The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-10-06

popularity. anyhow, ne SAID GueSS
twill be different when l get down
street, hey? Don't cal'late Tad and
Angie 'll shed the Joyous tear over me
Never mind; longs ~ friends are glad
l don't care about the rest
| The board looked at each other.
''TadT' repeated Bailey "And An
tic? What you talkin' about? Why.
they Ughr'
The last exclamation was the result
Of tremendous dig In the ribs from
tn Tidditt fit. Asaph, who had lean
ed forward to administer it, was
frowning and shaking his head. Mr..
Bangs relapsed into a grinning silence
West Bayport seemed to be deserted
AT one or two houses, however, fem
mime heads appeared at the windows.
One old lady shook a calico apron at
the carriage. IA child beside her cried
''Hurrah.'
aunt Hepsy h'istin' colors by mis-
taker' laughed the captain. "She amt
got her specs, guess, and thinks I'm
Heman. That comes Of ridin' astern
Of a span, Peabody"
But as they drew near the center
flags were flying from front yard poles
Some Of the houses were decorated.
"What in the world began Captain
Cy. Land sakesl Look at the school
house, and simmons. and-and Simp-
son'sv
The schoolhouse flag was Tapping in
the wind. The SCARED wooden pillars
Of it, portico We're hidden with bunt-
ing. Simmons front displayed row
OF little banners, each bearing letter
The letters spelled Welcome Homer
Tad's barber shop was more or less
artlstically wreathed in colored tissue
paper. There, too, flag was draped
over the front door. Yet not single
person was in sight.
For goodness sake" cried the Be-
wildered captain, whats all this
mean? And where is everybody?
Have all hands
\ He stopped in the middle Of the sen
tence They were at the foot OF
Whittaker's hill Its top, between the
Atkins gate and the Whitaker fence,
was black with people. Children
pranced about the outskirts OF the
crowd. A shout came down the wind.
The horses, not in the least fatigued
by their long canter. trotted up the
slope The shouting grew louder. a
wave Of youngsters came racing to
meet the equipage-
"What-what In time?' gasped Cap
tain Cy. whats up? II
And then the town clerk seized him
by the arm. Peabody shook his other
hand Bos'n threw her arms about his
neck Bailey stood up and waved his
hat
Its you, you old critterr' whooped
Asaph- Its you, d'you understand
1.-THE appropriation has at last gone
through" explained the lawyer, land
this is the celebration in consequence.
And you are the star attraction, be
cause, you see, every one knows you
are responsible for It."
THAT'S whatw howled the excited
Bangs. "And we're going to show you
what We think Of YOU for dom it-
We've been plannin' this for over a
fortnrt.'
"And / knew it all the time"
squealed Bos'n, "and \ didn't tell a
word, did I?'
Three cheers for Captain Whit
takerr' beloved person In the crowd.
This person-wonder or wonders!-was
Tad Simpson.
The cheering was, considering the
size of the crowd, tremendous Be
wildered and amazed, Captain Cy was
assisted from the carriage and escort
ed to his front door. Amid the hand
kerchief waving, applauding people he
saw Keturah Bangs and Alpheus
Smalley and Angelina Phinney and
Captain Salters-even Alonzo Snow,
his recent opponent In town meeting.
Josiah Dimick was there, to-, appar-
emily having fit.
On the doorstep stood Georgianna,
and-and-yes, it was true-beside her,
grandly extending a welcoming hand,
the majestic form OF the Hon. Heman
Atkins. Some one else was there also,
some one who hurriedly slipped back
into the crowd as the owner OF the CIV
Whitaker place came up the path be
tween the hedges.
Mr.. Atkins shook the captains hand
and then, turning toward the people,
held up his own for silence. TO all
outward appearance he was still the
great Heman, our district idol, philan-
thropist and leader. His silk hat
glistened Is OF old; his chest swelled
in the old manner; his whiskers We're
just as dignified and awe inspiring.
For m instant. H. H. met the captain 4
eve, his own faltered and fell, and
there was pleading expression in his
face, the lines of which had deepened
just little. but only for an instant;
then he began To speak
Cyrus" he said, lit is my pleasant
duty, on behalf of your neighbors and
friends here assembled, to welcome
you To your-er-ancestral home after
your trying illness. / do 1t heartily,
sincerely, gladly. And it Is the more
pleasing to me to perform this duty
because. III have explained publicly
to my fellow townspeople, all disagree
ment between US is ended. l was
wrong-again publicly admit #. a
scheming blackleg. posing in the guise
OF loving father, imposed upon me.
/ am sorry for the trouble / have
caused you OF you and Of the little
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