Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
Christmas plnythings.

| when Go you pose Uncl0 Cyrus
will get homc?" she asked OF the
housekecper. She had asked the same
thing at least three times a day during
the fortnight. and Georrianna's answer
was always Just as unsatisfactory:
81 don't know, dearie, I'm sure. He'll
be here pretty soon, though, don't you
fret"
"Oh. I amt going to fret. ! know
he'll come. He said he would. and
Uncle Cy always does what he says
he will"
About Il Asaph made his appear
,nce, a white statue.
Godfrey scissors" he painted. shak-
Ing his snow plastered cap over the
roal hcd Say. this is one Of EN-,
nint It? Don't knows I ever see
more Of n one. Drift out by the front
fence pretty nigh up 70 my waist
This'l be nasty night along The Or
ham beach. The life savers II have
their hands full. Whew! I'm about
tuckered out"
"Reen to the postof,ice?" asked
Georginnna in low tone
"Yup. ! been there. Mornin' mail
Just this minute sorted. Trains two
hours late. Gnbe says more'n likely
tho evenln' train won't I've able to get
through Mt oil If this keeps up
WAS there anything from
Mr.. Tlcditt glanced at Bos'n and
shook his head.
mot word" he sad. Funny, amt
It? 1t don't seem BIT Ike him. And
be can't be to Washin ton. because all
them letters came back. II swan to
man, I'm beginnin' to yet worried"
Worried? I'm pretty nigh crazy.
What does Phoebe Dawes say"
"She don't say much. It's pretty
tough. when everything else il workin'
out SO fine, thanks TO her. to have this
happen. No; she don't say much but
she acts pretty solemn"
say. Mi YidlItt?"
Yes what is IT,
"You don't spuSe anything that hap
penel bctwixt her and Cap'n Whit
taker that afternoon is responsible for
for his stayin' away so, do YOU: You
know what he told me to tell her
about her not comm hereT
Asoph fid@eted with the wet cap.
Jaw, that amt nothin." be STAN
mered-"that Is. | hope it amt. | did
Ray somothin' 10 him that-but Phoebe
understands She's n smart woman"
You haven't told them boardin
house tattlctales about the Eninle
you go fetch me card of matches
from the kitchen, won't you-of what's
been found out about that Thomas
thingT
Course amt. Didn't Peabody say
not to tell a soul till we was sure?
S'pose I'd tell Keturah and Angie
Nights Well paint it on a sign and be
done with it. No. no. I've kept mum
and ycu do tho same. We'll. l must be
goin' Hope to goodness we hear some
good news from Whit by tomorrer."
But when tomorrow came news of
any kind was unobtainable. No trains
could get through. and the telephone
and telegraph wires were out of com
mission owing to the great storm. Bay
port was buried under a white coverlei
three feet thick on level which
shone In the winter sun az If powdered
with diamond dust TIE street shovel
Ing brigade, meaning most Of the &C
tive male citizens, was busy with
plows and shovels. Simmons was de-
serted In the evening. for most Of the
regular habitues went to bed after sup
per tired out.
Two days Of this; then Gabe Lum
ley, his depot wagon replaced by 4
sleigh. drove the painting Daniel into
the yard Of the Cy Whitaker place
Gabe was much excited He had news
OF importance to communicate and was
puffed up IN consequence.
THE wires all right again. GeorGi
anna" he said to the housekceper, who
had hurried to the door to meet him
Guess who it's for?'
stop your foolishness, Gabe Lun
ley" ordered Miss Taylor. "Iyand
over that telegram this rninute Don't
you stop to talk! Hand it over"
Gabe didn't intend to be "corked
thus ppremptorily.
"Its pretty important news, Georei
anna" he declared. Kind of bad
news too. ! think I'd ought 10 prepare
you for 1t sort Of When Capn Obet
Pepper died r.
Died. For the land sakes, VIVA
are you sayin'? Give me that. yoJ
fool head Give it to mel"
She snatched the telegram from hin
and tore 1t open. 1t was not as bad ~
1t might have been, but 1t was bnt
enough. Lawyer Peabody wired tina
Captain Cyrus Whitaker was at hi
! homo in Ostahle sick IN bed and threat
. cned with pneumoni2.
CAPTAIN Cy. hurrylng homeward Il
response to the attorneys former telo
} gram, had reached Boston the day o
! the blizzard. He had taken the trail
Tor Rnyport that afternoon. Tho trsil
had reached Ostable after o'Clocl
that night, but could get no farther
( The captain, burning with fever an,
torn By chilis. had wallowed througl
the drifts to his lawyers home an,
collapsed on his doorstep Now he wa
very iii and at times delriouS
For two weeks he lay, fighting ~
the threatened attack of pneumonia
. But he won the fight, and At las
, word came to the anxious ones 2
n Bayport that he was past the DANCE
+ point and would pull through. Their
+ was rejoicing at the Cy Whlttake