The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-10-06
. CHAPTER XIII. .

SHAT was q wonderful ride.
Emily sat in the captains lap
he positively refused to let
- her sit beside him On the seat,
although Peabody urged 1t, fearing the
child might tire him-and her tongue
ratified like a sewing machine. She
had thousand things To tell-about
her school, about Georgianna. about
her dolls, about Lonesome, the cat,
and how many mice he had caught,
and about the big snowstorm-
"Georgianna wanted me to stay at
home and wait for you. Uncle Cy,"
she said, tbut + teased and teased, and
finally they said u could come over.
I came yesterday on the train. Mr..
Tidditt went with me to the depot.
Mrs Peabody let me peek into your
room last night, and n saw you eating
supper You didn't know I was there,
did you?'
''You bet 4 didn't There'd have
been mutiny right then if I'd caught
sight Of you. You little sculpin! Play
In it on your Uncle Cy, was you? 1
didn't know you could keep secret 80
well"
ooh, yes, can: Why, I 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 a lively pnrr. and
the miles separating Ostable ana 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
Hooded. frozen salt meadows and dis
tant dunes, was In its winter dress of
che deepest sapphire, trimmed with
Wh1tecaps and fringed with stranded
Ice cakes. There were snap and tang
In the breeze which braced one like a
tonic The party in the carriage was
gay one
Getting tired. captainr asked Pea
body,
"Whda Me? Well. 1 guess not
Most home, BoEn- There's the salt
works ahead there"
They passed the abandoned salt
works, the crumbling ruins Of dead
industry, and the boundary stone, now
half hidden In drift, marking the be
ginning Of Bayport township Then.
from the pine grove at the curve far
thar OF, appeared two capped and
coated figures. performing crazy fan
dango.
Who's them two lunatics," inquired
Captain Cy, "whoopin' and carryin' Oh
ln the middle or the road? Has any
body up this way had jug come by
express Or Hey! Whatf Why, you
old idiots you! Come here and let me
ct hold OF your
The board Of Strategy swooped down
upon the carriage like Trumet mos
quitoes on 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
cain Cy- .By the btu dipper, I'm glad
NJ &c. you! How'd YOU &C heref"
Walked" cackled Bailey, "frogged
1t all the way. Soon's Mrs. Peabody
wired you was goin' TO ride, me and
80 started 60 meet you Want you
surprised?'
We wanted to be the fist to say
noWdy, old man." explained Asaph.
Wanted tor welcome You back you
know