Graham guardian., 1911-01-20

HBLLt khTUHIt xOU'HH Su6V Ab dOOD
r~.,v~s pvnraihH Hhis noase os ssia ana stood ma.
jestically waiting to. receive the pro-
spective guest, Over her shoulders
peered the faces of the boarders
"Good afternoon" began the land
lady II presume likely you would
like to-
She was interrupted The newcomer
turned toward her and extended his
hand ~
Hello. Keturyr' be said, II ain't
seen you sence you wore your hair
up, but you're just as good lookin' as
ever And amt that Bailey7 Yes,
'tis. and Asaph too. How are you,
boys1 Shaker
NJ Bangs and his chum. the town
clerk. had emerged from the doorway
Their mouths and eyes were wide
open. and they seemed to be suffering
from sort of paralysis, II
well. what's the matter with you?
demanded the arrival. "Ain't too
stuck up to shake hands after all these
years. are your
! Bailey calculated: "Well. swan to
man. II b'lieve you're Cy Whit.
takerr'
Miss Angeline Phinney made no less
than nine calls that afternoon Be-
fore bedtime 1t was known from the
last house in "Woodchuck lane" to the
fish shanties at West Bayport that
young Cy" Whitaker had come back;
that he had come back "for good;''
that he was staying temporarily at the
perfect boarding house; that he was
lawful well on" having made lots Of
money down. In South America: that
he intended to INK over" the Whit
taker place and that II was to be fixed
over not In a modern manner with
plush parlor sets--a la Sylvanus Ca
hoon--or with onyx tables and blue
and gold chairs like those adorning the
Atkins mansion. It wassto be as near
as possible q reproduction Of what 1t
had been In the time OF the late
~Cap'n Cy." young Cy's father.
Il think he's out OF bis head de-
clared Miss Phinney In confidence to
each Of the nine females whom she ia
vored with her calls--"not crazy. you
understand. but sort Of touched In the
upper story says 80 to Matildy
Tripp-said II right out too. 'Matildy.'
l says. hes got screw loose up aloft
Just as sure ns you're born woman!'
What makes ron think soT says she.
Well says I. do you s'pose anybody
TINT want foolish would be for spend.
In good money on an old house TO
make. Il oidery Isays Coin to tear
down the piazza the fust thing! Per-
fectly good Itazzn that cost $9S60 to
build: know. because ! see the bin
when the Howeses had It done. And
he's goin' to set out box hedges. some
thin that amt been the style in this
town sence Congressman Atkins pull
ed up bis. What in the wide world.
Cap'p Whittaker,' says to him. do
you want of box hedgesr Homely
and stii1 and funeral lookip'! might
have 'em around my grave In the bury
In ground says. but powheres else
All right. Angie says he. you shall
have 'em there. I'll cut some slips pur.
pose for you. It'll be a pleasure he
says Now. ain't that crazy talk for a
grown man r.
Miss I'hinney was not the only one
In our village to question Captain Cy
Whittaker's sanity during the next
few months The majority OF our peo-
pie didn't understand him at all He
was generally liked. for. although he
had money. be did not put on airs. but
he had his own way Of doing things.
and they were not Bayport ways.
True to his promise. he had squad
Of carpenters busy. on the day fol-
lowing his arrival, tearing down the
loathed ,piaszns These carpenters and
more were kept busy throughout that
entire spring and we'll into the summer
Then came painters and gardeners
The piazza disappeared: now picket
fence. exactly like the old one tori
down by the Howeses, was erected
new shutters were hung; new window
panes were set: the roof was newly
shingled. Captain Cy senior had ir
his day cherished a New England fond
ness for white and green paint: there
fore the new fence was white and the
house was white md the blinds bril-
liant gree. aows Of box hedge, tho
plants brought from Boston. were SCI
out on each side OF the front walk. TIL,
Howes' front door bella clamorous
gong-was removed. and glass knoll
attached to spring bell Of the ole
fashioned Jingle" variety took 1T
place. An old fashioned flower garden
Captain Cy's mother had loved po
sies--was laid out on the west lawI
beyond the pear trees. All thes,
! changes the captain superintended
! When they were complete he turnet
his attention to interior decoration.
1 And now Captain Cy proceeded T.
literally astonish the natives. Amonl
the Howes Improvements" were gil
wall nnnnrs md r,oderys frt--tt-,--i -