sizes making the explanatory AMI Spoth
ing answer that was on her tongue
events would probably have been en-
tirely different and Il good deal OF
trouble might have been saved. But
in he came as il some pcrvcrSe imp
had been waiting to give him the sig
nal. and the interview between Captain
Jerry and the young lady whom he
had unwittingly offended broke off then
and there.
Elsie went upstairs feeling little
conscience stricken and with an nm
easy idea that she had said more than
she should have. Captain Perez took
up the newspaper and sat down to
read. As for Captain Jerry. he sat
down. too, but merely 10 get his
thoughts assorted into an arrange.
ment less like II spilled box of jack
straws. The captains wonderful
scheme that he had boosted of ami
worked so hard for had fallen to earth
like an exploded airshp. ana when it
hit it hurt.
His first idea was to follow the usual
procedure and take the whole matter
to CAPTAIN Fri for settlement. but tie
more he considered this plan the less
he liked It, Captain Fri WAS an un-
merciful tease. and he would be sure
to rub il in in WAY the mere
thought of which made his friend
suuirm. There wasn't much Use In
contiding to Captain Perez either. lie
must keep the secret and pretend that
everything WAS working smoothly.
Then his thoughts turned to Hazel
tine, and when he considered the wrong
he had done that young man he squrm-
ed again. There wasn't doubt in his
mind that Ralph felt exactly as Elsie
did about his interference. Captain
Jerry decided that he owed the eiec-
trlcian an apology and determined Ia
offer il at the first opportunity.
And the opportunity came the very
next morning. for Mrs. Snow wanted
,;oI.c clam; for dinner AL Il ied him