The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-02-24


u The captain drew his chair
near the center table. took from his
pocket sheet Of note paper and pro-
reeded to read what was written on
its pages II was q letter which he
had received nearly a month before
and had not yet answered During the
mast week h, had read It 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 inciosure
was worded as follows:
CAPTAIN Cyrus. Whitaker:
Dear Sir-I suppose you viii be good
deal surprised TO hear from me. especially
rom way out west here. When you
bought the old house OF Seth he and /
was living in Concord. N. FL He couldn't
make a 60 or his business there SO we
came west, and he has been sick most OF
the time since We amt well or like you,
wanted to write you about was this: My
cousin Mary Thomas-Mary Thayer that
was-is still living in Concord, and she iS
poor and needs help, though don't sup
pose she would ask for IL, being too
proud-false pride J call t. Me and
.
but we have a. hard enough job to keep
going ourselves Mary married a man by
the name Of Henry Thomas, and he turn
ed out TO be a miserable good for moth
ing. as 7 always said he would She
wouldn't listen to me, though He run
or and left her seven year ago last April
and, understand, was killed or drowned
somewheres UP in Montana Mary and
[several words scratched out herel 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 a good girl. or
woman, rather. being most forty, and
would make a good housekeeper IL you
should need one, as suppose likely you
will. II you could help her 1t would be 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 fs SO sick.
suppose. And he knows you are rich
and could do good IL 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 IA Orham.
Yours truly, ELIZABETH HOWES.
p. S.-Mary's address is Mrs. Mary
Thomas. care Mrs. Oliver. lbs Blank
street. Concord. ". H
n. B.-Seth won't say so. but 1 will:
We are very hard UP ourselves, and IL
you could help him and me with the loan
of little money it would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter. folded II
and replaced it in his pocket He
knew the Howes family by reputation,
and the reputation was that of general
sharpness - trade and stinginess In
money matters. Betsy's personal appeal
did not. therefore. touch his 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 a darby IN the
wood pile somewhere. But for the
daughter or Emily Richards TO be sug-
gested as possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest
ing. certainly.
When the captain was GOT captain
when he was merely young Cy." q
boy, living with his parents-a dancing
school was organized in Bayport- It
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, II not wicked, Ger
tainly frivolous and nonsensical, 50
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 party
in Orham given by the Nickersons,
wealthy people with ffteen-year-old
daughter. 1t was to be grand af-
fair, and most OF the boys and girls in
the neighboring towns were invited
Cy received an invitation and. for q
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 ii
in spite OF his lessons in the barn. So
while the rest Of his boy friends sought
partners FOR the Portland Fancy" and
"Hulrs Victory" he sat forlorn in 2
corner.
AS he sat there he was approached
by young lady radiant i'm muslin and
ribbons. She was three Or four years
older than he was, and he had wor-
SHIPPED her from afar as she whiried
up and down the line I'm the VifGinia
reel. She never lacked partners and
seemed to be great farorite with Gre
young men. especially one good looking
chap with sunburned face. who look
ed like sailor.
They were forming sets for Money
Musk" It was ladies choice" and
there was demand for more couples
The young lady came over 70 Cy's cor
ner and laughingiy dropped him
courtesy
IF you please" she said. II want
partner. VIII you 90 me the honorT
Cy blushingiy avowed that ~ coult
not dance any to speak OF
"Oh, yes. you can Tn 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 10! No. john" she added, turn
ing to the sunburned young fellow WIN
had f0llnTrnN hnr across the room