Graham guardian., 1911-02-17

near the center table took from his
pocket a sheet of note paper and pro
ceeded to read what was written on
Its pages. II was a letter which he
had received nearly month before
and had not yet answered. During the
past week he had read 1t many times.
The writing was cramped and blotted
and the paper cheap and dingy. The
envelope bore the postmark of small
town In Indiana, and the inclosure
was worded as follows:
Captain Cyrus Whitaker;
Dear Sir--I suppose you viii be good
deal surprised to hear from me. especially
from way out west here When you
bought the old house of Seth he and
was living In Concord. N. II. He couldn't
make go Of his business there, so we
came west. and he has been sick most Of
the time since. We amt well Off like you,
and times are hard with u.s. What I
wanted to write you about was this: My
cousin Mary Thomas-Mary Thayer that
was--is still living In Concord, and she is
poor and needs help. though don't sup
pose she would ask for 1t, being too
proud-false pride call 1t. Me and
Seth would like to do something for her,
but we have hard enough job to keep
going ourselves. Mary married man by
the name of Henry Thomas, and he turn
ed out to be a miserable good for moth
ing. as l always said he would She
wouldn't listen TO me. though. He run
Off and left her seven year ago last April
and. l understand, was killed or drowned
somewheres up In Montana. Mary and
iseveral words scratched out herel got
along somehow since, but I don't know
how. While we lived In Concord Seth
sort of kept an eye on her. but now he
can't. of course. She's a good girl. or
woman rather, being most forty and
would make a good housekeeper If you
should need one. as I suppose likely you
will. II you could help her 1t 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,
I suppose. And be knows you are rich
and could do good II you felt like 1t. Her
fathers name wsas 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. i2s Blank
street, Concord. N. II.
N B.-Seth won't say so, but | will;
We are very hard up ourselves. and II
you could help him and me with the loan
OF little money Il would be Thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter, folded Ii
and replaced Il In his pocket He
knew the Howes family by reputation.
and the reputation was that of general
sharpness In trade and stinglness IL
money matters. Betsy's personal appea.
did not. therefore. touch his heart I.
any great extent He surmised also
that for Seth Howes and his wife to
ask help for some pcrann other than
themselves promised darky in the
wood pile somewhere But FOR the
daughter of Emily Richards TO be sug
gested as possible housekeeper Mt the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest
ing. certainly.
When tbs captain was not cartain
when he was merely young Cy," a
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 captain's boy friends were
permitted to attend. Young Cy was
not. His father considered dancing
waste of time and, if not wicked, GER
tainly frivolous and nonsensical, so
the boy remained ut home. But, in
spite of the parental order he prac-
ticed some of the figures OF the qua
drillcs and the c0ntraG,n,A 4 In his
comrades barns. leGrning thNin nj sec,
ond hand, so TO speak
One winter there was to be party
in Orham given By the Nlckersoas.
wealthy people with -year-old
daughter. 1t was to be q grand af
fair, and most of the boys and girls In
the neighboring towns We're invited.
Cy received an invitation and, for q
wonder, was permitted to attend. The
Bayport contingent went over in q 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
''Hulps Victory" he sat forlorn In a
corner.
AS he sat there he was approached
by young Jady radiant in muslin and
ribbons. She was three or four years
older than he was, and he had wor.-
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
Musk" 1t was ladies' choice" and
there was demand for more couples.
The young lady came over to Cy's cor
ner and laughingly dropped him
courtesy.
"If you please" she said, II want
partner. VIII you do me the honorr'
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.