The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-02-16

sort or Kept an eye on her, Out now ne
can't, of course. She's a good girl. or
woman, rather, being most forty, and
would make good housekeeper If you
should need one. as suppose likely you
will If you could help her it would be an
act of charity and you will be rewarded
above Seth says why not write to her
and tell her to come and see you. He
feels bad about her, because he is SO sick.
1 suppose And he knows you are rich
and could do good if you felt like it. Her
fathers name was John Thayer. / wouldn't
wonder If you used to know her mother.
She was Emily Richards afore she mar
ried, and they used to live in Orham.
Yours truly, ELIZABETH HOWES.
p. S.-Mary's address is Mrs. Mary
Thomas care Mrs. oliver. 12S Blank
street. Concord. N. II.
N. B.-Seth won't say so, but. l will:
We are very hard up ourselves, and IL
you could help him and me with the loan
of little money it would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter, folded it
and replaced it in his pocket. He
knew the Howes family by reputation,
and the reputation was that of general
sharpness in trade and stinginess in
money matters. Betsy's personal appeal
did not. therefore, touch his heart to
any great extent. He surmised also
that for Seth Howes and his wife to
ask help for some person other than
themselves promised a darky in the
wood pile somewhere But for the
daughter of Emily Richards to be sug-
gested as possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest
ing, certainly.
When the captain was not a captain
when he was merely young Cy,"
boy, living with his parents-a dancing
school was organized in Bayport. 1t :
was an innovation for our village and
frOwned upon by many of the older
and stricter inhabitants. However
most Of the captains boy friends were
permitted to attend. Young Cy was
not. His father considered dancing a
waste of time and, if not wicked, GER
tainly frivolous and nonsensical, so
the boy remained at home. But. in
spite of the parental order. he prac-
ticed some of the figures of the qua
drilles and the contradances in his
comrades barns, learning them at Sec
ond hand, so to speak.
One winter there was to be a party
in Orham given by the Nickersons.
wealthy people with a fifteen-year-old
daughter. 1t was to be a grand af-
fair, and most of the boys and girls in
the neighboring towns were invited.
Cy received an invitation and, for
wonder, was permitted to attend. The
Bayport contingent went over in a big
hayrick on runners. and the moonlight
ride was jolly enough. The Nickerson
mansion was crowded, and there were
music and dancing.
Young Cy was miserable during the
dancing He didn't dare attempt it
in spite of his lessons in the barn. So,
while the rest of his boy friends sought
partners for the Portland Fancy" and
"Hulrs Victory" he sat forlorn in
corner.
AS he sat there he was approached
by young lady radiant in muslin and
ribbons. She was three or four years
SHIPPED her from afar as she whirled
up and down the line in the Virginia
reel. She never lacked partners and
seemed to be great favorite with the
young men, especially one good looking
chap with sunburned face, who look
ed like sailor.
They were forming sets for Money
II oh
there was a demand for more couples.
The young lady came over to Cy's cor
ner and laughingly dropped him a
courtesy.
eff you please" she said. Il want
partner. Will you do me the honor"
Cy blushingly avowed that he could
not dance any to speak of.
"Oh, yes, you can. I'm sure you can.
You're the Whitaker boy, aren't you?
I've heard about your barn lessons,
and I want you to try this with me.
Please do! No. JOHN she added, turn
ing to the sunburned young fellow who
had followed her across the room,
this is my choice, and here is my
partner. Susie Taylor is after you,
and you mustn't run away. Come, Mr..
Whitaker
So Cy took her arm. and they danced
Money Musk" together. He made
but a few mistakes, and these she
helped him to correct so easily that
none noticed. His success gave him
courage, and he essayed other dances.
In fact, he had very good time at the
party after all.
On the way home he thought a great
deal about the prettyyoung lady, whose
name he discovered was Emily Rich
ards. He decided that if she would
only wait for him he might like to
marry her when he grew up. But he
was thirteen, and she was seventeen,
and the very next year she married
John Thayer, the sailor in the blue
suit. And two years after that young
Cy ran away to be sailor himself 4
In spite of his age and his lifetime
of battering about the world, Captain
Cy had sentimental streak in his
makeup. His rejuvenation of the old
home proved that. Betsy's letter in
terested him. He had made guarded