St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-04-19

these years ana keep me rom go1n' on
the course | might have been some
body by now
Il think you're somebody as it is"
Don't talk that way. / own up /
ike to hear you. but I'm 'fraid it amt
true. You say | amount to somethin'
Well. what? / come back home here
with some money in my pocket. think
in that was all that was necessary
to make me good deal Of Teller.
The old Cy Whitaker place. I said
to myself. was goin' to be a real Cy
Whitaker place again. And I'd be
real Whitaker. a man who should
stand for somethin', as my dad and
granddad did afore me. The town
should respect me. and I'd do things
to help it along. And what's it all
come to? Why. every young one on
the street is told to be good for fear
he'll grow up like me. Amt that SO?
Course it's so! I'm
You shall not speak so! Do you
imagine that you're not respected by
every one whose respect counts for
Don't you suppose Mr.. Atkins respects
you down in his hearth he has one?
Doesn't your housekeeper. who sees
you every day, respect and like you?
And little Emily-doesn't she love you
more than she does all the rest of us
together?"
well. L guess Bos'n does care for
the old man some. that's a fact. She
says she likes you next best, though.
Did you know that?"
But Miss Dawes was indignant.
Captain Whitaker" she declared.
zone would think you were a hundred
years old to hear you. You are always
calling yourself an old man. Does Mr.
Atkins call himself old? And he is
older than you
''Well, I'm over fifty. Phoebe" In
spite of the habit for which he had
just been reproached, the captain
found this a difficult statement to
make.
81 know. But you're younger than
most of us at thirty-fve. You see, Pm
confessing, too,'' she added. with
laugh and a little blush
Captain Cy made a mental calcula-
ton.
Twenty years." he said musingly.
Twenty years is long time. No;
I'm old And. worse than that, I'm
an old fool, guess. If l hadn't been
I'd have stayed In South America in
stead Of comm here to be booted out
Of the town was born in"
The teacher stamped her foot.
"Oh, what shall L do with your she
exclaimed 1T is wicked for you to
say such things. Do you suppose that
Mr.. Atkins would find it necessary to
work as he is doing to beat a fool?
And, besides, you're not compliment
tary to me- Should l, do you think.
take such an interest in one who was
an imbecile?'
'Well, it's mighty good of you. Your
comm here so to help Bos'n's fight
along is
How do you know it is Bos'n alto
gether? r. She stopped suddenly.
and the color rushed to her face. She
rose from the rocker. 'I-really
don't see how we came to be dis
cussing such nonsense" she said
our ages and that sort Of thing!
Captain Cyrus. l wish you would go
to Washington. l think you ought to
co.
But the captains thoughts were far
from Washington at that moment. His
own face was alight, and his eyes
Ehone.
Phoebe" he faltered unbelievingly.
what was you goin' to say? Do you
mean that-that''-
The side door of the house opened.
The next instant Mr.. Tidditt, a drip
ping umbrella in his hand, entered the
sitting room.
Hello, Whitv' he hailed. "Just run
in for minute to say howdy." Then
he noticed the schoolmistress, and his
expression changed. "Oh! How be
you. Miss Dawes?" he said. 81 didn't
see you fust off, Don't run away on
my account
81 was just going" said Phoebe, but
toning her jacket Captain Cy accom-
panied her to the door.
"Goodby.' she said. "There was
something else l meant to say, but /
think it is best to wait 1 hope to
have some good news for you soon,
something that will send you to Wash
ington with light heart. Perhaps /
budlI LiSdE LOmOEfOW. Ii 81 L Will GILL
after school and tell you"
Eyes. do,' urged the captain eager
~. You'll find me here waitin'. Good
news or not, do come. Ell amt said
all wanted to myself
He returned to the sitting room.
The town clerk was standing by the
stove He looked troubled.
whats the row, Ase?" asked Cy
cheerily. He was overlooking with
good nature.
"Oh, nothin' special" replied Mr..
Tidditt. You look joyful enough for
two of US. Had good company. amt
your
''Why. yes; bout as good as there is.
What makes you look so glum?"
Asaph hesitated-
phoebe was here yesterday. too,
want she?' he asked.