The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-01-27

wUKeS. aln'C ne E0r properly enough M
ready? Amt "a palace Ike that
enough for one man without wantin,
to buy a rattletrap Ike that?.
The first that" was emphasized INV
On brandished but rererent left hand.
the second by derisively pointing
right The two friends had reached
the crest Of the long slope leading III
from the town hall On one side OF
the road stretched the imposing 'front.'
Nge OF the atkins estate" with firm
iron fence and stone posts; on the 9TH
e. slouched the weed grown, tumble
down desolation OF the "Cy Whitaker
place" The contrast was that OF opu-
lent prosperity and poverty stricken
neglect.
Heman was our leading citizen. our
representative In Washington and the
towns philanthropist. He gave the
Atkins memorial window and the At
kins tower clock to the Methodist
church. The Atkins town pump, also
his gift, stood before the town hall.
The Atkins portrait In the Bayport
Ladies' library was much admired, and
the size Of the Atkins fortune was the
principal subject Of conversation at
sewing circle, Mt the table of ssthe per
feet boarding house." around the stove
In Simmons store or wherever Bay
porters were used to gather.
The "Cy Whitaker place" faced the
Atkins estate from the opposite side
of the main -ad, but it was the gem
eral opinion that it ought to be asham-
ed to face it Originally 1t had enjoyed
the dignified seclusion afforded by u
white picket fence with square gate
posts. and the path to its seldom used
front door had been guarded by rigid
lines Of box hedge. This, however,
was years ago. before the second Cap
tain Cy Whitaker died and before the
Howes family turned It into the Sea
Sight House, a hotel for summer
boarders.
The Howeses improved the house
and grounds. They tore down the
picket fence, uprooted the box hedges,
hung a sign over the sacred front door
and built a wide veranda under the
parlor windows. They took boarders
for FIVE consecutive summers. Then
they gave up the improbable under
taking, returned to Concord, ". 81,
their native city, and left the Cy whit
taker place to bear the ravages Of
Bayport winters and Bayport small
boys my best 1t might.
For years Il stood empty. The re
lectmen would have liked TO tear II
down. but they could not because II
was private property. having been pur-
chased from the Howes heirs by the
third Cy Whitaker. Captain Cy's only
son. who ran away to sea when he was
sixteen years old and was disinherited
and cast or by the proud old skipper
In consequence Each March Asaph
Tidditt In his official capacity no town
clerk had been accustomed to receive
nm envelope with South American
postmark. and In that envelope was q
draft on q Boston banking house for
the sum due as taxes on the 10y
Whitaker place" The drafts were
signed Cyrus nj. Whitaker"
But this particular year, the year I'm
which this chronicle begins, NO draft
had been received. Asaph waited U
few weeks and then wrote to the ad.
dress indicated BY the postmark. Hia
letter was unanswered Next to the
harbor appropriation the question OF
what should be done about the '+Cy
Whitaker place" filed Bayport'e
thoughts that spring.
What in the world" repeated Bal.
ley, docs Heman want Of a shebanG
like that? Amt he got enough al.
ready?"
His friend shook his head.
Pears not" he said. 81 judge it'H
this way. Bailey-Heman. he's proud
man
well, amt he got a right to be
proud? CaPlate you and med be proud
IL we was able to carry as much sail
as he does. wouldn't weT'
Yes, ! guess like we would. But
you needn't get red in the face md
strain your biler just because I said
that. / amt findin' fault with He
man I'm only teIlin' You. He'a
proud, as said, and bis w1fe~-
"She's dead this four year. What
are you resurrectin' her for2"
"Land! You're peppery as a West
Injy omelet this mornin'. Let me
alone till I've finished. His wife when
she was alive, she was proud too. And
his daughter Alicia, she's eight year
old now, and by and by she'll be
grown up into high toned young wo.
man. Well, Heman IS fursighted, and
s'pose likely he's thinkin' Of the days
when there'll be young rich fellers-
senators and-and-well, counts and
lords, maybe-cruisin' down here
courtin' her. Ipresume be don't want
those swells to sit on his front piazza
and see the crows buildin' nests In the
ruins acrost the road. Ii there's sale
for taxes he wants to be fust bidder.
Then when the place Is bis he can
tear down or rebuild. just as be sees
fit. Seer
"Yes, see. Well, feel about that
the way Joe Dimick felt when he
heard the doctor had told Elviry Pep
per she must stop singin' in the choir
or lose her voice altogether. Which
ever happens III be an Improvement
saJs Cap'n Joe. and whatever Heman
dOos vi helm the Whitaker nlqCa