Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-08-20
CHAPTER |.
The M asterA.


house that summer. She come down
to the landing one morning afore
breakfast and hove alongside OF where
l was setting In the stern OF my sloop,
the Dora BassCtt. untangling fish lines.
She had q tin pail in her fst, indicat-
ing that her calling orders was to go
after milk Put she saw me and run
down in ballast to swap yarns.
MY sakes! Mr.. Pratt" says she;
"have you heard about Nate Scudder?'
Yes" ! says. Ever since | come
to Wellmouth."
Il mean about what him and his
wife has Just done" says she. It's
the queerest ihingi You'll never guess
it in the world"
Amt been giving his money to the
poor, has he?" says l. for, generally
speaking, it takes strong man and
cold chsel to separate Nate Scudder
from cent
ooh, ain't you the funniest thing"
she squeals. mo indeed. He's let his
house to some city folks, and"
Amt that the cook calling you?"
! asks. I'm homeopth when II comes
to Emmie T.; like to take her in
small doses--she agrees with mo bet
ter that way
I. was the cook, and Emeline kited
OF after the milk, only stopping long
enough TO yell back: Folks say
they're dreadful rich and stylish. I'll
tell you next time see YOU
Well, cal'lated she wouidn't-not
II saw her first--and didn't pay no
more attention 70 the yarn, except to
think that June was pretty early for
city folks to be renting houses There
was only three or four boarders at the
Old Home so far, and | was 70 take a
couple Of EN- over 10 Trumet in the
sloop that very day.
But, white we was on tho way over,
one Of the couple--sort of a high
toned edition OF Emm!c T. she was
she turns to her messmate, another
pullet from the same coop, and says
she: "Oh, say" she says. Have YOU
heard about the two young fellers
from New York who've rented that
do they cali it, Oh. yes the Neck
road. heard Nettte Brown say they
were too dear for anything. Let's
drive past there tomorrow; shall We?
So there it was again, and begun
to wonder what sort OF critters Nate
Rad hooked judged that they mus
be kind of goldfish or he wouldn't
g. ho
man to be satisfied with a mess OF
sculpins.
landed the boardcrs at Trumct
and they went UP TO the village 10 dc
some shopping. Then l headed across
the harbor 20 shake hands with the
Trumet light keeper, who is a friend
Of mine. Els wife to.d nc he'd gone
over to town. too so come about and
back to the landing again. And I'm
blessed IL there want Nate Scudder
himself, setting on a rackerel key at
the end of the wharf and looking wor-
ried.
hadn't hoistod the lib on the way
down, and now let the mainsail drop
and went forward.
Hello, Nate" hailed, as the Dora
Bassett slid up 10 the wharf.
He kind of jumped. and looked al
me as il he'd iust woke up.
Hello. SOL" he says, sort Of mourn
full. Then he turned his eyes TOWARD
the bay again and appeared TO bt
starting in on another nap.
Hear you got so,nc boarders owe
to your home" says, hoaving him
line as a hint for him to como out o
his trance and make me fast
YES" says he, paying no attention
TO the line.
"Come early in the season, ain
they" says l, grabbing hold of one o
the wharf spiles and bringing my boa
alongside easy as I could.
"Ya.as," says he. again. Then h
fetched a long breath and opened hi
mouth as II he was going to go or
But he didn't; all that comes out O
the mouth afore It shut up was an
other Yes"
made the Dora Bassett fast mysel
and climbed on to the wharf
Are they cal'lating to stay long,"
asks He'd got me interested. SCENE
to have the yes disease bad.
Hey" says he. "Oh--er-yes."
was a little mite provoked. No
that I was hankerlng to have Nat
Sc,Idder heavc his arms around m
neck and tell me he loved me, but
didn't know any reason why my pump
should suck dry every time .r,e
'em.
"Humph." grunted, starting Z
walk of. We'll, be careful Of you
self; look out it don't develop Int
nothing worse"
What do you mean" he sings on
seeming to be walked up for coed. 8
last
oh" says I; II Judged by the wa
you kept your mouth shut that va
had sore throat and was afraid 4,
Getting cold. Good day"
Would you believe 1t. he got up O
that mackerel keg and chased aftt
me.
Hold on. Soil" he says. kind I
plcdulHS. lJOn Dc III suCH d nun
! wanted to talk to you"
had to laugh; couldn't help
YES" says /, Il kind OF suspiciOnt
that you did, from your chatty 7
marks. II you'd said yes nine or t.
times more I'd have been sure of II
We'll. did" he says. 81 wanted
ask you'll thought I'd see what yc
thought--you see"