News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1911-04-19

fulness. knew you meant to be kind
to me-"
THAT'S what did. But you didn't
obey orders, You kept comm Now,
Why
"Why2 Did you suppose that
cared for the malicious gossip Of
such people? came because you
were in trouble, and | hoped to help
you. And-and thought had helped
until few minutes ago"
Her lip quivered. That CULVER went
to the captains heart.
"Helped| he faltered "Helped?
Why, you've done so much that can't
ever thank you. You've been the only
real helper I've had in all this miser-
able business. You've stood by me all
through"
But it was all wrong. He isn't the
man at all. Didn't Mr.. Peabody tell
you?"
Eyes, yes, he told me. What differ
ence does that make? Peabody be
hanged! He amt in this. It's you
and NEEDN'T you see? What made
you do all this for me?"
She looked at the floor and not at
him as she answered.
| "Why, because l wanted to help
you" she said. "I've been alone In the
world ever since mother died, years
| ago. I've had few real friends. Your
friendship had come to mean a great
| deal to me. The splendid fight you
were making for that little girl proved
what man you were. And you fought
so bravery when almost every one was
against you l couldn't help wanting to
do something for you. How could 1?
And now it has come to nothing-my
part of it. I'm so sorry"
ut amt, neither. It's come to every
thing. Phoebe, 1 didn't mean to say
very much more than to beg your par
don when 1 headed for here. But
I've got to-I've simply got to. This
can't go on. l can't have you keep
comm to see me-and Bos'n. 1 can't
keep meetin' you every day. can't"
She looked up as If to speak, but
something, possibly the expression in
his face, caused her to look quickly
down again. She did not answer.
II can't do it," continued the cap
tain desperately. "'Tain't for what
folks might say. They wouldn't say
much when 1 was around, 1 tell you.
1t amt that It's because can't bear
to have you just a friend. Either you
must be more'n that, or-or III have
to go somewheres else. l realized that
when was in Washin'ton and cruisin'
to California and back. I've either got
to take Bos'n and go away for good,
or-or"-
She would not help him. She would
not speak.
''You see," he groaned-"you see,
Phoebe, what an old fool 1 am. l
can't ask you to marry meme, fifty
five and rough from knockin' round
the world, and you, young and educat-
ed and lady. 1 amt fool enough to
ask such a thing as that. And yet
l couldn't stay here and meet you
every day and by and by see you mar
ry somehody else By the big dipper,
I couldn't do it, So that's why can't
shake hands with you today-nor any
more, except when I say goodby for
keeps"
Then she looked up. The color was
still bright in her face, and her eyes
were moist. but she was smiling.
"Can't shake hands with me?' she
said. "Please, what have you been
doing for the last five minutes?"
Captain Cy dropped her hand as If /
his own haa been struck with paraly- i,
sis.
Good landr' he stanmered 81
didn't know | had it-honest truth, I
didn't"
Phoebe's smile was still there, faint,
but very sweet.
"Why did you stop?" she queried.
81 didn't ask you to-"
"Why did l stop? Why, because /
II declare I'm ashamed
She took his hand and clasped 1t
with both her own.
I'm not" she said bravely, her eyes
Frightening as the wonder and in
credulous ~ grew IN mis-.
proud and very, very happy"
There was to be big supper at the
Cy Whitaker place that night. 1t was
an impromptu arra1r, arranged on the
spur of the moment by Captain Cy,
who, In spite Of the lawyers protests
and anxiety concerning his health,
went serenely up and down the main
road, inviting everybody he met or
could think of. The captains face was
as radiant as a spring sunrise. His
smile, as Asaph said, pretty nigh cut
the upper half Of his head off," Peo-
Die who had other engagements and
would under ordinary circumstances
have refused the invitation couldn't
say no to his hearty cant come?
Course you'll come! Man alive, want
your
Invalid. is hep" observed Josiah
Dimick after receiving and accepting
his own invitation. well, 1 wish to
hunder l could be took down with the
,ame kind of disease. I'd be willin'