Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-02

worth while
But this is so no longer A trip to
Boston is. of course. no novelty to the
most of us, but when we visit New
York we take care to advertise It be-
forehand. And the few who avail
themselves Of the spring 'cut rates"
and go on excursions to Washington
plan definite programmes for each day
Mt the capital and discuss them with
envious friends for weeks in advance.
And If the prearranged program Is
not scrupuIously carried out we feel
that we have been defrauded. 1t was
the regret of Aunt Sophronia Hallett's
life that on her Washington excursion
she had not seen the diplomatic
corpse" She saw the president and
the monument and congress and "the
relics in the Smithsonian institution"
but the corpse" was not on view.
Aunt Sophyonia never quite got over
the disappointment
Probably no other Bayporter IN re-
cent years has started for Washing
ton on such short notice or with so
III defined program as Captain Cy. lie
went because he felt that he must go
somewhere After the conversation
with Asaph he simply could not re-
main at home. If Phoebe Dawes called
he knew that he must see her. and II
he saw her what should he say to
her? He could not tell her that she
must not visit the Cy Whitaker place
again. II he did she would insist
upon the reason. If he told her OF the
town talk" he felt sure. knowing her.
that she would Indignantly refuse to
heed the malicious gossip. And he
was firmly resolved not to permit her
to compromise her life and her future
by friendship with social outcast
like himself AS for anything deeper
and more sacred than friendship. that
was ridiculous If for moment
remark of hers had led him to dream
of such a thing 1t was because he was,
as he had SO often declared. an "old
fool"
So Captain Cy had resolved upon
flight. and he fed to Washington be-
cause the business of the committee
of one" offered legitimate excuse for
going there. The blunt message ne
had intrusted to Georgianna would. ne
believed, arouse Phoebe's indignation.
She would not call again. And when
be returned to Bos'n 1t would be to
take up the child's fight alone. II he
lost that fight. or when he lost 1t. he
would close the Cy Whitaker place
and leave Bayport for good.
He had been in Washington once be-
| fore. years ago. when he was first mate
| Of a ship and had few weeks shore
| leave. Then he went there on pleas
ure trip with some seagoing friends
and had n jolly time. But there was
precious little jollity in the present
visit. He had never felt so thoroughly
miserable. In order to forget he made
| up his mind to work his hardest to dis
cover why the harbor appropriation
was not to be given to Bayport.
The city had changed greatly. He
would scarcely have known 1t. he
went to the hotel where he had stayed
before and found big modern build
| ing in It's place The clerk was In
| clined to be rather curt and perfume
tory at first. but when he learned that
the captain was>not anxious concern
| ing the price Of accommodations. but
| merely wanted u "comftablr berth
somewheres on the saloon deck" ana
appeared to have plenty Of money he
| grew polite. Captain Cy was shown
| to his room. where he left his valise
| Then he went down to dinner"
After the meal was over he seated
| himself in one OF the big leather chairs
| In the hotel lobby. smoked and
thought. In the summer, before Bos'n
came and before her father had arisen
| to upset every calculation and wreck
all his plans. the captain had given
| serious thought to what he should do
| lf Congressman Atkins failed. as even
| then he seemed likely to do. in Secur
| ing that appropriation. The obvious
thing, of course. would have been to
hunt up Mr.. Atkins and question him
But this was altogether too Obvious
| In the first place the strained relations
| between them would make the Inter
view uncomfortable. and in the second
If there was anything underhand In
Heman's backsllding on the appropria'
| ton Atkins was too wary n bird to be
shared with questions.
But Captain Cy had another ac-
quaintance In the city. the sou OF
still older acquaintance. who had been
q wealthy shipping merchant and mine
| owner In California. The son was ulso
u congressman from coast state. and
the captain had read Of HIM in the pa
pers. A sketch of his life had been
printed. and this made his identity alb
solutely certain. Captain Cy's orig
lnal idea had been to write to this con.
gressman Now he determined to find
and interview him.
He inquired concerning him OF the
hotel clerk. who. like all Washington
clerks. was walking edition OF
Who's Who Mt the Capital"
Congressman Everdean" repeated
the all knowing gentleman. "Yes. he's
| In town Has rooms ut the Gloria.
second hotel on the right as you 60 up
the avenue-only Il short walk. What
,an do for you. sirT'
The Gloria was an even bigger hotel
than the one where the captain had his
berth" sAn inquiry at the desk OF
rnother important clerk was answered
with a brisk:
"Mr. Everdean7 Yes. he rooms here.
Don't know whether he's IN or not.
Evening, judge Nice winter weather
we're having"
The Judge. who was ponderous
person, vaguely suggesting the great
Heman, admitted that the weather
was ane, patronlzing 1t as he did 30
The clerk continued the conversation.
Captain Cy waited. At length he
spoke
Excuse me, commodore" he said
81 don't like to break in until you've
settled whether you have 1t snow or
| not. but I'm here to see Congressman
Everdean. Hadn't you better order
one Of your fo'mast hands to hunt him
up"
The Judge condescended to smile. as
| S,d sovoroI othar mon who stood near