Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-05-21

the law.
"Now. them" he said, there's been
some sort Of a mistake; that's plain
enough. MOre'n likely the darby took
tho wrong satchel when she got I'D to |
come out of the car. That woman at
the house is the real Marthy Snow all
right and we've got to go right I'D
+bere and see her. Come onv'
Rut Captain Jerry mutinied outright.
rJe declared that the sight of that dar.
kv had sickened him of marrying for
over and that he would not see the
candidate from Nantucket nor any
other candidate.
eco and see her yourself If you're
so set on it." he declared. 81 shau'tr
"All right" said Captain Fri calmly.
81 will I'll tell her you're bashful. but
lest dyin' to be married and that. she
can have you If she only waits long
enough"
With this he turned on his heel and
walked out.
"Hold on. Erir' shouted the frantic
Terry. Don't you do it! Don't YOU
tell her that Land of love, Perez, do
you s'pose he will?'
81 don't know" was the answer in a
disguised tone. "You hadn't ought to
have been so pigheaded, Jerry"
Captain Fri, with set teeth and de-
termination written on his face, walk
ed straight to the dining room door.
Drawing q long breath, he opened it
and stepped inside. A woman who had
been sitting in Captain Perezs rocker
rose as he entered.
The woman looked at the captain.
and the captain looked at her. She was
| of middle age, inclined to stoutness,
with a pair Of keen eyes behind brass
trimmed spcctacles, and was dressed in
a black alpaca gown that was faded
a little in places and had been neatly
mended in others She spoke first.
You're not Cap'n BurgessT she
said
mo, ma'am," said the captain un-
easily. my name Is Hedge. I'm q
sort of messmate OF his. You're Miss
Snow"
"Mrs Snow. I'm a widow"
They shook hands, Mrs. Snow calm
ly expectant, the captain very nervous
and not knowing how to begin.
81 feel as if 1 knew you, Cap'n
Hedge" said the widow as the captain
slid into his own rocker. 1.-THE boy on
the depot wagon told me about you and
Cap'n Ryder and Cap'n Burgess"
did, hey?" The captain inwardly
vowed vengeance on his chums grand
nephew. Hope he gave US a clean
bill" -
'Well, he didn't say .nothin' against
you, if that's what you mean. If he
had 1 don't think it would have made
much difference I've lived long enough
to want to find out things for myself
and not take folks say So"
The lady seeming to expect some
sort of answer to this statement, Cap
tain. Fri expressed his opinion that tho
plan Of finding out things for oneself
was good "idee" Then, after an.
other fidgety silence, he observed tina,
{ it was fine evening. There being ne
dispute on this point, he endeavored to
think of something else to say. Mrs
Snow, however, saved him the trouble
"Cap'n Hedge" she said, ''as Tn
here on what you might call business
errand, and as I've been waitin' pretty
nigh two hours already, p'raps wet
better talk about somethin' besides
fine evenin's. I've got to be lookin' VI
hotel or boardin' house or some
where's to stay tonight, and l cam
wait much longer. l jedge you got M
letter and was expectin' me. Now,
it amt askin' too much, I'd like t
know where Cap'n Burgess is and VIII
he want at the depot to meet me-"
This was a leading question, and tn
captain was more embarrassed tina
ever. However, he felt that somethin
had to be done and that it was wfses
to get it over with as soon as possible
''Well, maam," he said, WE'VE &C
your letter all right, and, to tell 20
the truth, we was at the depOt-Pere
and me and Jerry"
"You was! Well, then, for the Ian
of goodness, why didn't you let N
know it? Such a time as l had tryil
e to find out where you lived and all!'
le The captain saw but one plausib
- explanation, and that was the pla1
truth. Slowly he told the story of tt
- colored woman and the extension cas-
!. The widow laughed until her spectacle
Y. fell. off.
I "Well, otherer' she exclaimed. &c
that don't beat all! don't blame Cap
'e Burgess a mite. Poor thing! 1 que
l, I'd have run, too, if I'd have seen TIL
Ut darby. She was settin' right in Il
- next seat to me, and she had a shu
. over bag considerable like NINE al
when she got up to git out she too
IL mine by mistake. l was a good de
put out about it, and 1 expect 1 talk,
y to her like Dutch uncle when caug
-, up with her. Dear, dear! Where
~ Cap'n Burgess
- Hes shut up in a fish shanty dow
- the road, and he's so upset that 1 du
no nos he'll stir from there tonight. Jer
- amt prejudiced but that darky w
H too much for him"