Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-30


In out Of that this minute.
He sprang down the steps, furlcd
tho umbrella, scizcd her by the arm
and led her into the house. through the
parlor and into the sitting room, where
tho Ere cracked invitingly lie could
feel that the drcss sleeve under his
hand was wet through. and the worn
boots and darncd stockings he could
sec were soaked likewise
There" he cried set down I'm
that chair. Put your feet IN on that
hath. Sakes alive. Your folks ought
TO know better than TO lot you stir out
this weather. let alone walkin' n mile
and no ruhbcrs, Them shoes ought TO
come of this minute. | s'pose. Take
'em on. You can dry your stockin
better that way. OF with en-"
Yes, sir" said the child, STOPPING to
unbutton the shoes. Her wet fingers
were blue. II can be cold I'm cur viii
lage even in early September when
there Is an easterly storm. Intuition
Ing the shoes was slow work
Here. let me help YOU" commanded
the captain, getting down on one knee
and taking foot in his lap. Tut, tut.
nut. You're wet. Reen some time
sencc | fused with button boots. Lace
or long legged cowhidcs como handler
Never wore cowhidcs, did YOU"
no, sir"
81 s'pose not. used 20 whom | was
little, Remember the first pair had.
topper toes on EN- hew The cop
per was BACKED over when they come
out of the store, and that wouldn't do,
80 we used To kick n stone wall till
they frightened up. There. there she
comes, Iumph. Stockin's soaked too.
Wish I had some dry ones to lend YOU
Might give you a pair " mine hut
they'd he too Scant fore and aft and
too broad in the beam. | carlate.
Humph. And your top higgins as
vet as your hull, Been on your beam
ends, have you?"
Il don't know. sir | fell down In
the bushes coming across There
were vines. and they tr!ppcd me up,
and he umbrella was SO heavy that
Eyes, | coul,. see right OF you was
carryin' too much canvas, Now take
OF vour hunnit. and I'll git coat of
mine TO wrap you up in
He went into his bedroom and re-
turned with a heavy "reefcr" jacket.
Ordering his caller to stand up. he
slipped her arms into the sleeves and
turned the collar up about her neck.
Her braided "pigtail" Of yellow hair
stuck out over the collar and hung
down her back In funny way. The
cont sleeves reached almost TO her
knees, and the coat Itself enveloped
her like q bedQuilt.
There" said Captain Cy approving
iy-"now you look more as II you was
under a storm rig. Set down and
toast your toes. Where's that letter
you said you had2"
ITS inside here. | don't knows |
can get at 1t, these sleeves are so
long"
Reef 'em-turn em up. Let me
show you. That's better HUM So
you come from the depot. hey? Live
up that wayr
but
Concord? Concord? Concord where?'
Concord, n. ii. | came on the cars.
Auntie knew man who was going to
Boston, and he said he'd take care of
me as far as that and then put me on
ha troiD IN corno dnu-r, bcra I oton.
ped ut his folks house in Charlestown
last night, and this morning we got
mp early, and he bought me a ticket
and started me for here. had box
with my things in 1t, but It was so
heavy | couldn't carry It, so l left 1t
mp at the depot. The man there said
1t would be all right and you could
send for it when
II could send for it? could? What
in the world Say, child. you've made
mistake in your bear1n's. 'Tain't me
you want TO see; it's some of your
folks relations most likely. Tell me
who they are; maybe know 'em."
The girl sat upright In the big chair,
Her dark eyes opened wide. and her
,hin quivered.
Amt YOU Captain Cyrus Whit
taker?" she demanded You said you
was"
Yes, yes, l am. I'm Cy Whitaker,
put what
"Well, auntie told me-
"Auntie. Auntic who?"
"Auntie Oliver She isn't really NV
Buntic, but mamma and me lived in
Der house for ever so long. and So
Wait. walt, wait. I'm hull down in
the fog This IS Gcttin' too thick for
mo. Your auntie's names Oliver and
you lived in Concord, y. II. For-for
thunder sakes, what's your name?
Emily Richards Thomas"
EN- Emily Richards Thomas
Yes, sir"
Emily Richards Thomas, What was
your mas Nance
Mamma was Mrs. Thomas Her
front name was Mary She's dead.
Don't YOU want to see your letter?
I've got it now
She lifted one of the tapping coat
Sleeves and extended crumpled
damp envelope, Captain Cy took 1t in
dazed fashion and drew long
breath. Then he tore open the envel-
ope and read the following:
Dear Captain Whittaker-The bearer of
this is Emily Richards Thomas She is
seven. going on eight, but old for her
years. Her mother was Mary Thomas
that used to be Mary Thayer. 1t WAS her