The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-03-14

and about the big snowstorm
"Georgianna wanted me to stay at
home and wait for you. Uncle Cy,"
finally they said could come over
/ came yesterday on the train Mr.
Tidditt went with me to the depot
Mrs. Peabody let me peek into your
room last night, and | saw you eating
supper. You didn't know was there.
did your
'You bet | didn't! There'd have
been a mutiny right then if I'd caught
sight of you. You little sculpin! Play
In it on your Uncle Cy, was you? |
didn't know you could keep secret so
we'll"
ooh, yes. can: Why. | know an
ever so much bigger secret too It
is Why. most forgot! You just
wait"
The captain laughingly begged her
to divulge the big secret. but she shook
her small head and refused The
horses trotted on at lively pace, and
the miles separating Ostable and Bay
port were subtracted one by one 1t
was magnificent winter weather The
snow had disappeared from the road,
except in widely separated spots. but
the big drifts still heaped the fields
and shone and sparkled in the sun
shine. Against their whiteness the
pitch pines and cedars stood darkly
green and the skeleton scrub oaks and
bushes cast delicate blue penciled
shadows. The bay, seen over the
flooded. frozen salt meadows and dis
tant dunes, was in it's winter dress of
the deepest sapphire, trimmed with
whitecaps and fringed with stranded
ice cakes. There were snap and a tang
in the breeze which braced one like
tonic. The party in the carriage was
a gay one.
Getting tired. captain?" asked Pea
body.
"Who? Me? Well, guess not.
Most home, Bos'n. There's the salt
works ahead there"
They passed the abandoned salt
works, the crumbling ruins Of a dead
industry, and the boundary stone, now
half hidden in a drift, marking the be-
ginning Of Bayport township. Then
from the pine grove at the curve far.
ther on. appeared two capped and
coated figures. performing a crazy fan
dango.
who's them two lunatics," inquired
Captain Cy, "whoopin' and carryin Oh
in the middle of the road? Has any
body up this way had a jug come by
express Or Hey! What? Why, you
old idiots you! Come here and let me
get hold of your
The board Of strategy swooped down
upon the carriage like Trumet mos
quitoes on a summer boarder. They
swarmed into the vehicle, Bailey on
the front seat and Asaph in the rear,
where, somehow or other, they made
room for him. There were handshak-
ings and thumps on the back.
"What you dom way up here in the
west end of nowhere?" demanded Cap
tain Cy. by the big dipper, I'm glad
to see you. How'd you get here?'
walked" cackled Bailey. ''frogged
it all the way. Soon's Mrs. Peabody
wired you was goin' to ride, me and
Ase started to meet you. Want you
eve wanted to be the fust to say
howdy, old man." explained Asaph.
Wanted to welcome you back. you
know"
The captain was immensely pleased.
tWeIl, I'm glad I've got so much
anyhow" he said. Guess
twill be different when | get down
street, hey? Don't cal'late Tad and
Angie II shed the joyous tear over me.
Never mind; longs my friends are glad
1 don't care about the rest"
The board looked at each other.
"Tad?" repeated Bailey. "And An
gle? What you talkin' about? Why,
they Ugh!'
The last exclamation was the result
of a tremendous dig in the ribs from
the Tidditt fist. Asaph. who had lean
ed forward to administer it, was
frowning and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs relapsed into grinning silence.
West Bayport seemed to be deserted.
At one or two. houses, however, fem
mime heads appeared at the windows.
One old lady shook calico apron at
the carriage A child beside her cried
"Hurrah!'
"Aunt Hepsy h'istin' colors by mis-
takev' laughed the captain. "She amt
got her specs, / guess. and thinks I'm
Heman. That comes Of ridin' astern
of a span, Peabody"
But as they drew near the center
flags were flying from front yard poles.
Some Of the houses were decorated.
"What in the world began Captain
Cy. Land sakes! Look at the school
house, and Simmons. and-and Simp-
son's!"
The schoolhouse flag was tapping in
the wind. The SCARED wooden pillars
of its portico were hidden with bunt-