Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-03-21

Hill tidy. Something must be done.
Io The captain drew bis chair
near the center table, took from bis
pocket a sheet Of note paper and pro-
ceeded to read what was written on
its pages. 1t was letter which he
had received nearly a 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-l suppose you will be. good
deal surprised to hear from me. especially
from way out west here. When you
bought the old house Of Seth he and l
was living In Concord. N. H. He couldn't
make a go OF his business there. SO we
came west. and he has been sick most OF
the time since. We amt we'll on like you,
and times are hard with US. what /
wanted to write you about was this: MY
cousin Mary Thomas-Mary Thayer that
poor and needs help. though ] don't sup
pose she would ask for It. being too
proud-false pride l call it Me and
Seth would like to do something for her.
out we nave q hard enough job 20 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 / always said he would. She
wouldn't listen to me. though. He run
off and left her seven year ago last April
and / understand. was killed or drowned
somewheres up in Montana. Mary and
Iseverai words scratched out here] got
along somehow since. but ! 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 good girl. or
woman. rather. being most forty. and
would make a good housekeeper II you
should need one. as l suppose likely you
will. II you could help her II would oe 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.
| suppose. And he knows you are rich
and could do good If you felt like 1t. Her
fathers name was John Thayer. wouldn't
wonder II 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. LIB Blank
street. Concord. N. H
n B.-Seth won't say 30. but Will:
we are very hard up ourselves. and II
you could help him and me with the loan
sf little money 1t would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter. folded It
and replaced 1t in his pocket He
knew the Howes family BY reputation,
and the reputation was that Of general
sharpness In trade and stinginsss In
money matters. Betsy's personal appeal
did not. therefore, touch bis heart to
any great extent He surmised also
that for Seth Howes and his wife to
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
gested as a possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest.
ing. certainly.
When the captain was not captain
when he was merely young Cy,"
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 captains boy friends were
permitted to attend. Young Cy was
not. His father considered dancing a
waste Of time and, If not wicked. GER
tainly frivolous and nonsensical, 30
the boy remained at home. But, In
spite Of the parental order. he prac-
ticed some Of the figures Of the qua
drilles and the contradances in his
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 ffteen-year-old
daughter. 1t was to be grand at
fair, and most of the boys and girls In
the neighboring towns were invited.
Cy received nn invitation and. for a
wonder, was permitted to attend. The
Bayport contingent went over In 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 1t
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 a young lady 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 a sunburned face. who look
ed like q sailor.
They were forming sets for Money
Musk" It was ladies choice" and
there was a demand for more couples.
The young lady came over to Cy's cor
| ner and laughingly dropped him a
courtesy.
"If you please" she said. II want a
partner. VIII you do me the honor"
Cy blushingly avowed that he could
| not dance any to speak or
"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 dol No. john" she added. turn
ing to the sunburned young fellow who
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
sMoney Musk" together. BE made
but a few mistakes, and these she
helped him to correct so easily that
none noticed. His success gave him
courage, and he essayed other dances
In fact, he had very good time at the
party after all.
On the way home he thought a great
deal about the pretty young lady, whose
name he discovered was Emily Rich
ards. he decided that II she would