Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-30
"If 1 don't feel llke q fool ln

panion. 1--WE amt shark bait yit. I've
shipped aboard of most every kind of
craft, but blessed If l ever expected to
be skipper of q carryall"
But Miss Patience, shut up In the
back part of the carriage like water
nymph In her cave. still wept hysteric-
ally, 50 Captain Perez continued his
dismal attempt ut Righteousness.
1.-THE main thing" he said, "is to kccl,
her on an even keel. II she teeters to
one side you teeter to t'other. Drat
that fox" he calculated. II thought
when Webs place burned we'd had
fire enough to last for one spell. but it
never rains but it pours."
"Oh. dear" sobbed the lady. "Now
everything II burn up and they'll blame
me for 1t. Well. I'll be drownded any
way, so / shan't be there to hear 'em.
Oh, dear, dear!'
"Oh, don't talk that way. We're
driftin' somewheres. but we're spin
MIN round 80 can't tell which way.
Judas" be exclaimed, more soberly
~ remember now. 1t ain't but little
past O'Clock and tie tides goin' out. "
The hoated in silence for few
moi"cnts. Then Miss Patience. who
had bravely tired to stifle her sobs
said with cllattering teeth. "Perez. I'm
pretty nigh froze to death"
well, now you mention It." said
Ca::tain rcrez, lit is cold. amt It? I've
gaoL mind to jump overheard and
,:y to swim ashore and tow the carry
all"
"ron't you do it! My land! If yor
shoul drown what would become OF
:le:"
1t was the tone of this speech, as
much as the words. that hit the cap
In hard. lie himself almost sobbed
IL; lie said:
r. ny. want you to try to git ovel
On ;,.;s front seat with me. Then l car
ii r,y coat round you. and you won''
. So co,d. Take ho.d Of my hand"
M...;s Pa,ieacc at first protested thai
re never could do it in the world. Tht
c..:..,lSc wou'I upset aud that woult
!. tas en-. But her companion urget
..e- to IT,, and ut last she did so. il
YES q risky proceeding, but sht
reached tie trout seat somehow, anf
.ho carrya.l still remained right side
rp. Lucki!y. In the channel between
the beaches there was not the slightes
semblanee Of a wave.
Captain Perez pulled OF his coat ant
wrapped 1t about his protesting com
panion. He was obliged to hold 1t II
place, and he found the task rather
pleasing.
"Oh, you're so goodr' murmured Mis-
Patience. "What should have dom
without your
"Hush! Guess you'd have been bet
ter of. You'd never gone after tina
fox II 1t hadn't been for me, and ther'
wouldn't have been none Of this fuss
"Oh, don't say that! You've been 81
brave. Anyhow, we'll die together
that's comfort"
"Pashy," said Captain Perez solemn
ly, 'its mighty good to hear you sa!
that"
"ls itr she said softly.
"Pashy," he said huskily. 1--WE beel
thinkin' of you considerable lately
Fact Is, I-I-well. come down toda!
a-purpose to ask you somethin'.
know It's a queer place to ask 1t and
and s'pose it's kind Of sudden. but
will-will you Breakers. BY mighty
The carryall had suddenly begun Z
rock and there were streaks Of foam
about 1t. Now 1t gave q most alarm
ing heave. grounded, swung clear ant
tipped yet more.
"we're capsisin'," yelled Peres
"Hang on to me. Pashyr
| But Miss Patience didn't Intend .
| let this. perhaps the final. opportunit.
slip. As she told her brother after
| ward, she would have made him say !
then II they had been two fathom un
der water"