Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.

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CHAPTER XIV.
"T.A ONDER where Phoebe went
M to-" remarked Mr.. Tdditt a
| IV little later. II thought l
u saw her with Heman and
Georg.anna on the front steps when
we drove up."
"She was there" affirmed the house
keeper. "She'd been helpin' me trim
up the rooms here. What do you think
of 'em, Cap'n Cyrusi Amt they
prettyT'
The sitting room and dining room
were gay with evergreens and old
fashioned flowers. Our living room
windows in the winter time are usual
ly filed with carefully tended potted
plants, and the neighbors had lent their
geraniums and fuchsias and hello
tropes and begonias to brighten the
Whitaker house for its owners re-
turn. Captain Cy, who was sitting In
the rocker with BOs'n on his knee,
looked about him. Now that the first
burst of excitement was over he SEEM
ed grave and preoccupied.
'They look mighty pretty, Georgian
na," he said, "f1ne enough. But what
was that you Just said? Did,
"Yup." interrupted Miss Taylor. who
had scarcely ceased talking since
breakfast that morning. Eyes, twas
teacher that helped fix EN-. Not that
wouldn't have got along without her,
but l had more to do than a little
cleanin' and scrubbin' up. So Phoebe
she come in. and Oh, yes. as was
sayin', she was out front with me.
but the minute your carriage drove up
with that lovely span Amt that
fine span? l cal'late they're
"What become Of teacher" broke in
Bailey.
why. she run of somewheres.
didn't see where she went to; was
too busy hollerin' at Cap'n Whitaker
and notcin' that span. bet you they
made Angie Phinney's eyes stick out.
guess she realizes that we in this
house are some punkins now. II I
don't lord 1t over her when run
acrost her these days. then miss my
guess. r.
"Belayw ordered Captain Cy, his
gravity more pronounced than ever.
How does 1t happen that you See
here, Georgianna, did you tell Ph-er-
Miss Dawes what l told you to tell her
when / went away?"
"Why, yes. l told her. I hated to
dreadful, but done 1t. She was aw-
full set back at fust, but guess she
asked Mr.. Tidditt-. Where you goin'.
Mr.. Tidditt?"
The town clerk, his face red, was on
his way to the door.
ASKED Ase" repeated the captain.
"Ase, come here! Did you tell her
anythingT
Asaph was very much embarrassed.
"Well." he stammered, Il didn't
mean to, Cy, but she got to askin' me
questions, and somehow or mother
did tell her about our confab, yours
and mine. told her that knew folks
was talkin' and felt twas my duty
to tell you so. That's why l done 1t,
and / told her you said-well, you
know what you said yourself. Cy."
Captain Cy was evidently much dis
turbed. He put Bos'n down and rose
to his feet.
"Well," he asked sharply, what did
she sayT
"Oh, she was white and still for a
minute or two. Then she kind OF
stamped her foot and went off and left
me. But next time she met me she
was nice as pie. She's been pretty
frosty to Angie and the rest Of 'em.
but she's been always nice to Bailey
and me. Why, when / asked her par
don she said not ut all, she was very
glad to know the truth; 1t helped her
to understand things. And you could
see she meant 1t too. She
$50 she has been comm here ever
since. And the gossip has been goin'
on, I spose. Well, by the big dipper.
it'll stop now! III see to that"
The board Of strategy and the house
keeper were amazed.
"Gossipl repeated Bailey. "Well. l
guess there amt nothin' said against
her now-not in this town, there amt!
Why, all hands can't praise her enough
for her smartness In fndin' out about
that Thomas. II It want for her he'd
be botherin' you yet, Cy. You know It.
What are you talkin' aboutT'
Captain Cy passed his hand over his
forehead.
"Bos'n," he said slowly, you run
and help Georgianna in the kitchen
spell. She's got her dinner to look out
for, 1 guess likely. Georgianna," to
the housekeeper, who looked anything
but eager, you better see to your din
nsr right OF. and take Emmie with
you.'
Miss Taylor reluctantly departed,
leadine Bos'n by the hand. The child
was loath to leave her uncle, but he
| told her he wouldn't give cent for
bis drst dinner at home II she didn't
help in preparing It 30 she went out
happy.
"Now. then" demanded the captain,
what's this about Phoebe and Thom-
rs? want to know. Stop! Don't
ask another question. Answer me
Rrst."
So the board Of strategy, by turns
and in concert, told of the drive to
rrumet and the call on Debby Beas-
ey. Asaph would have narrated the
story to the upset sulky. but baiiey
ihut him up in short order.
"Never mind that foolishness," ne
mapped. "You see Cy, Debby had
lust been out to Arizona visitin' old
Beasley's niece. And she'd fell In with
/ woman out there whose husband had
run Of. and left her. And Debby she
read the advertisement Hbout him In
the Arizona paper, and 1t said he had
the springhalt in his OF hind leg. or
,omethin' similar. Now, Thomas, ne
had that, too, and there was other
things that reminded Phoebe OF him.
/ 30 she don't say nothin' to nobody, but
she writes to this woman askin' Tor
more particulars and a photograph OF
tho ,,S..ip, ono Tho partic'larS come,