The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-02-03
WHITTAKER'S
PLACE
By JOSEPH G. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. BY D. Appleton 8 CO

ed the excited passenger. Whats be-
come OF the hedge? And who put up
that-that darned piazza2"
The piazza had been where it now
was almost since Mr.. Lumley could
remember. He FASTENED to reply that
he didn't know; he wasn't sure; he
presumed likely twas them New
Hampshire Howeses'' when they ran
a summer boarding house.
The stranger drew q long breath.
"Well, Of all the he began. Then
he choked. hesitated and ordered his
driver to heave ahead and run along
side the hotel as quick as the Almighty
would let him. Gabe FASTENED to obey.
Mrs Bangs opened the door OF the
perfect boarding house and stood ma
jestically waiting to receive the pro-
spective guest. Over her shoulders
peered the faces of the boarders-
Good afternoon" began the land
lady. II presume likely you would
like to-
She was interrupted. The newcomer
turned toward her and extended his
hand
"Hello, KeturyT he said. 81 amt
seen you sence you wore your hair
up. but you're just as good lookin' as
ever. And amt that Bailey? Yes,
tits. and Asaph too. How are you,
boys? Shaker
Mr.. Bangs and his chum, the town
clerk. had emerged from the doorway.
Their mouths and eyes were wide
open. and they seemed to be suffering
from sort Of paralysis.
"Well. what's the matter with your
demanded the arrival. "Ain't too
stuck up to shake hands after all these
years. are your"
Bailey calculated: well, / swan to
man! II b'lieve you're Cy Whit
taker"
Miss Angelina Phinney made no less
than nine calls that afternoon. Be
fore bedtime it was known from the
last house in "Woodchuck lane" to the
fish shanties at West Bayport that
young Cy" Whitaker had come back;
that he had come back for good"
that he was staying temporarily at the
perfect boarding house; that he was
lawful well off, having made lots of
money down in South America; that
he intended to FIX over" the Whit
taker place and that 1t was to be fixed
over not in a modern manner, with
plush parlor sets-a la Sylvanus Ca
hoon-Or with onyx tables and blue
and gold chairs like those adjoining the
Atkins mansion. 1t was to be as near
as possible reproduction of what it
had been in the time of the late
"Cap'n Cy," young Cy's father.
II think he's out Of his head de-
clared Miss Phinney in confidence to
each Of the nine females whom she IA
vored with her calls-''not crazy, you
understand. but sort of touched in the
upper story. says SO to Matildy
Tripp-said ii right out too Matildy,'
| says. he's got q screw loose up aloft
just as sure as you're born woman!
What makes you think SOP says she.
Well says |, do you s'pose anybody
that want foolish would be for spend
in good money on an old house to
make it older? | says. Coin to tear
down the piazza the fust thing! Per
fectly good piazza that cost $9S.GO to
build; ! know. because / see the bill
when the Howeses had it done. And
he's goin' to set out box hedges. some
thin that amt been the style in this
town sence Congressman Atkins pull
ed up his. What in the wide world,
Cap'n Whitaker says | to him. do
you want Of box hedges? HomeIy
and STIFF and funeral lookin'! / might
have EN- around my grave in the bury
in ground says. but nowheres else
All right. ANGIE says be, you shall
have EN- there. iii cut some slips pur-
pose for you. It'll be a pleasure he
says, Now. amt that crazy talk for d
grown man."
Miss Phinney was not the only one
in our village TO question Captain Cy
Whittaker's sanity during the next
few months The majority Of our peo-
pie didn't understand him at all. He
was generally liked. for. although he
had money. he did not put on airs. but
he had his own way Of doing things
and they were not Rapport ways
True TO his promise. he had squad
OF carpenters busy. OIL the day fol-
lowing his arrival. tearing down the
ioathed pinZza. These carpenters and
more were kept busy throughout that
entire spring and well into the summer.
Then came painters and gardeners.
The piazza disappeared: new picket
fence. exactly like the old one torn
down by the Howeses, was erected;
new shutters were hung; new window
panes were set; the roof was newly
shlngled. Captain Cy senior had in
his day cherished New England fond
ness for white and green paint; there
fore the new fence was white and the
house was white and the blinds bril-
liant green. Rows OF box hedge, the
plants brought from Boston. We're set
out on each side Of the front walk. The
Howes' front door bella clamorous
gong-was removed. and glass knob
attached to q spring hall Of the old
fashioned Jingle" variety took its
place. An Old fashioned flower garden
Captain Cy's mother had loved pO-
sies-was laid out on the west lawn