Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-07
WHITTAKER'S
PLACE
BY JOSEPH c. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton & Co

Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton g Co.
"You did! And never said nothin'
about ity'
"Why should I say anything about
It? Twas addressed to me as town
clerk and was concernin' a matter to
be took up with the hoard Of s'lect.
men. amt in the habit of hollerin'
town affairs through speakin' trum-
pet Folks that vote for me town
meetin' day know that guess. Angle
Phinney says to me only yesterday.
Mr.. Tidditt, says she. there's one
thing I'll say for you-you don't talk"
"Humph" Bailey snorted indignant
ly. 'She thought twas good thing
not to talk. hey? She did? Well. by
MIGHTY! You never get no chance to
talk when she's around. Angie Phin-
ney! Why. when that poll parrot of
hers died Alph'us Smalley declared up
and down that what killed It was jeal-
ousy and disappointed ambition; he
, said 1t broke its heart tryin' to keep
up with Angie. Her ma was the same
breed Of cats. What did Heman say
about the appropriation? Is he goin'
to get it?
Mr.. Tidditt paused before replying
Then. bending over. he whispered In
his chum's ear:
! "He never said one word about the
appropriation. Bailey. not one word.
He wanted to know If we'd got this
years taxes on the Whitaker place
and If We hadn't what was we goin'
to do about 1t. Bailey. between you
and me and the mizzenmast. Heman
Atkins wants to get a-hold Of that
place the worst way"
HE does! He does! For the land
sakes, amt he got property enough al
ready? Amt IA palace like that
enough for one man without wantin'
to buy u rattletrap like that?"
The first that" was emphasized by
brandlshed but reverent left hand.
the second by derisively pointing
right The two friends had reached
the crest Of the long slope leading up
from the town hall. On one side Of
the road stretched the imposing front
age Of the atkins estate" with its
iron fence and stone posts; on the 9th.
er slouched the weed grown. tumble
down desolation Of the 10y Whitaker
place." The contrast was that Of opu-
lent prosperity and poverty stricken
neglect.
Heman was our leading citizen. our
representative In Washington and the
towns philanthropist. He gave the
Atkins memorial window and the At
kins tower clock to the Methodist
church. The Atkins town pump. also
his gift, stood before the town hall
The Atkins portrait in the Bayport
Ladies' library was much admired, and
| the size Of the Atkins fortune was the
principal subject Of conversation at
sewing circle. ut the table Of 'the per-
feet boarding house." around the stove
| In Simmons store or wherever Bay
porters were used to gather.
The ICY Whitaker place" faced the
Atkins estate from the opposite side
Of the main road. but 1t was the gen.
eral opinion that It ought to be asham-
ed to face It Originally 1t had enjoyed
| the dignified seclusion afforded by q
white picket fence with square gate
posts. and the path to its seldom used
front door had been guarded by rigid
lines Of box hedge. This, however.
was years ago. before the second Cap
tain Cy Whitaker died and before the
uowes family turned II into the Sea
Sight House. q hotel for summer
boarders.
The Howeses improved" the house
and grounds. They tore down the
picket fence. uprooted the box hedges,
hung a sign over the sacred front door
| and built q wide veranda under the
parlor windows. They took boarders
for fve consecutive summers. Then
they gave up the improbable under,
taking. returned to Concord. N. H.,
their native city. and left the Cy Whit.
taker place to bear the ravages OF
Bayport winters and Bayport small
boys as best II might.
For years 1t stood empty. The Sc,
lectmen would have liked to tear II
down. but they could not because II
was private property. having been pur'
chased from the Howes heirs by the
third Cy Whitaker. Captain Cy's only
son. who ran away to sea when he was
sixteen years old and was disinherited
and cast of by the proud old skipper
in consequence. Each March Asaph
Tidditt In bis ofiicial capacity as town
clerk had been accustomed to receive
m envelope with a South American
postmark. and In that envelope was
draft ON u Boston banking house for
the sum due as taxes on the "Cy
Whitaker place." The drafts were
signed Cyrus NJ. Whitaker"
But this particular year. the year IN
which this chronicle begins. no drafl
had been received. Asaph waited O
few weeks and then wrote to the ad
dress Indicated by the postmark. Ills
letter was unanswered, Next to the
harbor appropriation the question OF
what should be done about the ICY
Whitaker place" filed Bayports
thoughts that spring.
"What In the world" repeated Bal
Low "doas Heman want Of q shebanG