St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-02-01
CONTINUED
CHAPTER V.

- LAYS passed Cyrus saw the
house becoming Woefully I'M
kE tidy. Something must be done
- The captain drew his chair
near the center table, took from his
pocket a sheet of note paper and pro-
ceeded to read what was written on
its pages. 1t was a letter which he
had received nearly month before
and had not yet answered. During the
past week he 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 Enclosure
was worded as follows:
Captain Cyrus Whitaker:
Dear Sir-l suppose you will be a good
deal surprised to hear from me, especially
from way out west here. When you
bought the old house of Seth he and 1
was living in Concord. N. H He couldn't
make a go of his business there. so we
came west, and he has been sick most of
the time since. We amt well off like you,
and times are hard with us. What ]
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 i don't sup
proud-false pride / call it. Me and
Seth would like to do something for her.
but we have 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 1 always said he would. She
wouldn't listen to me, though. He run
off and left her seven year ago last April
and. | understand, was killed or drowned
somewheres up in Montana Mary and
along somehow since, but l don't know
how While 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 if you
should need one. as l suppose likely you
will II you could help her it 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 is so sick,
L suppose. And he knows you are rich
and could do good If you felt like it. Her
fathers name was John Thayer. | wouldn't
wonder If you used to know her mother.
She was Emily Richards afore she mar
ried. and they used to live in Orham-
Hours truly, ELIZABETH HOWES.
P. S.-Mary's address is Mrs. Mary
Thomas. care Mrs. Oliver. 128 Blank
street. Concord N. H.
N. B.-Seth won't say so, but | will:
We are very hard up ourselves and if
you could help him and me with the loan
of a little money it would be thankfully
received.
Captain Cy read the letter, folded it
and replaced it in his pocket He
knew the Howes family by reputation,
and the reputation was that of general
sharpness in 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 darky in the
wood pile somewhere But for the
daughter of Emily Richards to be sug
gested as possible housekeeper at the
Cy Whitaker place-that was interest
ing. certainly
When the captain was not a captain
when he was merely young Cy." a
boy. living with his parents-a dancing
school was organized in Bayport. 1t
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, If not wicked. GER
tainly frivolous and nonsensicaL so
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