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

II can't do IT," continued the cap
tain desperately. "'Tain't for what
folks might say. They wouldn't say
much when I was around, ! tell you.
It amt that. It's because I can't bear
to have you just friend. Either you
must be more'n that, or-or III have
to 20 somewheres else. realized that
when was in Washin'ton and cruisin'
to California and back. I've either got
to take Bos'n and 60 away for good.
or-or"-
She would not help him. She would
not speak.
"You see," he groaned-"you see,
Phoebe. what an old fool am. !
can't ask you to marry meme, fifty.
five and rough from knockin' round
the world, and you, young and educat.
cd and a lady. amt fool enough to
ask such thing as that And yet
/ couldn't stay here and meet you
every day and by and by see you mar
~ somebody else. BY the big dipper,
I couldn't do It! So that's! why I can't
shake hands with you today-nor nny
more. except when say goodby for
keeps"
Then she looked up. The color was
still bright in her face. and her eyes
were moist. but she was smiling.
Cant shake hands with me" she
said. "Please, what have you been
doing for the last five minutesT
Captain Cy dropped her hand as II
his own had been struck with paraly-
sis.
Good landr he stammered. 81
didn't know had it-honest truth.
didn't"
Phoebe's smile was still there. faint.
but very sweet.
"why did you stopr' she qucried.
u didn't ask you to-"
"Why did I stop? Why. because l.
IL declare I'm ashamed
She took his hand and clasped 1t
with both her own.
I'm not" she said bravely. hcr e;es
Frightening as the wonder and In.
credulous Joy grew In his. "I'm very
proud and very. very happy"
There was to be big supper at the
Cy Whitaker place that night It was
IN impromptu affair, arranged on the
,pur Of the moment by Captain Cy.
who, in spite Of the lawyers protests
Ind anxiety concerning his health,
went serenely up and down the main
road, inviting everybody he met or
could think Of The captains face was
as radiant as a spring sunrise. His
smile. as Asaph said. pretty nigh cut
the upper half Of his head on" Poo
pie who had other engagements and
would under ordinary circumstances
have refused the invitation couldn't
tay no to his hearty Cant come!
Course you'll come! Man alive. want
your
"Invalld, is hep observed Josiah
Dimick after receiving AMI accepting
his own invitation. Well. ! wish to
thunder | could be took down with the
same kind Of disease. I'd be wil!in'
to linger along with 1t quite spell
II It pumped me Us full Of Joy as Whit
seems to be. Don't give laugh!n gas
to keep off pneumonia, do they? MOI
Well I'd like to know the name OF Ills
medicine. that's all"
Supper was to be ready at @. Geor-
gianna. assisted by Ke,urah Bangs.
Mrs. syvanus Cahoon and other vol
unteers, was gloriously busy In the
kitchen. The table In the diniHg room
reached from one end Of the big ipart'
ment to the other. Guests would be-
gin to arrive shortly. Willy !lr. Pea
body. guessing that Captain Cy might
prefer to be alone. had taken the board
Of strategy out riding behind the span.
In the Sitting room around the base-
burner stove were three per5ons-Cap'
tain Cy. Bos'n and Phoebe. Miss
Dawes had "come early" at the cap
tain's urgent appeal. Now she was
sitting in the rocker ut one side OF the
stove, gazing dreamily at the rnddy
light behind the isinglass panes. Sne
looked quietly. blissfully contented ana
happy. At her feet on the braided
mat sat Bos'n playing with Lonesome.
who purred lazily. The little CIR! was
happy, too. for was not her beloved
Uncle Cyrus ut home again with all
danger of their separation ended for
evermore?
As for Captain Cy himself. the rrdi-
ant expression was still on his lace.
brighter than ever. He looked across
at Phoebe. who smiled back at him
Then he glanced down at Bos'n. And
all at once he realized that this was
the fulflllment Of his dream. Lore
was his picture" The sitting room
was now as he had always loved to
think Of it-as It used to be. He was
in his fathers chair, Phoebe In the one
his mother used to occupy and De-
tween them-just where he had sat so
often when a boy-thc child. The Cy
Whitaker place had again and mt last
come into its own.
He drew long breath aud looked
about the room, at the stove. the iarlp,
the old, familiar furniture. at his
grandfather's portrait over the man
tel. Then in a fash Of memory his
fathers words came back to him. nnd
be said, laughing aloud from pure hap
ptness:
"Bos'n, run down cellar and get mo
Q pitcher Of cider. won't you1 There's
q good TELLER"
fHD y1p. -,