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

line Jerrys reenngs Win reverence
to it. Mrs. Snow of course said moth
ing about it. But for that matter she
said very little about herself or her
affairs.
1t was a curious fact that the lady
from Nantucket had never referred eX.
cept in a casual way to her past his
tory. She had never told how she came
to answer the advertisement in the
Nuptial Chime nor to explain how SO
matter Of fact person as she was had
ever seen that famous sheet.
Mrs. Snow was certain that Elsies
reason for wishing to obtain the po.
sition Of schoolteacher was something
more specific than the one advanced
She was also certain that the girl was
troubled about something. The root
Of the matter, she believed, was con
tanned in. the mysterious letter. AS
Captain Fri was Of precisely the same
opinion, speculation between the two
as to what that letter might have con.
tanned was as lively as it was unfruit.
| full.
One thing was certain-Elsie was not
as she had formerly been. She did her
best to appear the same, but she was
much more quiet and had fits of nb-
sentmindedness that the captain and
the housekeeper noticed. She had no
more evening "errands," but she oc-
casionally took long walks in the after
Moons, and on these walks she evident
| ly preferred to be alone.
Whether Mr.. Hazeltine noticed this
| change in her was q question. The
captain thought he did, but at any rate
his calls were none the less frequent,
and he showed no marked objection
when Captain Jerry, who now consid-
cred himself bound in honor to bring
about the union he had so actively
championed. brought to bear his art
full schemes for leaving the young
folks alone. These devices were SO
apparent that Elsie had more than
once betrayed some symptoms of an
noyance. all Of which were lost Oh the
Jealous matchmaker. Ralph. like the
others, was much surprised ut Miss
Preston's application for employment,
but as it was manifestly none of his
business he of course said nothing.
At the next committee meeting Elsie
was unanimously chosen to fill Miss
Niyons shoes rs trainer of the young
| idea at the grammar school, and, as
Miss Nixon was very anxious to he rid
Of her responsibilities in order that she
might become the care free bride of a
widower with two small children, the
shoe filling took place in fortnight.
From her first days labors Elsie re-
turned calm and unrutfled. She had
met the usual small rebellion against
a new teacher and had conquered 1t.
She said she believed she had good
class and she should get OH with them
very nicely. 1t should be mentioned in
passing. however. that Josiah Bartlett.
usually the ringleader in all sorts OF
trouble was tritle upset because the
new schoolmistress liveG in the same
house with him, and so had not yet de-
| cided lust how far it was safe To 20
| in trespassing against law and order.
Thanksgiving day came. and the cap
tains entertained Miss Patience Davis
and her brother and Ralph HaZeltine
at dinner. That dinner was an event.
| Captain Fri and Mrs. Snow spent Il full
twenty minutes with the driver Of the
butchers cart. giving him directions
concerning the exact breed or turkey
that was to be delivered. and apparent
| ly these orders were elfectual, for Cap
tain Luther, who was obliged to hur'
nv back to the life saving station as
soon as dinner was over, said that he
was so full of white meat and stuihns
| that he cal'lated he should "gobble'
all the way to the beach. His sister
STAYED until the next day, and this
was very pleasing to all hands, par
ticularly Captain Perez.
They had games in the evening. and
here the captains distinguished them
selves. Seth Wingate and his wife
and Mr.. and Mrs. Obed Nickerson
came in. as did several other retired
mariners and their better halves.
Even John Baxter was better that
day. He seemed tritle more rational
and apparently understood when they
told him that it was Thanksgiving
There would have been no cloud any
where had not Mrs. Snow. entering
her room after Elsie had gone to bed
found that young lady awake and cry
ing silently.
And she wouldn't tell what the
trouble was" said the housekeeper to
| CAPTAIN Fri the next day. said II
was nothin'. She was kind OF wor'
ried bout her grandpa. Now, You ana
i t..h n