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

| pose she would ask for II, being too
| proud-false pride / call It, Me and
Seth would like to do something for her,
but we have a hard enough job to keep
| going ourselves. Mary married man by
| the name of Henry Thomas, and he turn
Cd out to be . miserable good for moth
ing, as 1 always said he would. She
wouldn't listen to me. though. He run
OFT ana leit her seven year ago last April
and. understand, was killed or drowned
somewheres up in Montana. Mary and
lseveral words scratched out herel got
along somehow since, but l 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 good housekeeper II you
should need one. as I suppose likely you
Will II you could help her It would be an
| act or 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,
suppose. And no knows you are rich
and could do good If you felt Ike It, Her
fathers name was John Thayer. | wouldn't
| wonder IL you used to know her mother
She was Emily Richards afore she mar.
ried. and they used to live in Orham.
! Yours truly. ELIZABETH HOWFS
p. s.-Mary's address is Mrs. Mary
Thomas. care Mrs. Oliver. l2S Blank
| street. Concord. N. Il
N. B.--Seth won't say so. but will;
We are very hard UP ourselves, and If
you could help him and me with the loan
Of little money it would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter, folded 1t
and replaced It in his pocket lie
knew the Howes family by reputation
and the reputation was that OF general
sharpness in trade and stnglnass in
money matters. BetSy's personal appeal
did not, therefore. touch his heart to
any great extent. lie surmlsed also
that for Seth Howes and his wife tc
ask help for some person other than
themselves promised darky in the
wood pile somewhere. But for the
daughter of Emily Richards to be sug
Gcsted MS possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place that was interest
ing certainly.
When the captain was not captain
when he was merely young Cy," a
boy, living With his pareuts-a dancing
school was organized in Bayport. 1,
was ON innovation for our village and
frowned upon by many Of the older
and strlcter inhabitants. However
most Of the captains boy friends were
permitted to attend Young Cy was
not His father considered dancing =
waste Of time and If not wicked, Ger
talnly frivolous and nonsensical. SC
the boy remained at home. But, ir
spite of the parental order, he prac
ticed some of the figures Of the qua
drilles and the contradances in hi,
comrades barns. learning them at sec
ond hand, so to speak.
One winter there was to be a party
In Orham given by the Nickersons
wealthy people with a fifteen-year-ot
daughter. 1t was to be a grand az
fair, and most Of the boys and girls it
the neiehboring towns were invited
Cy received an invitation and for {
wonder. was permitted to attend. The
Bayport contingent went over in a bic
hayr1ck on runners. and the moonlight
ride was jolly enough. The Nickersor
mansion was crowded. and there were
music ana dancing.
Young CT was miserable during the
dancing. He didn't dare attempt il
In spite Of his lessons In the barn. SO
while the rest Of his boy friends sought
partners for the Portland Fancy" ant
"Hulrs Victory" be sat forlorn In r
corner.
As he sat there he was approached
by young lady radiant in muslin anC
ribbons She was three or four year.
older than he was and he had wor
SHIPPED her from afar as she whrlcC
up and down the line In the Virgins
reel She never lacked partners anC
seemed to be q great favorite with tn,
young men. especially one good looking
chap with a sunburned face, who look
ed like sailor
They were forming sets for None,
Musk" 1t was ladies choice" an,
!. there was n demand for more couples
The young lady came over to Cys cor
ner and laughingly dropped him {
, courtesy.
IF you please" she said, II want ;
partner. viii You do me the honorl"
, Cy blushingly avowed that he coulC
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
and / want you to try this with me
Please do! No. John" she added. turn
Ing to the sunburned young fellow VIII,
had followed her across the room
this is my choice, and here is my
partner. Susie Taylor is after you
and you mustn't run away. Come. Mr.
Whitaker"
SO Cy took her arm. and they danced
Money Musk" together. He made
but a few mistakes, and these sh'
helped him to correct SO easily tina
none noticed. His success gave hin
&c. and he essayed other dances
In fact, he had a very good time at thu
party after all.
On the way homo he thought n grea
: deal about the pretty young lady, who's
J name he discovered was Emily Rich
. ards. He decided that If she wou!I
only wait for him he might like t
marry her when he grew up. But h
, was thirteen, and she was seventeen
and the very next year she married
! John Thayer. the sailor in the blu
| suit. And two years after that youn!
Cy ran away to be sailor himself
! In spite of his age and his lifetime
/ OF battering about the world. Captain
Cy had a sentimental streak in hi