Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-09
CHAPTER XIV.

MYF Josiah expected any relaxa-
l&l ton in Captain Eris stern
6nSs1 discipline he was disappoint'
sHsS ed, for he was held to the
strict letter of the shipping articles"
The captain even went to the length Of
transferring Perez to the parlor cot
and Of compelling the boy to share his
own room. This was, of course, pre-
caution against further attempts at
running away. Morning after morning
the pair rose before daylight and start
ed for the fishing grounds. There were
two or three outbreaks Oh the part Of
the liable seaman" but they ended in
but one way, complete submission.
After awhile Josiah, being by no means
dull, came to realize that when he
behaved like man he was treated
like one. He learned to steer the Mary
Ellen and to handle her in all wealth
ers. Also his respect for Captain Fri
developed into liking.
Captain Perez was gratitied and de-
lighted ut the change in his grand
nephew's behavior and manners, but
lbs mind was too much occupied with
anolner subject just at this time to
allow him to be overinterested. The
other subject was Miss Patience Davis.
Miss Davis, her visit with her brother
being over, was acting as companion
to an old lady who lived in u little
house up the shore, mile or SO above
the station. This elderly female, whose
name was Mayo, had son who kept a
grocery store in the village and was,
therefore, obliged to be away all day
and until late in the evening. Miss
Patience found Mrs. Mayos crotchets
a bit trying, but the work was easy
and to her liking, and she was, as she
said, right across the way, as you
might say, from Luther" The way"
referred to was the stretch Of water
between the outer beach and the main
land.
And Captain Perez was much inter
ested in Miss Patience-very much so,
indeed. His frequent visits to the
Mayo homestead furnished no end Of
amusement to Captain Fri and also to
Captain Jerry, who found pOking fun
Mt his friend an agreeable change from
the old programme Of being the butt
himself. He wasn't entirely free from
this persecution, however, for Err more
than once asked him, In tones the sar-
casm of which was elabOrately veiled,
IL his matchmaking scheme had got
tired and was sitting down to rest, to
which the sacrifice would reply stout
ly, "Oh, it's comm out all right; you
wait and see."
But in his heart Captain Jerry knew
better. He had been wise enough to
say nothing to his friends concerning
his interviews with Elsie and Ralph,
but apparently the breaking off be-
tween the pair was final. Hazeltine
called occasionally, 1t Is true, but his
stays were short, and ut the slightest
inclination shown by the older people
to leave the room he left the house.
There was some comment by Fri and
Mrs. Snow on this sudden change, but
they were far from suspectlng the real
reason. Elsie continued to be as reticent
as she had been of late. Her school
work was easier now that Josiah was
no longer pupil.
Christmas was rather failure.
There were presents, Of course, but the
planned festivities were omitted owing
to change in John Baxter's condition.
From growing gradually better he now
grew slowly. but surely, worse. DR..
Palmer's calls were more frequent, and
he did not conceal from Mrs. Snow or
the captains his anxiety. They hid
much Of this from Elsie, but she. too,
noticed the change and was evidently
worried by 1t. Strange to say. as his
strength ebbed the patients mind grew
clearer. His speech, that In his inter
walls of consciousness had heretofore
dealt with events of the past, was
now more concerned with recent hap
penings, but Captain Fri had never
heard him mention the fire.
One afternoon In January Mrs. Snow
and Captain Fri were together In the
sickroom. The rest Of the household
was absent on various errands-Cap-
tain Perez paying visit to the life
savers sister and Elsie staying after
school to go over some examination
papers. Captain Baxter was apparent
ly asleep.
"Let me see," said Mrs. Snow mus
ingly in a low tone. "I've been here
now two. three, over four months.
Seems longer somehow"
Seems almost as II you'd always
been here" replied Captain Err. "Queer
how soon we git used to a change. I
don't know how we got along afore,
But we did some way or other. II you